Good Grief

I have just sadly wrapped up my time at Good Grief on August 5th. It has been such a rewarding experience for me. The most rewarding part was definitely facilitating support groups because I was able to be hands on with families participating in the Nights of Support programs and see the struggles of each age group. This was also important to me because this opportunity helped me narrow down what age groups I gravitated towards. I really enjoyed working with the middle school and high school groups which is what I predicted.

I consider myself very lucky because during my time at Good Grief, I didn’t face many challenges as far as data collection, gathering supplies for summer camp, researching organizations for community outreach database, or any other administrative work. However, one thing that was challenging for me was learning to not self-disclose when I was with the middle school and high school participants. As the facilitator, I had to let the participants control the conversation and make sure they are the center of the group. This group is not for me to participate in, but I am simply a guide. However, self-disclosing when we are talking about lighter topics was tempting for me. For example, one participant said they were thinking about going to the University of Scranton after senior year. Of course, I was extremely tempted to let her know that I go to Scranton and express how much I love it. I knew that it could derail the conversation and others wouldn’t be included in the conversation. Learning to not self-disclose definitely got easier as time when on, and I am glad I learned to control when to self-disclose. This skill will be extremely important for me as a future counselor!

This is me in our orientation room where new families come in and hear about programs, they can participate in. Behind me is a tree where children can write anything they want on paper leaves.
This is me in our orientation room where new families come in and hear about programs, they can participate in. Behind me is a tree where children can write anything they want on paper leaves.
These are boxes I put together of supplies for this year’s Good Grief Summer Camp. These boxes are full of arts and crafts, books, and so many activities for kids ages 6 to 18. I also made binders for the camp counselors that included schedules and ice breaker ideas.
These are boxes I put together of supplies for this year’s Good Grief Summer Camp. These boxes are full of arts and crafts, books, and so many activities for kids ages 6 to 18. I also made binders for the camp counselors that included schedules and ice breaker ideas.
This is another wall where participants can write messages to their loved one. It’s for any participant but especially for those who don’t like to express their feelings verbally.
This is another wall where participants can write messages to their loved one. It’s for any participant but especially for those who don’t like to express their feelings verbally.
These are memory boxes. Each child receives a memory box where they can collect items that remind them of their person. They can either leave their box here and bring in items over time to fill the box, or they can bring it home. Many kids carry it around everywhere they go.
These are memory boxes. Each child receives a memory box where they can collect items that remind them of their person. They can either leave their box here and bring in items over time to fill the box, or they can bring it home. Many kids carry it around everywhere they go.
This is the “Volcano Room.” All kids have their days where they don’t want to talk about their person who passed away or don’t have the mental headspace to handle difficult conversations. The Volcano Room is an option for them to play and get away from the conversation. It’s also a space for them to let out any anger they are feeling in a safe way.
This is the “Volcano Room.” All kids have their days where they don’t want to talk about their person who passed away or don’t have the mental headspace to handle difficult conversations. The Volcano Room is an option for them to play and get away from the conversation. It’s also a space for them to let out any anger they are feeling in a safe way.
This is a hospital room. Although this room may seem unsettling for some, many kids in the program love to “play doctor” or “hospital.” Some of the kids comfort in this room because a hospital setting might be the only place they remember seeing their loved one, especially if they are very young.
This is a hospital room. Although this room may seem unsettling for some, many kids in the program love to “play doctor” or “hospital.” Some of the kids comfort in this room because a hospital setting might be the only place they remember seeing their loved one, especially if they are very young.

Nicole Gomber ’23
Counseling and Human Services

5 Replies to “Good Grief”

  1. Nicole,
    Because of the nature of your internship, I knew that it would be both rewarding and yet introduce unique challenges. I obviously have no experience in the counseling field, but I can relate to the idea of having to control when to self-disclose. Even when you think it would be better to say something, it is usually better to let the other person, or people, talk. I can also understand how facilitating support groups could be rewarding. Just as I imagine that it would be difficult to hear and see the grief that people feel, especially children, I can also imagine that it is equally rewarding to see them begin to heal.

  2. Hi Nicole,
    It is so great that you were able to have such a lasting positive impact on people during your internship. I am glad that this solidified your career choices. I never considered the challenge of self-disclosing when it comes to counseling but is great that you were able to recognize this obstacle so early-on and work to overcome it. I am sure you have helped many lives!

  3. Nicole,
    I’m so glad that you got to experience working with the age groups you thought you’d enjoy, and it’s awesome that you liked it! It’s really valuable for you to have been exposed to that before actually entering the workforce. I also commend your self restraint in your line of work. It seems like you got a lot of practice and valuable experience!

  4. Hi Nicole,
    I’m so glad you had such a rewarding experience, and it’s great that your internship helped you determine which age group you’d like to work with in the future. I understand that self-disclosure can be very tempting, so I commend you for recognizing that and working to strengthen that skill. I also enjoyed the pictures you shared!

  5. Nicole –
    Your internship sounded like such a rewarding environment to be in. I’m glad that it helped you nail what you want to work with once you graduate. I completely understand the challenge of self-disclosure, because I struggled with it too when it came to confidentiality rules at my internship.

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