Course Introduction
Live long enough and loss will find you. Grief knocks on our door in many ways. We tend to think of death when we think of grief, but this is not the only loss that activates the grief process. Losses can look like the end of a relationship, the end of a job, moving locations, loss of safety, financial loss, loss of what we expected our future to look like, and so much more. Explore what grief looks like and ways to engage in grief related to losses of all kinds via guided study, personal reflection, and group discussion.
Free? Yes. In keeping with Eden Spiritual Care's mission of making spiritual formation opportunities widely accessible, classes are funded entirely by generous donor contributions so you can take classes at no charge! If you would like to make a donation to help fund future classes, you are welcome to do so, but there is absolutely no expectation that you will. Suggested donation to provide space for one person in a future class is $150.
What to expect
This online course involves approximately 2 to 3 hours of learning activities each week:
Your take-aways
Who this is for
This intro-level course is open to anyone ages 18 and up!
Course Requirements
Questions? Comments?
Live long enough and loss will find you. Grief knocks on our door in many ways. We tend to think of death when we think of grief, but this is not the only loss that activates the grief process. Losses can look like the end of a relationship, the end of a job, moving locations, loss of safety, financial loss, loss of what we expected our future to look like, and so much more. Explore what grief looks like and ways to engage in grief related to losses of all kinds via guided study, personal reflection, and group discussion.
Free? Yes. In keeping with Eden Spiritual Care's mission of making spiritual formation opportunities widely accessible, classes are funded entirely by generous donor contributions so you can take classes at no charge! If you would like to make a donation to help fund future classes, you are welcome to do so, but there is absolutely no expectation that you will. Suggested donation to provide space for one person in a future class is $150.
- Dates: TBA (please check back)
- Weekly group session by Zoom: TBA
- Registration is closed. Please email us if you would like to hear when this class is offered again.
What to expect
This online course involves approximately 2 to 3 hours of learning activities each week:
- Weekly writing prompts to explore what grief has looked like in your own life and what it can look like moving forward (written responses will only be viewable by the instructor)
- Readings from On Grief and Grieving by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler (participants are required to get access to this book; check your library or bookstore)
- Weekly group sessions via Zoom focused on delving deeper into the readings and the writing prompts
- Note: This is an educational class, not a therapy group. If you are looking for professional help as you grieve, please search for therapists in your area at www.psychologytoday.com or search for a grief group at www.grief.com. You might also consider processing your grief in connection with your spiritual life through spiritual direction sessions. Samantha Gilbertson on Eden Spiritual Care’s team of spiritual directors has extensive experience journeying with people through grief and loss.
Your take-aways
- Grow in healthy ways to engage in grief
- Grow in awareness of the various losses that one can experience and how grief can be a helpful path through these losses
- Grow in self-awareness of which grief practices are and are not helpful for you and how we benefit from different grief practices for different losses
- Reflect on how cultural narratives shape grief
- Give members of the group the gift of being heard, known, and seen for who they are, as well as the personal experiences and ideas you bring to the topic of grief and loss
- Receive from the members of your online small group the gift of being heard, known, and seen for who you are, as well as the personal experiences and ideas they bring to the topic of grief and loss
Who this is for
This intro-level course is open to anyone ages 18 and up!
- People of any gender
- People of any educational background
- People who have identified as Christ followers since their childhood, or have only recently begun identifying as Christ followers, or who have never or no longer identify as Christ followers
- Both extroverts and introverts
- Still not convinced this is a class for you? Read more here.
- Note: This is an educational class, not a therapy group. If you are looking for professional help as you grieve, please search for therapists in your area at www.psychologytoday.com or search for a grief group at www.grief.com. You might also consider processing your grief in connection with your spiritual life through spiritual direction sessions. Samantha Gilbertson on Eden Spiritual Care’s team of spiritual directors has extensive experience journeying with people through grief and loss.
Course Requirements
- Internet access with enough bandwidth that you are able to stream videos smoothly
- Access to a web device with a camera and microphone for video conferencing
- Ability to read, write, and speak in English
Questions? Comments?
About the Instructor
Justin T. Neiman Westbrook, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist & Eden Spiritual Care Board Member
Justin T. Neiman Westbrook, Ph.D., is a Licensed Psychologist at the Internal Medicine Clinic at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon, who helps people with a range of mental health issues, as well as with issues in daily living, including spiritual concerns and self-care. Justin serves as Eden Spiritual Care's secretary/treasurer.
