GRIEF RECOVERY

LINK: www.grief.net

The Grief Recovery Institute in Sherman Oaks, California was founded by John James and Russell Friedman, authors of The Grief Recovery Handbook and When Children Grieve. The Institute, an internationally recognized authority, provides programs for The Compassionate Friends, The National SIDS Foundation, The National AIDS Network, The University of California at Irvine, Chapman University, and many others.

James and Friedman have developed a unique grief recovery training program which encompasses principals and actions developed over 25 years of work in the grief arena. Grief Recovery® is an educational, or re-educational program based on the fact that grief is the normal and natural reaction to loss.

However, the vast majority of ideas learned in our society about dealing with loss, are not normal, natural, or helpful to people struggling with the incomplete emotions involved with major loss experiences. It is the "intellectualization" of grief that complicates recovery from loss. Grief Recovery® programs are not "support" groups, nor are they "self-help" groups. They are facilitated groups which use The Grief Recovery Handbook as the basic text, along with a format written by James and Friedman.

Tim Nelson, partner in deRuyter Nelson, recently completed the training program and received Grief Recovery® Certification. As a Certification graduate, it authorizes the establishment of:
The Grief Recovery® Institute’s Outreach Program - A 12-week recovery group utilizing formats created by the Institute that assure long-term recovery from the pain of loss. All necessary materials are provided.

The Grief Recovery® Institute’s Outreach Program for Individuals - A 7-12 week recovery program utilizing formats created by the Institute that assure long-term recovery from the pain of loss. Same format as the group program but done one-on-one with the facilitator.

The Grief Recovery® Institute’s Helping Children Deal With Loss Educational Study Group - a 6-week educational program that teaches adults how to guide children in completing their relationship to the pain, isolation and loneliness caused by a significant loss of any kind.

The Grief Recovery® Community Education Programs - Programs ranging from 60-minute brown bag lunch presentations to 3-4 hour talks about process of grief recovery.