Dawn Ford Loss & Wellbeing Specialist

Health and Wellbeing

Dawn Ford Loss & Wellbeing Specialist - Health and Wellbeing

My name is Dawn Ford and I qualified as a licenced Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist in 2020- I decided to train in the Grief Recovery Method- some four years earlier as the -method-s- unique -holistic- approach to loss resonated so strongly with me- This supportive programme never fails to amaze me - I frequently see profound transformations within my clients- I mainly work online with a few sessions available in person- The Grief Recovery Method UK -which is an off-shoot to the American company- which has been established for over 30years- recognises that grief is the normal and natural reaction to loss- whether that loss has been brought about by a death of someone important in your life- the loss of a beloved pet- the end of a relationship- divorce- the loss of health- or the loss of your career- All these major losses and many others can be helped by this programme- The Grief Recovery programme is 7 sessions long and each one lasts an hour- You will receive your own copy of the GRM handbook after the first session- The sessions run along side the reading of the handbook- There is also an element of reflective work to do in between each session- this can take up to an hour to complete- The programme has been specifically designed to help those grieving with an emotional loss and works in a sequential format with each session building upon the last- I strongly recommend all 7 sessions are attended- When the programme is not fully completed- the unresolved grief can remain and the main goal for undertaking the programme is not achieved- For some of us there is more than one person that has in the past -or still is- causing us pain or sadness and this programme provides you with the opportunity to work with additional relationships- when extra sessions are booked- The sessions begin with an overview of grief and the many myths and beliefs that exist in our society- We discuss the ways in which these beliefs can be unhelpful or insensitive- As a rule of thumb many friends and family members feel uncomfortable when we are sad and they automatically want us to feel -better- or -happy-- In fact what we all need to do is become more comfortable with sadness- We need to allow ourselves and those around us who are suffering to express their sadness and pain- Feeling sad when heartbroken is as natural as smiling or laughing when happy- Burying our sadness or denying it can have tremendous negative effect on our health and wellbeing- One of the sessions looks at Short Term Relieving Behaviours -STERBs- and many recognise that they have relied on certain distractions for some time to avoid the pain surrounding a loss- Examples of STERBs include alcohol- drugs- food- -retail therapy-- holidays and exercise- Within the 7 sessions you are able to take a chronological look at any significant losses in your life and for some clients a pattern of behaviour becomes apparent- increasing awareness and deepening understanding- You also get to look closely at a specific relationship- which is for whatever reason- causing you the most heartache and all of this concludes with a profoundly emotive letter- This letter is a very powerful- emotional releasing exercise- This programme works especially well with those who feel they have unresolved grief - where you wish you had said or done something or indeed hadn-t said or done something- It-s where you feel incomplete- For those who feel -stuck- - who play things over and over again in their minds- the last things they said or did- it can release them from that emotional turmoil- The Grief Recovery Method training was the best course I have ever undertaken and quite literally life changing- In addition to the programme I provide a Bespoke Cloth Keepsake service too- creating one off cloth keepsakes out of the clothes that loved ones have worn- These objects have enormous emotional significance and can bring comfort to those suffering with loss either through separation or bereavement- I also love my work as a Grief and Art workshop facilitator- helping children express their feelings through drawing and textiles-