Why does H.O.P.E. offer loss groups that only include widows and widowers?
Although we recognize that there are other kinds of loss that need to be grieved and mourned, we feel it is a mistake to place people with various losses in one group. There are clearly different issues. In divorce, people often feel rejected and angry. Widows and widowers are dealing with sadness, guilt, aloneness, abandonment, among other emotional issues. Although the divorced are dealing with many of the same issues, there are differences in responses, and feelings. We find that it benefits widows/and widowers to have groups for them exclusively which better meets their needs. Otherwise, there are often rivalry and competition issues that arise which does not lend itself to compatibility of needs.
