Caring for Someone While Grieving

 Caring for Someone Who is Grieving (While Grieving)

By Wendy Fryke

Nearly every human being will experience a loss during their lifetime. Grief, or our experience of loss, is unique to each person. There are very few universal truths beyond these: after a loss, things will never be the same, and no two people grieve in the same way.

So, how do we navigate a loss that affects many people in our lives in meaningful ways? How do we also take care and leave space for our own experience? How do we operate in a community, a family, or a relationship that has changed profoundly? How do we communicate feelings and fears that few have broached across generations? Where do we begin?

These are powerful, important questions. Yet we may hesitate to consider them because there is no manual, class, or easy answer. Our upcoming workshop, Caring for Someone Who Is Grieving, will examine the dynamics of compassionate communications, even when facing a life-altering loss. We will examine generational differences, past perceptions of loss, and situations where “just talking ” can sometimes be challenging.

Who are we?

My name is Wendy Fryke. I’m a master’s-level student counselor. My partner in this upcoming presentation is my daughter, Rachel Fryke. Rachel is a chaplain who serves hospice communities. As mother and daughter, we started having challenging conversations about loss and grief. We realized that we approach these subjects differently.

We hold different roles in our family and our community.  Even though we have shared losses, we are of different generations and experienced them differently. We are curious about what we have missed in those unique perceptions and what might have been lost in translation. We want to learn from each other and come to a deeper understanding of our grief. We are by no means experts.

Instead, we are fellow travelers contemplating life’s transitions and trying to forge an authentic path that strengthens our connection. Join us as we explore new ways to see and hear each other when our worlds radically change. We invite you to be part of the conversation.

Let’s talk about it.

Caring for Family While Grieving: Intergenerational Grief and Loss – Hybrid Workshop – March 29