Loss, Grieving & Letting Go Group
Somatic Small Groups for Losses of All Kinds
Are you carrying deep sadness or other emotions that arise in the face of major change or loss?
Do you long to be accompanied on this journey which can be lonely at times?
Would you like to make this process a bit easier?
I welcome you to a special journey to unpack these feelings in a supportive community. In this small group, I offer you somatic tools, including movement, breath and sound combined with writing and drawing practices for healing the impacts of loss. There is time to move through feelings and develop skills for navigating challenging ones. I draw from Parts Work (IFS) to help you to cultivate curiosity and compassion towards the parts of you that are carrying emotional burdens. And we have the support of each other: There are opportunities to share our experiences and to receive empathy.
I weave in pockets of rest, as well as music and guided meditations to soothe and comfort.
This group is a place where you can:
–Feel seen and heard.
–Explore the territory of your grief.
–Discover the power of bearing witness.
–Receive compassion and gentle support.
– Reduce shame and isolation by being received how you are.
– Learn somatic tools for moving through emotions with more ease.
– Experience the nourishment of co-regulation (connection with others).
I weave in pockets of rest, as well as music and guided meditations to soothe and comfort.
This group is a place where you can:
–Feel seen and heard.
–Explore the territory of your grief.
–Discover the power of bearing witness.
–Receive compassion and gentle support.
– Reduce shame and isolation by being received how you are.
– Learn somatic tools for moving through emotions with more ease.
– Experience the nourishment of co-regulation (connection with others).
Days & Times:
Session 1: Thursday Afternoons:
6 Sessions: 4:00 to 5:45 pm EST: 10/6-11/10.
Cost: $275
Participants: 3 to 6 people.
Session 1: Thursday Afternoons:
6 Sessions: 4:00 to 5:45 pm EST: 10/6-11/10.
Cost: $275
Participants: 3 to 6 people.
If you can't make these sessions, but would like to stay in the loop, please join my email list:
More info about the group:
Group Format:
We will begin with grounding and centering, sometimes with music and other times in silence. Then we have time to check-in. Using tools inspired by Internal Family Systems (Parts Work), we will get curious about what is present for us. What's in our hearts, our minds, our bellies? What feelings are here? What are we carrying? How can we bring in more support and ease? The creative practices of writing and drawing allow us to see more clearly what is happening and to identify underlying needs and desires so that they can be met.
And we will draw from the wisdom of the body: Awareness of our breath lands us in the moment and opens doorways of compassion. Movement brings a sense of wholeness, flow and integration. Self-supportive touch can soothe the pain that arises. These are some of the tools we we will explore. At times, we will witness each other in movement (always optional). Other times we will practice on our own.
There are opportunities to release the pain of our losses as well to receive that which is nourishing, including understanding and acceptance.
Part of what strengthens us is to be in community. We will bear witness, bringing our presence and spacious attention to another's experience, and share how we are touched by each other. This allows us to feel seen. Empathy is a powerful healer and there will be space to give and receive this gentle energy.
The losses in our life can initiate responses from our family and friends that aren't so helpful, even if they are well meaning! So there are things that we won’t do: We won’t give advice. We won't interpret people’s experiences or tell them what grief is about. We won't try to make people’s pain go away.
Our orientation towards each other is welcoming and allowing, not changing or fixing. We respect the meaning that arises from each of us. We honor the mystery of how loss expresses itself in unique ways.
It can be such a relief to be met in this way.
And I want you to know that I invite you to come as you are.
Truly.
There may be days you simply need to rest. You can do that. Other days you might engage with all of the practices. Some days you will feel courageous to share, and others you may not. All of these options are welcome. Day to day life means we have to put on a happy face or push ourselves through. This is a time to try something different.
My hope is that you will leave this experience with a lighter load and that you will feel more empowered when challenging feelings knock at your door. I hope you feel more trust in yourself. And while nobody can walk this path for you, I hope that you remember the resources within and around, so you feel accompanied on this journey.
If this type of group speaks to you, I encourage you to reach out with any questions to me, Mandy, at mandymovingarts@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
Group Format:
We will begin with grounding and centering, sometimes with music and other times in silence. Then we have time to check-in. Using tools inspired by Internal Family Systems (Parts Work), we will get curious about what is present for us. What's in our hearts, our minds, our bellies? What feelings are here? What are we carrying? How can we bring in more support and ease? The creative practices of writing and drawing allow us to see more clearly what is happening and to identify underlying needs and desires so that they can be met.
And we will draw from the wisdom of the body: Awareness of our breath lands us in the moment and opens doorways of compassion. Movement brings a sense of wholeness, flow and integration. Self-supportive touch can soothe the pain that arises. These are some of the tools we we will explore. At times, we will witness each other in movement (always optional). Other times we will practice on our own.
There are opportunities to release the pain of our losses as well to receive that which is nourishing, including understanding and acceptance.
Part of what strengthens us is to be in community. We will bear witness, bringing our presence and spacious attention to another's experience, and share how we are touched by each other. This allows us to feel seen. Empathy is a powerful healer and there will be space to give and receive this gentle energy.
The losses in our life can initiate responses from our family and friends that aren't so helpful, even if they are well meaning! So there are things that we won’t do: We won’t give advice. We won't interpret people’s experiences or tell them what grief is about. We won't try to make people’s pain go away.
Our orientation towards each other is welcoming and allowing, not changing or fixing. We respect the meaning that arises from each of us. We honor the mystery of how loss expresses itself in unique ways.
It can be such a relief to be met in this way.
And I want you to know that I invite you to come as you are.
Truly.
There may be days you simply need to rest. You can do that. Other days you might engage with all of the practices. Some days you will feel courageous to share, and others you may not. All of these options are welcome. Day to day life means we have to put on a happy face or push ourselves through. This is a time to try something different.
My hope is that you will leave this experience with a lighter load and that you will feel more empowered when challenging feelings knock at your door. I hope you feel more trust in yourself. And while nobody can walk this path for you, I hope that you remember the resources within and around, so you feel accompanied on this journey.
If this type of group speaks to you, I encourage you to reach out with any questions to me, Mandy, at mandymovingarts@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
I would like to register, what's next?
Please read the "important information" and "participant requirements" sections below, then fill out the application. I will respond within 2 days.
This will be be followed up with a 20-minute chat where we can get to know each other and assess if the group is a fit.
Please read the "important information" and "participant requirements" sections below, then fill out the application. I will respond within 2 days.
This will be be followed up with a 20-minute chat where we can get to know each other and assess if the group is a fit.
Important Information to know about the group:
-While the sessions will be therapeutic, they are not a substitute for mental health counseling. This group is not aimed to treat any mental health issue.
-While my intention is to give you space to be with your feelings, this group may bring up emotions you don't have time to fully process during a given session. For that reason, I recommend you put a buffer between the end of the group and your next activity, at least 15 minutes and ideally 30 minutes. This can be time for you to journal, walk or reach out to a support person.
-Also, I require that you have outside support available during the time of this group; a counselor, a healer, coach, bodyworker or other non-family/friend who can support you if material emerges that is overwhelming. The minimum requirement is for this person to be on call, but I recommend you schedule at least 2 sessions during our time together. Weekly sessions during loss and change can be really supportive, if you can!
-I welcome all genders to my group.
Participant Requirements:
You are able to:
-Listen to others without interrupting
-Speak with respect and kindness.
-Refrain from giving advice, unless asked.
-Communicate your needs and make requests.
-Tend to your own triggers and come prepared with a few tools for self-care.
You have:
-A non-family/friend source of support who is available to you if needed, for example a coach, therapist, bodyworker, etc.
About triggers and self-care: A trigger happens when your nervous system perceives a threat from the present or one is evoked from the past. You might feel antsy, tense, irritated, nervous, shut-down or have other symptoms. These are often uncomfortable and you start to feel a sense of disconnection from the group.
It is possible that you will feel this nervous system response during at least one of the meetings. At these moments, unless we are working one-on-one, I won’t be able to attend to you. I highly support you in doing self-care. This can look like taking a break, doing some deep breathing, turning your video off or journaling. You can let me know via chat that you are doing some self-care. If some self-care doesn’t help bring you to center and the trigger feels quite big, you may exit the Zoom meeting. These choices ARE part of honoring yourself.
-While the sessions will be therapeutic, they are not a substitute for mental health counseling. This group is not aimed to treat any mental health issue.
-While my intention is to give you space to be with your feelings, this group may bring up emotions you don't have time to fully process during a given session. For that reason, I recommend you put a buffer between the end of the group and your next activity, at least 15 minutes and ideally 30 minutes. This can be time for you to journal, walk or reach out to a support person.
-Also, I require that you have outside support available during the time of this group; a counselor, a healer, coach, bodyworker or other non-family/friend who can support you if material emerges that is overwhelming. The minimum requirement is for this person to be on call, but I recommend you schedule at least 2 sessions during our time together. Weekly sessions during loss and change can be really supportive, if you can!
-I welcome all genders to my group.
Participant Requirements:
You are able to:
-Listen to others without interrupting
-Speak with respect and kindness.
-Refrain from giving advice, unless asked.
-Communicate your needs and make requests.
-Tend to your own triggers and come prepared with a few tools for self-care.
You have:
-A non-family/friend source of support who is available to you if needed, for example a coach, therapist, bodyworker, etc.
About triggers and self-care: A trigger happens when your nervous system perceives a threat from the present or one is evoked from the past. You might feel antsy, tense, irritated, nervous, shut-down or have other symptoms. These are often uncomfortable and you start to feel a sense of disconnection from the group.
It is possible that you will feel this nervous system response during at least one of the meetings. At these moments, unless we are working one-on-one, I won’t be able to attend to you. I highly support you in doing self-care. This can look like taking a break, doing some deep breathing, turning your video off or journaling. You can let me know via chat that you are doing some self-care. If some self-care doesn’t help bring you to center and the trigger feels quite big, you may exit the Zoom meeting. These choices ARE part of honoring yourself.