Seasons for Growth is an 8-week programme for children, young people or adults who have experienced grief or loss.
Programme sessions are run in small groups of up to 8 students and last between 45 minutes to one hour, depending on the age group. As an evidence-based and highly regarded programme, Seasons for Growth has a unique and important role to play in supporting mental health within your school community.
The benefits of learning in small groups:
Reducing isolation and helping to build a sense of whānau.
Reminding children and young people that they are not alone; there are others going through challenges at school too.
Providing children with some time-out from classroom activities, in order to develop their skills for coping, problem-solving and decision-making. Promoting respectful discussion and safe group activities.
Restoring self-confidence and self-esteem by helping children know they have some choice and agency in their lives.
Seasons for Growth Key Facts
Launched 1996
Launched in 1996 by Dr Anne P Graham PhD in collaboration with educational, health and welfare professionals.
200,000+
The programme has reached over 200,000 children and young people, and many thousands of adults.
International reach
Seasons for Growth is currently run in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland and Peru.
How it works
Request
Contact Lifewalk and request the Seasons for Growth programme for your school. If you are already supported by a Lifewalk Wellbeing Mentor/Chaplain, you can simply speak to them in person.
Group Formation
Seasons for Growth Companions have trained to facilitate the delivery of the programme in a safe environment, using methods that promote peer support and respect. There will be two Seasons for Growth Companions per programme.
The role of a Companion is critical to the Seasons for Growth process. Lifewalk Wellbeing Mentors/Chaplains who have chosen to train with Seasons for Growth are an ideal match as their core practice covers the essential support skills for this programme.
Companion Support
Core Skills
Genuinely caring about supporting young people in understanding and accepting grief.
Listening effectively.
Facilitating discussions.
Asking questions sensitively and respecting silence.
Not burdened by his/her own unresolved grief.
Relating well to the age group he/she is accompanying.
Understanding the issues related to mandatory reporting.
Acting supportively—does not rescue, distract or make participants dependent.
Trusting the participants’ experiences and capacity to choose what is best for them.
Asking “what” and “how” questions (not “why” or “which”).
Respecting the uniqueness of each person’s life story.
Seasons for Growth is an essential aid to wellbeing in schools.
Research tells us that when a family is going through a tough time, the school can be a place of consistency and support for the child – especially through their social connections. We have received feedback from parents who say their children have benefitted hugely from being in the Seasons for Growth programme.
Contact us about Seasons for Growth today
