Bereavement Professional

  • 1.  Innovative approaches to bereavement care

    Posted 01-23-2015 04:31 PM
    This message has been cross posted to the following eGroups: Spiritual Caregiver and Bereavement Professional .
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    Many of our programs routinely use similar kinds of approaches to providing bereavement care based on the needs of our clients: literature, supportive phone calls and referrals, support groups and workshops, and supportive and educational counseling. Some hospices even provide treatment for complicated grief through a variety of therapeutic approaches.

    I'm curious if anyone has been experimenting with using other innovative approaches as a routine service and what your results have been? For example, these approaches might be employing the skills of a specially trained expressive therapist (eg: music, art, dance, drama), use of complimentary and alternative practitioners (eg: energy workers, acupuncture, massage), or perhaps you are using specific therapeutic modalities (eg: Emotional freedom technique, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Rubenfeld Synergy, the Hakomi Method, etc).

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    Daniel Speis, MSW, LICSW
    Coordinator of Grief Support & Spiritual Care Services
    Hospice of the Panhandle
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  • 2.  RE: Innovative approaches to bereavement care

    Posted 01-27-2015 07:48 AM
    Our hospice provides Music Therapy and Reiki as pre bereavement comfort care.  It is a great idea to incorporate these practices into bereavement for the family after the patient passes!!

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    Danielle Proch-Vonbartheld
    MA, Bereavement Coordinator
    Heritage Hospice, LLC
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  • 3.  RE: Innovative approaches to bereavement care

    Posted 01-28-2015 10:43 AM

    Hi Daniel and others;

    We have a dedicated art therapist in our bereavement center and offer art therapy groups and individual sessions we well as incorporate art in our camps, school groups, retreats, etc. We also utilize music therapy and music therapists in our groups, etc. Drum circles are very effective.

    We have offered Yoga for the bereaved for about 10 years now. It continues to be well attended. We also offer massage therapy but few take advantage of that service.

    As far as specific techniques of the counselors -  some use EFT, CBT, EMDR, DBT. Some are Reiki practioners. Many use breathwork and mindfulness techniques.

    I am not sure if that answers your question.

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    Diane Snyder Cowan, MA, MT-BC, CHPCA
    Director of Bereavement Center
    Hospice of the Western Reserve, Inc
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  • 4.  RE: Innovative approaches to bereavement care

    Posted 01-28-2015 10:50 AM

    Thank you Diane, and others! This is indeed helpful in stimulating some thoughts...

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    Daniel Speis, MSW, LICSW
    Coordinator of Grief Support & Spiritual Care Services
    Hospice of the Panhandle
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  • 5.  RE: Innovative approaches to bereavement care

    Posted 01-29-2015 01:57 PM

    Diane,

    Can you tell us a little more about the yoga classes that you offer? Thanks, Kathy

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    Kathy Cromwell, MSW
    LCSW, Director, Hinds Hospice Center for Grief & Loss
    Hinds Hospice
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  • 6.  RE: Innovative approaches to bereavement care

    Posted 01-30-2015 02:29 PM

    Sure -

    Initially, one of our grief counselors was a registered Yoga teacher. She started up the class and it has been going ever since. It's been about 10 years now.  The grief counselor is gone, but we have a consistent teacher.  That was the hardest part - finding the right teacher. We leave out an envelope to encourage donations, but don't require them.  The yoga teacher bills us monthly. We usually break even by year's end. I was unable to find a consistent volunteer yoga teacher, but I am sure they are out there.

    It's very gentle yoga. Per the instructor:

    They usually begin with a breath practice, stretching and warming up on our backs.  They move into a gentle yoga practice and end with a nice long savasana.  A few of the clients have some mobility issues due to age/injury.  They are very open about their practices and will take it easy when they need to.

    Hope that helps.



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    Diane Snyder Cowan, MA, MT-BC, CHPCA
    Director of Bereavement Center
    Hospice of the Western Reserve, Inc
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  • 7.  RE: Innovative approaches to bereavement care

    Posted 01-28-2015 10:59 AM

    Hi Daniel!

    We have tried many innovative approaches in our program over the years, resulting in hits and misses.  We offer a group called "Visual Journaling," based on the work of Barbara Ganim (her book is also titled Visual Journaling), and we've found it to be very successful, particularly with grievers who are "stuck" emotionally.  We do not currently have an Art Therapist on staff to facilitate this group, so we do not advertise it as an art therapy group. 

    I had a counselor in our department at one time who specialized in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and created an 8-week closed support group based on that model.  It was a popular group and always well attended.  Unfortunately when she left our organization, we had to discontinue that group because it does take a specialized training to facilitate. 

    We have also piloted groups for individuals further along in their grief, to help them develop their "new normal" as a widow or widower in particular.  One of our groups, Tools for Life, focuses on a different modality or approach each week (could be meditation one week, Bach Flower Essences, music therapy, etc.) to teach them about different ways they can express their grief and cope on a day to day basis.  Another, called "Moving Forward," is designed to be the last group experience before bereavement support ends.  It offers some practical information about how to reinvest in life and helps the participants develop goals for themselves.

    I am looking forward to hearing what others are doing as well!

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    Chelsea Johnson, MS, MT-BC, LMT
    Bereavement Manager
    TrustBridge Health
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  • 8.  RE: Innovative approaches to bereavement care

    Posted 01-29-2015 09:02 AM

    Hi Chelsea,

    I love your ideas about groups.    I am a new Bereavement coordinator am always looking for ideas.  How often do you offer the Moving Forward group and your Tools for Life group? 

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    Danielle Proch-Vonbartheld
    MA, Bereavement Coordinator
    Heritage Hospice, LLC
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