Why does H.O.P.E. maintain a two-year program rather than a shorter one?
We maintain a two year program because research and experience has shown that grief is a process, and the individual needs time to heal. In the first months of bereavement the individual goes thought the “shock and denial” stage, operating on “automatic pilot”. The second stage, “recoil and distress” occurs around the first year of mourning. This stage brings intense feelings, dealing with the reality and finality. The third stage, called “recovery” deals with “picking up the threads” of life, making transitions and tying to accent the reality of your loss. By the two-year mark, most individuals have progressed through the stages and have dealt with many important issues, and are ready to move on. We at H.O.P.E. believe that it is important to provide a service that helps the individual at all stages of grief.
