Guy's Gift's Groups

Everyone made wonderful salt jar sculptures at the last group session in Kenilworth earlier this month. 


Have you ever wondered what our group therapy sessions are all about? Read on to find out!

Our programme of group therapy sessions was developed in response to requests, from the children and young people we support, their parents and teachers, for support in a group setting where bereaved children and young people could meet others who have similar experiences.

Different groups, arranged according to age, currently cover age ranges from 5 to 18 at locations in Rugby, Kenilworth, Nuneaton and Stratford upon Avon. Each programme runs as a series of 4 sessions and tackles the profound isolation young people can experience when bereaved.

Each group session is planned around a specific therapeutic theme. The overall aim is to:

·        provide a time for reflection;

·        reduce feelings of isolation;

·        build self esteem;

·        encourage self-help and mutual support;

·        enable disadvantaged young people to reach their potential.

The group sessions include time to have fun and for creative activities, as well as time to focus on and work through more painful issues.

Children and young people who have attended group therapy sessions unanimously agreed that Guy’s Gift’s support was beneficial:

“It helped me to cope with death and getting my anger out.”

“It made me feel less embarrassed about my Dad dying.”

“It made me feel happy because I made new friends.”

“It helped me to talk about my feelings.”

“It made me see things differently and that there is hope.”

In 2014, after many requests, we launched a parents’ support group. The overwhelming response from parents who have been to group sessions is that they have found meeting other parents in the same situation invaluable. The groups have also helped parents understand what their children are going through. As one parent told us, “It has given myself and my daughter a mutual ground to discuss our feelings and emotions and to continue to help each other outside of group sessions. They have really helped give us the foundations to discuss our grieving openly”.

Keep an eye on the 'Events' page of our website to find out when the next group sessions will be held.