When considering a bereavement support group, most teens think of a circle with everyone spilling their guts, said Alicia Brown, grief counselor with Coats Funeral Home.
That’s not what she and Lou Thorsby , grief specialist, have in mind for their Bridges Bereavement Program for teenagers 13-18 years old, May 2 and 9 at North Oakland Family Counseling Center.
“We’ll have activities related to grief and bereavement to help teens move forward ? collage, paint, journal, memory boxes, music, create DVDs,” Brown said. “On the last day, we’ll have a memorial with balloons.”
Grief support is critical for teenagers, Thorsby said.
“As a counselor, I see many adults whose problems go back to unresolved grief in childhood,” she said.
“When unresolved, it becomes unhealthy,? Brown said. “Grief stays with us. It doesn’t go away. It can be delayed, but never denied.”
Unresolved grief places teens at risk for substance abuse, violence, promiscuity, and other poor decisions, she said.
‘There’s not a lot of services in Oakland County for teens in bereavement,? Brown said. ‘They’re so vulnerable, with so many changes going on in their lives, when a harsh dose of reality hits them, they can have a lot of difficulty coping.?
“Sometimes you can’t tell there’s something wrong with a kid. They can get overlooked by parents consumed by their own grief,” Thorsby said.
Topics will include grief bursts, sudden, strong feelings of sadness triggered by a song, picture, or other memory.
“They’re going along fine when it hits them,” Brown said. “They’re normal. We let teens know they’re natural.”
Coats Funeral Home sponsors the group, and North Oakland center donates meeting space.
‘I think it’s a great idea,? said Bill Sophiea, who owns the center with his wife, Elise Finch-Sophiea.
“It’s badly needed,” Elise said. “Teens working with peers is sometimes the best way to do it.”
The teen support group is set for 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Saturdays, May 2 and 9, at the center, 6887 Dixie Highway.
Parent or guardian must attend the first session to sign consent forms. Pizza and soft drinks will be provided.
For more information, call Alicia Brown, MA, LPC, CT, at 248-623-7232; or Lou Thorsby, MA, LLPC, at 248-698-1086.