Healing Through the Holidays
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Over the past few years, the Koch Funeral Home has sponsored a support group for those who have lost loved ones to come together and heal during the holiday season.
It is a free public event that meets every Tuesday virtually. The group gets to know one another on a deeper level once they are sent into small breakout rooms. Together, they share their experiences and feelings through the season.
“We wanted to create a space for people to come together to talk about how to find balance, strategies to help them. And there is something very powerful about bringing people together that they recognize that they are not alone,” the event facilitator, Jackie Naginey Hook said.
The event is completely confidential and there are a few ground rules placed to make people feel more confident talking in the group. The participants are respectful and welcoming with one another.
“There is no fixing, saving, advising or correcting one another. Everything is held in deep confidence by respecting what each other has to say and attend to your own inner teacher and trusting the silence.” Jackie Naginey Hook (event facilitator) said.
Participants are encouraged to speak in order to heal, but they are also able to simply listen in. The support group meets for a course of six weeks and participants are advised to continue going from start to finish in order to build the group and help people make connections. This time of year people who are missing their loved ones are searching for those connections and the support group is a wonderful place to find them.
Mariana Puerta is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email mkp5936@psu.edu.
About the Contributors
Mariana Puerta
/
