By By BRIDGET JOHNSON
Staff Writer
The IU South Bend Student Counseling Center (SCC) now offers a grief and loss support group. Since people grieve in different ways, those running the Center thought to offer a support group in addition to their other resources. Any currently enrolled student wishing to join the group may do so by coming to the monthly meetings. Meetings are Mar. 19 and Apr. 19 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Your school might not be the first place you’d think to go, but it can be a valuable resource when dealing with life’s difficulties. IUSB’scounselors are experienced and dedicated to helping students overcome loss. The SCC offers help and advice for nearly every situation in which you might need assistance.
“There is diversity in who experiences loss and in processes of grief,” said Jean Henry, an SCC counselor.
This is precisely why multiple forms of therapy are offered on campus.
According to Henry, the new support group might “validate or normalize feelings of loss and grief.”
When a grieving student sees that there are others who understand his or her situation and want to help, it might be easier to heal. Grieving can be a long or short process, done alone or with others.
The support group was created this spring as a new way to cater to students suffering loss or experiencing grief. It should be noted that a student might feel grief or a sense of loss because of something other than death. Given the social nature of support groups, the meetings will be fairly non-structured and allow students to feel relaxed.
All students who believe they might benefit from this type of event are encouraged to attend.
The SCC’s services are free to IUSB students, while other resources like therapists could be a bit expensive, especially for those without health insurance. Counselors are able to refer students for long-term therapy to other community counseling centers if necessary. The center has been given a grant by the Dorene Dwyer Hammes Grief and Loss Support Fund to expand upon their resources.
Visit the Student Counseling Center website for more information on the center at www.iusb.edu/student-counseling.
Check the IUSB Preface Facebook for upcoming events sponsored by the Student Counseling Center atwww.facebook.com/iusbpreface.
