Storybooks for Healing is an eight week group writing and arts program offered by bereavement professionals. The program is comprised of Grief Reflection Workbooks, the Facilitator’s Guide to Writing through Grief and access to the online My Storybook Publisher for creating and ordering beautiful hardbound Storybooks and cards.
Getting Started
Sample Page Thumbnails - Facilitator's Guide
Bereavement professionals know that helping a grieving person gain access into their sorrow and depth of loss is necessary for healing. Writing, art, music and discussion are all effective entry points. The first challenge is to have a commitment to this difficult journey from those needing support. The second is for the griever to have a sense of accomplishment and completion at some time along the way.
As a closed, eight week group program, Storybooks for Healing is effective because it is goal-oriented and provides a tangible outcome in a specified time.
Do What You Do Best – Grief Support
Storybooks for Healing is offered only through bereavement specialists because you are the expert! You have led many along their grief journey. You recognize when additional resources are required to help someone through their pain. You care. As SFH facilitator you bring your experience and leadership to the group dynamics.
SFH is the Tool for You to Lead Writing and Insight
The SFH Facilitator’s Guide contains everything bereavement specialists need to run the SFH program: marketing ideas, start-to-finish timed meeting agendas and instructions for exercises complementary to the Grief Reflection Workbook. The Guide is structured with two activities each week, yet flexible if group dynamics require additional time. The Guide also includes background on aspects of writing that make a griever think like an author.
The week by week preparation is quick and easy. The agenda include goals for each meeting, timing for each activity, page references for specific instructions, notes about the upcoming week and tips for finding additional resources. You’ll help your group find their writer’s voice, identify an audience and why this is important, encourage use of photos and other memorabilia, and recognize the relevance of relationships in loss. Everything is included in the SFH program!
Trust the Process
It is just as important for the Facilitator to trust the process as it is for the participant! You don’t have to be a writer or English instructor for this program to work! You have the step by step. The exercises take care of the materials for participants. After you’ve led the program once, you will have a stronger understanding that each story unfolds as it should and you can help lead the way. You will also discover that each group will be different making this an enjoyable program to repeat.
Cost Effective
Storybooks For Healing material costs are affordable and can be self-sustaining after the first program. Your Facilitator’s Guide can be used for leading subsequent groups so there is no need to order the Guide again. Participants can order and bring their own workbooks, or sponsorship/foundation programs can easily be developed to pay for specific programs.
Storybooks For Healing (SFH) is a program of remembrance for overcoming loss using Grief Reflection. SFH is offered by bereavement organizations in an 8 week group writing and discussion course. After the program, participants are prepared to publish a beautiful tribute storybook of their loved one, and are encouraged to join the SFH online community to share, teach and provide support to others in their grief journey.