Wellbeing

Good afternoon families

St Mary’s Stormbirds Program program began this week. 

Stormbirds is built upon the theory of J. William Worden (1996, 2001, 2009), who suggests that adjusting to loss involves four ‘tasks’, which he refers to as ‘grief work’. The concept of ‘tasks’ frames grief as a process, not simply a reaction, which means the person needs to be actively engaged with the tasks. Worden suggests these four tasks are to: 

1. accept the reality of loss
2. process the pain of grief
3. adjust to a changed world after the loss

4. find an enduring connection with what has been lost in the mist of embarking on a new life.

    

In the Stormbirds Program, Worden’s tasks have been adapted for use in educational settings. The choice of using this theory of grief is significant, as it suggests an active ‘I can’ rather than passive ‘if only’ experience. Hence the Stormbirds program provides participants with space to acknowledge the natural disaster, while learning ways to adapt to the change and loss they have observed and experienced as a result of this. (Adapted from Stormbirds Companion Manual)

During our first session together this week we integrated Worden’s first task (accept the reality of loss) with the Stormbird Program task ‘change and loss are part of life’. 

If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to me.  

Julie Cotter

julieann.cotter@smcastlemaine.catholic.edu.au