Has someone important to you passed away either recently or in the past? Are you having trouble dealing with this loss? Do you wish you had people in your life to talk to about your experiences with grief?

Learning how grief affects you, and some of the proven coping skills on how to more comprehensively accept a loss, isn't an easy task. Fortunately, Pat Walker Health Center's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers a weekly grief support group and skill-building workshop.  

"Grieving in a healthy way is very difficult for anyone, especially for students who have the added pressures of course-work," says Danette Horne, associate director for CAPS. "Our goal is to provide grieving students the support and tools necessarily to cope with loss in a healthy and effective way."

Students who've suffered the loss of a loved one, a change in life situation, or the loss of a close relationship are invited to attend these sessions, where they will:

• Learn about the grief process.
• Relate to others who are also dealing with grief.
• Work on expressing and accepting emotions around grief.
• Address issues around coping with grief.

Grief support and skill-building sessions are held at 11 a.m. every Wednesday at the Pat Walker Health Center, room 242.

For more information, call CAPS at 479-575-5276 or email Dewey Dykes at ddykes@uark.edu.