CALVARY Bereavement Counselling Service will hold a workshop at Kogarah for people who recently lost someone in their lives.
The workshop will show people how to make a memory box to keep photos, letters, drawings and memorabilia to keep their memory alive.
Counsellor Chris McCabe said people grieved in many ways.
Shock, disbelief, numbness, confusion, sadness and despair are just some of the emotions people can go through — and grieving can last for several months or several years.
Service staff are trying out a different way of accommodating grief.
"Our aim is to provide a space where people who are bereaved can use their creativity to make a memory box as a way of honouring the person who has died and also to help in maintaining a connection with them," Ms McCabe said.
"Sometimes people are looking for ways to remember the person who died or care for things that were special to them, but are not sure where to start.
"A memory box can come in any shape or form, decorated in any way and contain anything that has a special meaning for the recently bereaved or the person who has died.
"They can contain photos, letters, drawings, memorabilia, or hand-made objects."
The one-day workshop is open to anyone in the region who has experienced a bereavement.
It will be held from 10am to 4.30pm on Saturday, August 16, at Calvary Hospital's conference centre.
Some art materials will be provided and no artistic experience is necessary.
The service has face-to-face counselling for people who have experienced the death of someone significant to them regardless of the cause.
The service has a walking group for bereaved people and occasionally other groups related to supporting bereaved people. This self-referral service is free of charge.
Details, registrations: Chris McCabe or Sarah Visser, Monday to Wednesday, at Calvary Bereavement Counselling Service, 9553 3025.
