Understanding grief and loss

By Brandie Majeau
When a community member approached Thorhild County Family Resource
Centre inquiring about services for dealing with grief and the grieving process, Thorhild
FCSS collaborated with Rural Connections and Alberta Provincial Family Resource
Network to enlist the services of Jody Cook, a Clinical Social Worker. Held at the
Radway New Horizons Drop in Center, Cook facilitated the workshop “Understanding
Your Grief and Loss” and acted as a soothing guide to help participants find their way
through the battlefield of personal grief.
              During the workshop, Jody Cook encouraged participants to share their
personal stories and experiences, emphasizing that they could do so at their own pace
and comfort level. She guided them through various tools and strategies, such as
breathing exercises, visualization techniques, and healthy coping mechanisms, to help
them navigate their grieving process. Cook reassured them that their feelings were
valid, emphasizing that they were not alone in their grief. “You’re not crazy, you’re
grieving.” She spoke softly and offered gentle encouragement, urging them to allow
themselves to fully experience and acknowledge the physical and emotional effects of
grief. Cook acknowledged the difficulty of being vulnerable, highlighting the unique and
individual nature of the grieving experience for each person.
             The Understanding Grief and Loss workshop was thoughtfully prepared with an
ample supply of tissues and a welcoming atmosphere to encourage open
conversations, personal reflections, and shared experiences. Radway New Horizons
Drop in Centre was transformed into a safe haven where individuals felt comfortable
expressing their emotions, offering support through tears and hugs, while also finding
moments of levity and hope amidst the pain of loss. There was a shared recognition that
life can be painful, but there was also an emphasis on self-compassion and allowing
oneself to find moments of respite.
              Participants in the workshop expressed how the experience had been deeply
healing and transformative. They found the group to be incredibly supportive and were

amazed by the amount of unexpected wisdom and insights shared by everyone. The
connections formed were so powerful that they hoped to stay in touch and continue
supporting each other. Tammy Kuefler, Thorhild Family Resource Network Coordinator,
expressed her heartfelt regret that there wasn’t a local support group like this available
on a regular basis, as the participants had uplifted each other and shared valuable
personal strategies for coping. Jody Cook provided a beautiful foundation for this
workshop as she guided them through it all, explaining the goal was not to reach an end
point but to find yourself on the journey, the right now. It was a gentle reminder that

each person has control of their own narrative to turn the page of your own story and bit
by bit, keep moving forward.