Launched in 1996, over 300,000 children, young people and adults have participated in Seasons for Growth programs in Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales.

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Seasons for Growth is an innovative, evidence-based change, loss and grief education program that draws on the metaphor of the seasons to understand the experience of grief. It builds the knowledge and skills necessary to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing following significant loss by:

• Exploring the impact of change and loss

• Learning about effective ways to respond and adapt

 

Participants learn that they are not alone in their experience of change, loss and grief, and are able to build their communication, decision making and problem solving skills within the context of a safe and supportive peer group learning environment.

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The topics covered in each session of the program include:

• Seasons and Change (autumn)

• My story and grief reactions (winter)

• Feelings and memories (spring)

• Choices and moving forward (summer)

 

As the name ‘Seasons for Growth’ implies, the different seasons of the year provide a rich symbolic framework in which to explore issues of change and loss. Drawing on the wide variation in the seasons, both in Australia and elsewhere, the metaphor speaks to the ‘ups and downs’ of life, reflecting both the competence and vulnerability of children, as well as the unique ways different ‘seasons’ in life are experienced.

 

All Seasons for Growth programs are grounded in sound, person-centred educational principles.

 

As such, our programs have been shown to be a very effective education intervention. The programs do not provide counselling or psychotherapy.

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NALAG is a certified provider and companion trainer of Seasons for Growth, on behalf of Good Grief.