Hamrah Holistic Grief Counseling

12/23/2023

Sending love and hugs to anyone who is remembering a loved one, is away from loved ones, is going through an illness or just feeling alone or overwhelmed during the holidays and beyond.

www.hamrahcounseling.com

12/23/2023

Holiday host etiquette: If you’re inviting someone to your home and they’re grieving, be sure you’re inviting their grief to attend, too. It will be there, anyway.

Don’t invite someone with the goal of cheering them up for the holidays. Don’t expect them to put on a happy face in your home. Don’t demand they fake it til they make it or do something they don’t want to do, either.

Invite them with the loving intention of offering cheer and companionship and unconditional care during the holidays. To do this, you will need to honor and be responsive to their needs and emotions.

You can do this by privately acknowledging their grief when you make the invitation:

“I know this season is extra hard and your heart is hurting. You and your grief are welcome in our home. Come as you are, we’d be honored to have you with us.”

It’s also incredibly loving to honor the reality that it’s often hard for grieving folks to know what they will want, need, be up for, or able to tolerate at the holidays.

Giving them an invite without the need for commitment and permission to change their mind is extra loving:

“You don’t have to decide right now. If it feels good to be with us, we will have plenty of food and love for you-just show up! I’ll check in again the day before to see if you’re feeling up to coming over and if there’s anything you’d like me to know about how we can support you.”

Your grieving friends and fam need attentive care and responsiveness at the holidays, not plans to keep them busy, distracted, and happy.

If they’re laughing, laugh with them.

If they’re weeping, ask if they’d like your company or your help finding a quiet place to snuggle up alone for awhile.

If they’re laughing while weeping, and this is more common than you’d think, stay with them - this is a precious moment of the human experience that is truly sacred.

We don’t need to protect ourselves or each other from grief at the holidays. In fact, the more we embrace grief as an honored holiday guest, the more healthy, happy, and whole our holidays will be. 🙏

Sarah Nannen

12/17/2023

A wise mentor once told me “if you want to get out of your headspace, get busy with your hands”. Another great form of therapy to reduce anxiety, stress and grief is painting. Skill level is irrelevant. All you need is a canvas, some paint and a brush. Just pour your emotions onto the canvas. For instance; If you feel anger, just throw the paint on. If you feel sad, mix some colors that match how you feel. You get the point!
Grief therapy

12/08/2023

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0mMQlMsLSq/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

12/03/2023

We are made of earth. Working with clay can be grounding and healing. It keeps our hands busy and our minds away from rumination. It’s a form of stress relief. Art therapy can be a big part of healing for grief.

11/30/2023

My latest blog is posted.. check it out
Hamrahcounseling.com/what-this-holiday-season-has-taught-me/

What Thıs Holıday Season Has Taught Me by Shabnam Hashemi | Nov 30, 2023 | Uncategorized | 0 comments Holiday seasons are generally joyous. Regardless of how commercialized they have become; we celebrate traditions with friends and family. For those who have lost loved ones or are apart from their...

11/29/2023

11/19/2023

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzmCI9JxwRP/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

09/30/2023

A beautiful piece on grief

Learning ways to process our grief and let go of that which is precluding us from embracing life after loss, as we are able, is important.