Hospice of Marion County is trying to get the message out to local residents struggling with grief: counselors are available to help, free of charge.
The Empath Health facility in Ocala held an open house Friday focused on expressing powerful feelings of grief through art.
Awilda Santos lost her father six months ago and came to the open house with her mother, saying she thought this would be a good first step in dealing with her grief.
Joe Burns
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Central Florida Public Media
“People think, ‘What’s the point of painting on a rock?'” she says, “But when you’re talking and painting, it really does make a difference. You feel like you can speak and express yourself, not just through your paintings, but actually speaking to the professionals and volunteers who are here and want to help.”
Grief care manager Monica Morissette said the program includes individual and group sessions, as well as a day camp for children. Art therapy is also part of the program.
“It takes the pressure off of saying, ‘I’m hurt, I’m anxious, I’m depressed,’ and instead of putting it into words, you can just draw or paint a picture of what it feels like for you,” Morissette says. “Then you can process your grief in a way that’s safe for you.”
Morissette said many people feel alone in their grief, and counselors walk with them through the process to help them understand that what they’re feeling is normal.
She said it’s a lifelong journey and while you can’t get over your grief, you can start to heal.
About 100 people, including many children, have been referred to the grief therapy program in the past 11 months.
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