Author: Webmaster FCGC

By Carrie Schaeffer, LCSW, Perinatal Bereavement Services Manager Mother’s Day is quickly approaching as we settle into spring. The day is celebrated with flowers and picnics, homemade crafts and time spent together as a family. It is a day to honor and reflect on the sacred bond formed between a mother or mother-figure and her children.  For some, … Continue reading Mother’s Day: Thinking of ALL Mothers

By: Carrie Schaeffer, LCSW Termination or interruption of a pregnancy for medical reasons (TFMR) occurs when the baby has been given a life-limiting diagnosis in utero or when the health of the mother is at risk during the pregnancy. Often, parents are faced with this heartbreaking scenario well into their pregnancy, when genetic tests or in-depth … Continue reading Grief that Accompanies a Termination for Medical Reasons

By Britt Cowart, LCSW, Grief Services Director Grief journaling is one way of allowing ourselves the space for genuine healing to take place, whether we’re ready and willing to express ourselves to others or not.  Due to the copious amount of research suggesting that grief journaling after a significant loss has therapeutic value, journaling is a … Continue reading Journaling for Healing

By: Keith D. Lewis, Full Circle Suicide Loss Group Participant Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Daniel or see him in my mannerisms or hear him in my words. So much so that I wonder if I thought about him this much when he was living. Holidays are different now because … Continue reading Keeping Daniel’s Memory Alive

By: Carrie Schaeffer, LCSW, Perinatal Bereavement Services Manager One of the many things that make pregnancy and infant loss so painful and bewildering is that there are not many memories and mementos left behind as there are when a person who has lived a longer life dies. And yet, bereaved parents’ desire to remember these lives is … Continue reading Remember Your Baby After Pregnancy or Infant Loss

Mother's Day is a day of celebration for many, but should also be a time of acknowledging those women in your life who have experienced the loss of a child, or those who have had difficulty conceiving. They deserve and desire the recognition and love just like other mothers. Be there for them, listen to … Continue reading Bereaved Mothers Share Their Stories

By: Tiffany Spede, Guest Blogger "You mean my baby is dead?""I'm telling you her heart isn't strong enough on its own, so we are having to help her." And so began the 45 minutes of praying and pleading and begging and bargaining with God that occurs when hospital staff is performing CPR on your precious … Continue reading Loss of My Child

By Rachel Melhorn, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist Here at Full Circle, we talk a lot about “big feelings.” When we use this term, we are referring to grieving children’s struggles with emotional regulation. This may look like an extended tantrum, uncontrollable crying, fit of anger, or bout of anxiety. Grounding techniques are mindfulness strategies that … Continue reading Grounding Techniques to Support Grieving Children

By Rachel Melhorn, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist For many children, movement (bouncing, running, fidgeting, skipping) is a natural state of being. Many times, when we ask kids to “pay attention,” what we are really saying is “stop moving,” but physical movement has such a positive impact on the emotional well-being of children. Mindful movement is … Continue reading Mindful Movement to Support Grieving Children

By Wendy Boggs, MS, Counseling Intern To play on a common turn of phrase, when you’ve seen one older adult, you’ve seen ONE older adult. This is important to remember when considering America’s elders, as the older adult population is also the most heterogeneous. So, what’s this mean?  It means we have to work to remember older people … Continue reading Loss in Later Life