Lifebanc Offers Holiday Grief Counseling, Support Groups and More

It’s a scenario that many families unfortunately face this time of year: an empty chair at a holiday meal, a favorite dish on the table, a smiling face that now exists only in treasured memory, the conversation, stories and laughter that now ring hollow, echoing off empty walls.

The grief of losing a loved one always becomes much more acute during the holidays.

Lifebanc, our region’s only nonprofit organ, eye and tissue recovery organization, offers comprehensive, continued compassionate care for all its donor families, which is especially important this time of year.

“And those services are free of charge to all of our families, whether their loved one became an organ, eye or tissue donor, or simply intended to become an organ donor,” says Elissa Berman, LPPC-S, manager of Bereavement Services at Lifebanc and a licensed professional clinical counselor. “Our support services include individual counseling, which we do here at our facility and even virtually if our families need it.

“We have 10-week support groups and one-time educational seminars as well as some very creative opportunities for families to communicate and express their grief.”

During the holidays, “it’s not the holidays that create the grief, but they can amplify the grief that is already there,” adds Berman. “And there are traditions such as meals and other things that we all do that can help give us a sense of hope and help through the holidays.”

But everyone experiencing grief can always use some extra help.

Lifebanc’s bereavement services include supportive phone calls, letters, access to valuable resource information and support referrals.

“Throughout the year, we also offer a number of programs to help families cope with grief in more casual, less structured settings,” adds Berman.

Healing through Art offers families a chance to express themselves when words fall short. Music therapy teaches unique coping skills such as breathing techniques, relaxation and a path to emotional expression.

“For the past three years, we’ve offered Zootherapy, where families had the opportunity to spend time with baby animals at Lake [Metropark] Farmpark, to experience new life,” adds Berman. “We also have something called the Lifebanc Story Collective, where families learn how to share their stories about loved ones.”

Lifebanc also offers Peer Grief Support for those interested in connecting with fellow donor families for supportive conversations. The Peer Grief Support program is designed to connect newer donor families with those who are five to more than 30 years away from their loss. These donor families have gone through training designed to help them companion through simple informal conversations and building strong rapport through the common experience of the loss of a loved one.

This strong commitment to donor families by Lifebanc has been a direction of its CEO, Katie Payne, who experienced the loss of her brother Billy, a tissue donor.

“I understand that these families have gone through the greatest tragedy of their lives, and then we have gone in and asked them for something extra,” says Payne. “It’s one of the most incredible gifts you can give somebody. We’re very grateful that we are surrounded by these types of people who can do something so generous, when they just lost somebody.”

“Katie has made family bereavement care a priority at Lifebanc, and it is an incredible professional privilege to be able to help these families,” adds Berman. “It’s very important at this time of year not only to remember how our loved ones died, but also how they lived. Organ, eye and tissue donation helps them leave a legacy that directly impacts and improves another person’s life. It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give.”

One-time seminars include an upcoming one entitled “Grieving Through the Holidays,” which will be held on Monday, November 16 with registration required by November 9. If you are interested, contact Lifebanc at bereavement@lifebanc.org or call 216-820-4940.