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Kara Videos
3 Clients Talk About Their Kara Experience - PC,
Mac
Overview of Kara's Services - PC,
Mac
Camp Erin 2008
Kara Services
Individual peer counseling for adults
Support groups for children, teenagers
and adults
Community outreach & education
Referrals
The one who can be present with us in our hours
of grief, who can tolerate not knowing, and face with us the reality
of our vulnerability, that is the one who gives us our best caring.
(From Out of Solitude, by Henry Nouwen)
Our Mission
Kara is a center offering compassionate peer support
and education to individuals, families and organizations
coping with death and dying. Our mission is to empower
children, teens and adults to find their way through
grief so that they can rebuild their lives with
renewed hope and meaning.
How to Help Someone
Suffering from Loss
DO let your genuine concern and caring show.
DO be available... to listen or to help with whatever else
seems needed at the time.
DO say you are sorry about what happened and about their
pain.
DO allow them to express as much unhappiness as they are
feeling at the moment and are willing to share.
DO encourage them to be patient with themselves, not to expect
too much of themselves and not to impose any “shoulds” on themselves.
DO allow them to talk about their loss as much and as often
as they want to.
DO talk about the special, endearing qualities of the person
they've lost.
DO remember they continue to need your caring and support
after the first few weeks or months have passed.
DON'T let your own sense of helplessness keep you from reaching
out.
DON'T avoid them because you are uncomfortable (being avoided
by friends adds pain to an already painful experience.)
DON'T say that you "know how they feel". (Unless you've experienced
their loss yourself you probably don't know how they feel.)
DON'T say "you ought to be feeling better by now" or anything
else that implies a judgment about their feelings.
DON'T tell them what they should feel or do.
DON'T change the subject when they mention their loss or
their loved one.
DON'T avoid mentioning their loss out of fear of reminding
them of their pain (You can be sure they haven't forgotten it.
DON'T try to find something positive (e.g. a moral lesson,
closer family ties, etc.) about the loss.
DON'T point out “at least they have their other …”
DON'T say they “can always have another ...”
DON'T suggest that they “should be grateful for their so-and-so...”
DON'T make any comments which in any way suggest that their
loss was their fault (there will be enough feelings of doubt and
guilt without any help from their friends).
How you can
support Kara
Kara depends on volunteers
and donations. Please call us
if you wish to volunteer your time. To provide financial support,
click HERE to learn about options
for making donations or click on the button below to make an online
donation.
Kara Website Hosting provided by
ez2ba.com
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