Paradise Kids

This group is for parents who have experienced the death of a child at any age. The group is facilitated by professional counsellors.

Whether consciously or unconsciously, many people hold the belief that, children should not die before their arents.

In reality, of course, life is unpredictable and sometimes children do die before their parents. Because of these cultural beliefs, grieving parents may find that the death of a child is a taboo subject. Friends may avoid discussing the issue for the simple fear of causing further pain, both for the parents and themselves.

Grief and loss may be so overwhelming, that we can become emotionally unavailable to significant others, such as partners and children. We may become ‘submerged’ in grief and live our life from this role.

In contrast, doing ‘Grief Work’ enables the person experiencing the loss to return to a balanced life. By providing a safe and supportive place to discuss the grieving process, this group will facilitate the tasks of the grief process and of moving on into healing.

Many people search for ways to overcome the emotional pain of the grief and loss process following the death of a child.

In a healing environment, through sharing their experience, strength and hope, members of this support group gain release and peace from grief and pain.

Grief is an individual growth process and through awareness, insight and processing the loss, we can experience a new freedom.

Members grow at their own pace by keeping an open mind in self-observation, with no judgement and with no attachment to outcome. Sharing helps in empathising with the pain of others, and frees us from the emotional bonds of the past, as well as the ongoing pain of grief and loss.

Aims and Goals

Gain new insights about choices to replace old, self defeating behaviour.
Develop skills in processing and moving on in the grief and loss process.
Be supported and support others in their attempt to transform their grief from pain and problems to possibilities.
Work on solutions and positive outcomes.
Learn to talk, trust, feel, think, reflect and be real in the experience of grief.
Acknowledge that there are as many different ways to experience grief as there are people in the group.
Affirm that each person’s grief is a totally unique experience.
Encourage sharing by asking each group member to respect the confidentiality of the
group and of each individual member in the group.

Contact Mireille Allan, Program Support Co-Ordinator & Counsellor
P: (07) 5574 6853
E: mallan@paradisekids.org.au