I hereby consent to participate in grief counseling support group.   I understand the purpose of grief counseling is to help facilitate feelings and thoughts surrounding the grief process.   I further understand that grief counseling sessions may be facilitated by a professional staff member or specially trained volunteer.   These sessions are not considered therapy.   Rather, grief counseling sessions are supports to provide a safe space for listening and emotional support to assist  the  individual client  to  cope  with  normal  grief  reactions.

I understand that grief counseling involves exploration of emotions and that the possible health risks related to grief counseling are as follows:

• Withdrawal
• Expression of angry feelings or aggressive behaviors
• Tearfulness
• Appetite Change
• Sleep disturbance
• Preoccupation with death or illness in play
• Increased anxiety
• Depression

I further understand that the benefits of grief counseling are:

• Decreased withdrawal
• Improved ability to sleep
• Decreased anxiety
• Decreased preoccupation with death or illness in play
• Increased sense of happiness

The Journey Institute, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization.   It is our desire to make grief support services available and affordable to everyone  in  the  communities  that  we  serve.   All of our grief support services are open to the public.