By Brittany Brand

Students grieving the death of someone close to them will find support and community in GriefShare, a free nondenominational program offered through the Counseling Center. The Center condensed the 13-week cycle to six weeks in order to complete the program before finals.

Students will have the opportunity to interact with others who are going through the grieving process every Thursday night from 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 15-Nov. 19. The meetings will take place in the Counseling Resource Room, in the lower level of McKinzie Hall.

“The biggest thing is that when people know they have someone to walk through these hard things with, it is not necessarily easier, but bearable,” said Steve Eller, university counselor, who will lead the group.

They will discuss living with grief and what to expect during this time, among other topics. The program will start with a brief video from GriefShare and conclude with a service of remembrance to share “stories, songs, tears, pictures and pain,” according to www.acu.edu.

Hope Cervantes, sophomore interior design major from San Antonio, said she is looking forward to the program. After going through the loss of her mother as a sophomore in high school, she feels called to share her story and help others who are going through the same thing.

“I think I am far enough along in the journey that I can share insights for people who experienced a loss,” Cervantes said.

This program is not just for those who have recently dealt with the loss of someone, but for anyone who has ever lost someone they love.

Grieving is “a process that you may encounter 10 years down the road that you thought you were done with,” Eller said.

Students may attend any time during the six weeks and not have to participate in every session.

The Counseling Center requests attendees register online, but Eller said students who have not registered will not be turned away.

Visit www.acu.edu/campusoffices/counseling/group.html to register or for more information.