why E-Motion?
we live in a fear of society. this comes at a cost.
“Emotional repression keeps us from feeling—and that costs us our physical and mental well-being. Studies have found that “individuals who repress their emotions also suppress their body’s immunity, making them more vulnerable to a variety of illnesses…and even the biochemical workings of the brain and nervous systems.”
James W. Pennebaker, Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions
We believe that making small changes in how we show up for each other can lead to large impact.
How do we define grief?
The human process of moving with loss. And these losses can take many forms…
Physical such as a death
Social/relational such as breakup, aging/sick family members
Occupational such as a job
Emotional loss of a dream, goal, right, or big life transitions
Personal loss of a friendship, personhood, or sense of security
Ambiguous steeped in uncertainty
the traditional approach vs. the E-Motion approach
The “Traditional Approach” to grief and loss acknowledges people’s level of grief on a scale of one to 10 and aims to support individuals in decreasing their level of grief as quickly as possible. Too often, this results in unhealthy coping strategies and beliefs around grief.
the traditional approach
is “moving on”
The “E-Motion Approach” embraces the belief that coping is a muscle that CAN be built over time. It recognizes that grief is endless; it moves and changes over time. We honor grief’s power and seek to increase an individual's capacity to cope, so it matches or exceeds an individual's level of grief.
the E-Motion approach
is “moving with”
Informed by Dr. Joanne Cacciatore’s “Bearing the Unbearable”
how do we increase our capacity to cope?
“The most powerful buffer in times of stress and distress is our social connectedness.”
Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D.