Courses/Programs Offered by Bruce McFarland, Grief Recovery Method Specialist ®
If you are reading this, it likely means that you, or someone close to you, is suffering from a wounded heart. It may have been caused by the death of a family member, friend, or beloved pet. It may have been caused by a divorce, break-up, or an estranged relationship. Or it may have been caused by the loss of a job, a move, or any number of other losses or major changes in your life. This sense of loss and the emotional pain you are feeling is the normal and natural reaction to any major change in life! It is called Grief, and it’s a word that most of us don’t really understand.
Grief is emotional, not logical
The grief that comes with emotional loss can be overwhelming and incredibly isolating. You may find the people you normally count on for emotional support are ill-equipped when it comes to offering effective and meaningful grief support. You will often hear logical reasons why you should not feel bad, but that rarely helps because grief is emotional and not intellectual! You are suffering from a broken heart, not a broken head! The fact you are seeking help in dealing with grief is not a sign of weakness, but rather a recognition on your part, that you are interested in taking recovery actions!
Private, Comfortable Setting
While some people prefer to work in a group setting with other grievers, many find it easier to work with a trained GRM Specialist one-on-one. This allows you the privacy to discuss your emotional pain with someone who has used the same tools they are offering you in order to deal with heartbreak that has impacted your life.
Below I’ve outlined the most popular Grief Recovery Method programs or courses for your review. As a GRM Specialist, I’m certified to be your guide or coach and walk with you as you go through these programs.
I’ll let you know my status and availability along with each of the offerings.
All of these programs are based on the Grief Recovery Method action plans, and all GRM Specialists are trained and certified to help create a safe environment for you to discover and complete the emotional pain of any type of loss – we are taught to, and are honored to be your "heart with ears" to listen and support you through the Grief Recovery Method process without analysis, criticism or judgment.
Guarantees
There are no guarantees. This question has been asked many times and in many ways about the effectiveness of the program. First, let me say that this program is in no way confrontational, which means if someone pushed into taking it, and you’re 100% committed to proving them wrong, you probably won’t get much out of the program. But, if you’re willing to give it a chance, I’m 100% confident you will be very glad you took the course.
Some people have several big aha moments during, or on the last day of the course, and some others not so much, they just say they were thankful and learned a lot, but then come back later and tell us that the program changed their life, and the last day of the program was just the beginning of their freedom, and they’ve been using the tools they learned from the GRM ever since.
We tell people you get as much out of the program as you put in, and as Specialists, we are there to encourage you and give you a safe place to be.
What’s Next
Before we start to work together on any program, I recommend a brief 15-20 minute Intro Info Q&A phone call to answer initial questions. You can schedule that on the CONTACT page.
If things go well and you are interested in finding out more about me and the GRM programs or courses, we can schedule a 30-60 minute Discovery Meeting. This should be done face to face, so if you’re nearby, we can meet in Santa Clarita, or if you’re thinking about taking a course online, we can set up a Zoom Discovery Meeting. This meeting is free and there is absolutely no obligation. The reason we should meet face to face is because the work we will be doing gives you a chance to deal with emotional things in your life, and I want you to feel comfortable working with me.
Even after having a meeting, you may not be ready to start a course, which is perfectly OK. You need to take that step when you are ready, so I am willing to talk with you and answer all of your questions.
One-on-One Grief Support is available Online or In-Person
This program is for people who prefer to work one-on-one rather than in a group setting. The 7-session format utilizes the same proven materials as the group programs and can be completed in-person or online with me or any other Grief Recovery Method Specialist. We are specifically trained to help people move through loss with dignity and respect, in a safe confidential supportive environment.
The 7-session format is designed to be budgeted for 60-90 minutes per session, but occasionally runs a little longer, and there is reading and written homework.
If you have any questions about this program, please schedule a brief 10-20 minute Intro Info Q&A phone call to answer initial or follow-up questions.
If you’re pretty sure you’d like to do this program and would like to meet with me in-person or online, please schedule a 30-60 minute Discovery Meeting.
Both of these links can be found on the CONTACT page
Group Grief Support is available Online, but currently looking for a Santa Clarita In-Person location
While I am certified to lead groups, both in-person, and online, I have not found any suitable locations in Santa Clarita to hold these groups, so for now, they will only be available online.
The 8-week Grief Support Group format offers a safe, evidence-based environment for grievers to take effective and lasting action, no matter the type of loss experienced. These groups are led by Grief Recovery Method Specialists, trained and certified by the Grief Recovery Institute.
Part of my first class and even in our Zoom Discovery Meeting, I tell everyone that everyone in the group must commit to strict rules of privacy and confidentiality for the sake of all of us, and so we can proceed in a safe environment.
The 8-session format is designed to be budgeted for 60-90 minutes per sessions, but occasionally run a little longer, and there is reading and written homework.
If you have any questions about this program, please schedule a brief 15-20 minute Intro Info Q&A phone call to answer initial or follow-up questions.
If you’re pretty sure you’d like to do this program and would like to meet with me in-person or online, please schedule a 30-60 minute Discovery Meeting.
Both of these links can be found on the CONTACT page.
Pet Loss Grief Support is available One-on-One, or in a Group, Online or In-Person
While I am certified to lead Pet Loss Support Groups, both in-person, and online, I have not found any suitable locations in Santa Clarita to hold those groups. I have been looking, and have a couple of good possibilities, but for now, Groups will only be available online. One-on-One is available In-Person and Online.
Our 6-meeting Grief Recovery Method Support Groups and One-on-One Format for Pet Loss are designed to help you address all of those emotional feelings that are unique to your individual loss and grief. You can choose to work in-person or online. A Grief Recovery Method Specialist who has used the exact same tools to deal with loss in his or her own life leads each group. Our program will take you through a number of steps to help you fully discover and address those things that you wish might have been different, better, or more in your relationship with your beloved pet. It is this “unfinished business” that often gets in the way of enjoying fond memories.
The grief that comes with any emotional loss can be overwhelming and also very isolating. Often people find that those they normally count on for emotional support are at a total loss when it comes to offering effective and meaningful assistance. This is particularly true when it comes to the loss of a pet. Most people would never consider telling someone who had lost a child or a parent to “go out and get a new one,” but that is often what they tell someone who has just lost their very special pet companion! Pet owners (guardians) often find that the emotional pain of their loss is totally discounted by others around them.
The loss of a pet can be emotionally devastating. Sadly, the impact of the heartbreak of this type of loss is often downplayed or ignored by friends and family. This 6-session program is focused on offering pet owners an effective mechanism for taking action to move through and beyond their grief.
If you have any questions about this program, please schedule a brief 15-20 minute Intro Info Q&A phone call to answer initial or follow-up questions.
If you’re pretty sure you’d like to do this program and would like to meet with me in-person or online, please schedule a 30-60 minute Discovery Meeting.
Both of these links can be found on the CONTACT page.
I have not yet completed the coursework to become certified to lead these courses, but know how valuable they can be to those in need.
The vast majority of parents find themselves at a loss when trying to help their children deal with any grieving experience that impacts them. This 4-week program is designed to teach parents, and others who work with children, the necessary tools to help children effectively deal with their broken hearts, no matter the loss they are facing.
If you Follow This Link, it will take you to the main GRM website where you can find a certified Specialist trained to led courses in this area.