Homicide/Trauma Intervention and Healing for Families: Educational-Grief Program & Rebirth Support Group

The loss of any family member to gun or weapon-related violence is a horrific event.  And when the death is a child, the tragedy and trauma is only magnified.  Once the numbing shock wears off, burning questions arise, such as, Why did this happen?  Will I/we survive the horror?  How?  Not only is it critical to provide a safe and secure environment for this soul searching, but vital psychosocial assessment must be undertaken:

• Is the person or family struggling with anger, emptiness, panic, survivor’s guilt, confusion with the judicial system, etc.?
• What does the participant want or expect from the group?
• How ready is the individual or family to mobilize?
• What kind of support will they need and/or are ready to accept?

More specifically, are the individual or family members ready to avail themselves of the mutual aid and healing potential of an emotional grief support and mind-body spirit rebirth group?  Is the person able to emotionally give and take with peers in a group or is s/he first in need of individual counseling?  The power of group is primal:   not only are we not alone; we can see ourselves (and forgive ourselves) more clearly through another’s story – whether large pain or small triumph.  And the process of sharing and touching others not only provides hope…it is also self-healing!  When group diversity and purpose, sharing and caring, crying and even some laughter are woven together then a group creates a tapestry of unimagined possibility.

Please join us as we weave our life-and hope-sustaining tapestry!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

A.  The Irreplaceable Loss

1.  What makes the loss of a child so painfully unique?, and what makes violent death so tragic?

2.  In times of traumatic crisis, who are your true friends and allies?

3.  What is your biggest fear for your child, for yourself?

4.  Why is this grief never finished?

5.  Over time, is it possible to regain a sense that life is still worth living?

6.  The challenge of anniversary dates

7.  Dr. Hicks’ “Trauma Survey:  Twenty Questions”:

 

 

B.  Dynamics of Loss and Grief

1.  Understanding unfinished grieving, “one day at a time,” and “Grief Ghosts”

2.  Experiencing the many layers and sides of loss and grief

3.  Stages of loss and grief, including Shock, Denial, Rage, Helplessness, Guilt, Ambivalence, etc.

4.  Types of Grieving:  head, heart, behavioral, social, reflective, creative, and integrative

5.  Difference between “Feeling Sorry for Yourself” and “Feeling Your Sorrow”

6.  Understanding the critical difference between depression and grief

7.  The potentially magical healing path of grief

 

 

C.  Key Trauma/Grief Healing Steps, Tools, and Techniques

1.  3-D – Discussion-Drawing-Diversity – Grief-Team Building Exercise

2.  “Nine Step Trauma & Grief Orientation-Engagement Recipe:  Group Facilitation

3.  The art of embracing and slowly letting go of past pain:  “Fight & Flight, Freeze & Flow”

4.  “Bad Kids or Traumatized Kids”:  Understanding the person-situation context

5.  What would your child/loved one want you to be doing now?

6.  Carefully using “Healing Humor”:  The Link between Comedy and Tragedy

7.  Allowing for the periodic psychic flu

 

 

D.  Head-work, Heart-work & Homework:  Next Steps

1.  Discover the Stress Doc’s Stress Resiliency Formula for Natural SPEED:  Sleep-Priorities-Passion-Empathy-Exercise-Diet

2.  Making a “Stress/Battlefield Buddy”

3.  Joining a peer support group like “Compassionate Friends” or even a “Twelve Step” Support Group

4.  Knowing when to reach out for personal/spiritual counseling

5.  Building a personal memorial/tribute to the loved one

6.  Advocating for or honoring the loved one in the public arena

7.  Learning to journal, engage in creative grief expression, and/or engage with nature; overcome a “Fixed Mindset,” explore the “Growth Mindset”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Presenter Bios

Dr. Charles Hicks

Charles’ professional career started as a Public School Teacher, evolved into Teaching in Academic Departments at various Universities – Howard University, Duquesne University, Morgan State University, Towson State University, the University of Baltimore, and The Johns Hopkins University.  Dr. Hicks was also a staff member in the Student Affairs Department at the California Polytechnic State University where he served as a Career Counselor and Career Center Coordinator. He was an Industrial Social Psychologist in the Human Resources Department of Gulf Oil Corporation, a Sr. HRD Consultant at Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and a Staff Consultant at Personnel Decisions, Drake Beam Morin, Lee Hecht Harrison, and Right Management - Career Outplacement Firms. In addition, he has been an executive coach with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL®) for 25 years and has staffed programs at the Greensboro facility and also at the National Leadership Institute – a CCL Affiliate at the University College, University of Maryland. Roles have included facilitator of experiential team activities in the program modules and as also as a developmental assessment feedback coach, delivering 1 on 1 client assessment feedback, and follow-up coaching services. In addition, Charles has extensive adjunct affiliation (25 years) with the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, VA. Currently he is affiliated as a Personal Empowerment Coach with the Inspirit Counseling Services of Baltimore, Maryland.

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Mark Gorkin, “The Stress Doc” ™

Mark Gorkin, MSW, LICSW, "The Stress Doc" ™, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, is an acclaimed keynote, kickoff and webinar speaker as well as "Motivational Humorist & Team Communication Catalyst" known for his interactive, inspiring, and FUN programs for both government agencies and major corporations.  The Doc is a Training and Stress Resilience Consultant for The Hays Companies, an international corporate insurance and wellness brokerage group.  He has also led “"Stress and Communication,” as well as “Managing Change, Humor, and Team Building" leadership retreats for a variety of units at Ft. Hood, Texas and for Army Community Services and Family Advocacy Programs at Ft. Meade, MD and Ft. Belvoir, VA as well as Andrews Air Force Base/Behavioral Medicine Services.

A former Stress and Violence Prevention Consultant for the US Postal Service, the Doc is the author of Practice Safe Stress and of The Four Faces of Anger.  The Stress Doc blog appears in such platforms as HR.com, WorkforceWeek.com, and MentalHelpNet.  His award-winning, USA Today Online "HotSite" – www.stressdoc.com – was called a "workplace resource" by National Public Radio (NPR).  For more info on the Doc's "Practice Safe Stress" programs or to receive his free e-newsletter, email stressdoc@aol.com or call 301-875-2567.