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Chaplain brings new information to next GBHH&H grief support group
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             Since Larry Schumacher will attend advanced training early in October, he will be equipped with even more knowledge to help those who have lost loved ones.

Schumacher is the chaplain at Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice (GBHH&H), which sponsors Monday evening grief classes.

The next eight-class series begins Monday, Oct. 12 and runs through Nov. 30. Classes are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at GBHH&H, 3520 Lakin, Room 103. Entrance is on Lincoln Street.

GBHH&H is part of the St. Rose Health Center family.

Schumacher noted he is eagerly anticipating his additional training from Alan Wolfelt, PhD, author of the book used in his local classes. The book is titled “Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart.”

“Dr. Wolfelt’s book is tremendous and those who have read it are impressed with his insight,” Schumacher said. “It has opened their eyes on how to handle grief. I hope to glean information from him in person to help people in this next series of classes.

“We are always looking for new ideas,” he continued. “I am a firm believer in training. If you don’t learn and grow you can’t help anybody else learn and grow.”

This will be the third series of grief sessions for Schumacher in his role as GBHH&H chaplain. Cathy Soeken, social worker, assists during the sessions.

“Our classes are successful because participants are willing to talk with one another, not because of anything Cathy and I do,” Schumacher said. “Even if you attended earlier sessions, it is more than okay to come back. We find that people get more out of it the second time around.

“They have said the second series of sessions causes a light bulb to come on,” he explained. “The first time, emotions are sometimes too raw. You might not be ready to talk yet.”

The chaplain strongly recommends that participants attend all eight Monday evening sessions.

“I understand that things come up in daily life but there is so much information and we want to share it,” he said. “We don’t want people to miss out on information that can help them.”

For more information, contact Schumacher or Soeken by calling 620-792-8171.

St. Rose specializes in primary care, prevention and wellness. Services include St. Rose Family Medicine, Convenient Care Walk-in Clinic, Great Bend Internists, imaging, infusion clinic, WellnessWorks, one-day surgical procedures, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice and a comprehensive Specialty Clinic. St. Rose is co-owned by Hays Medical Center and Centura Health.