A special final project recently took place as part of an advanced course on family bereavement support at Lavia . A group of ten teenagers and young adults between the ages of 18 and 32 visited the Lebenshof Schokuhminza e.V. in Herne.
Grief is universal in the existence of other living beings.
The aim of this trip was to experience the grief work in a new context. In direct contact with the rescued cows and the calming nature of the farm. Here, the participants should have space for their grief. But not just in a centered view, but anchored universally in the existence of other living beings.
Animal-assisted grief work: An alternative method.
The Lebenshof Schokuhminza e.V. [1] not only offers a safe haven for rescued cows, but also a special environment in which those who are grieving can find new ways to process their emotions. Through interaction with the animals and mindfulness in nature, the participants were encouraged to concentrate on the moment and find inner peace. These encounters with the animals offered a gentle way to emotionally deal with one's own grieving process.
Long-term impacts and reflection.
In the debriefing sessions that followed the trip, many participants reported on the positive effects of the animal-assisted experience. They reflected that the visit to the Lebenshof helped them to deal with their grief more consciously. But mindfulness and gratitude could also be better integrated into their everyday lives. The peaceful and respectful atmosphere on the farm in particular helped them to develop new perspectives on dealing with loss.
Conclusion.
The trip to the Lebenshof Schokuhminza e.V. was an enriching experience for the project participants and showed that grief work does not always have to take place in traditional settings. The animal-assisted method enabled the adolescents and young adults to process their grief in a gentle and mindful way that accompanies them sustainably in their everyday lives.
