Working with Treetops Hospice, in Derby, researchers have developed a new training resource to help those supporting bereaved people have more sensitive, helpful conversations about grief.
The new module, Listening to bereaved people’s stories, forms part of Loughborough University’s RealTalk programme, which uses recordings of real conversations to help improve communication around difficult and sensitive experiences.
Rather than telling people what they should say when someone is grieving, the training shows how conversations unfold and suggests techniques that can help bereaved people feel listened to, understood and supported.
Techniques include:
- Non-judgmental listening
- Inviting self-reflection
- Recognising that people can experience and respond to grief in different ways
- Normalising experiences of grief
- Helping participants recognise common ground in what they have been through
Dr Marco Pino, of Loughborough’s School of Social Sciences and Humanities, who developed the training, said: “What makes this approach different is that it isn’t about giving staff and volunteers a script or telling them there is a ‘right’ thing to say to someone who is grieving.
“It is grounded in what actually happens when bereaved people talk about their experiences.
“By studying real conversations, we can identify techniques that help people feel listened to, such as listening without judgement, encouraging reflection and recognising that everyone experiences grief differently.
“It moves away from trying to provide answers or fix someone’s grief and instead gives people the space and support they need to tell their own story.”
The module is based on Loughborough research carried out with national charity Cruse Bereavement Support.
Researchers recorded four meetings of a bereavement support group and used a technique known as conversation analysis to examine not only what people said, but how they said it, including pauses, tone of voice and the way people responded to each other.
The research found that telling stories was an important way for people to make sense of their grief, express their thoughts and feelings, connect with others and receive emotional and practical support.
Those findings have now been turned into practical training resources for professionals and volunteers supporting bereaved people.
Dr Pino said: “By bringing together academic research and frontline bereavement expertise, the project aims to give those supporting people through grief practical, evidence-based tools for conversations that can be extraordinarily difficult.
“The ultimate goal is simply to help bereaved people feel heard, understood and less alone at one of the most difficult times in their lives.”
Sharan Harris-Christensen, Head of Clinical Quality and Education at Treetops Hospice, added: “We see every day how powerful it can be for bereaved people to share their stories, talk about their loved ones and connect with others who have had similar experiences.
“These conversations can help people feel less alone and more understood during an incredibly difficult time.
“The new RealTalk module highlights the importance of creating safe, supportive spaces where these conversations can happen.
“Equipping professionals and trained volunteers with the skills and confidence to facilitate them sensitively is essential in providing compassionate and effective bereavement support.”
ENDS