Our Framework
Helping widows live, one moment at a time.
We at the Paisley Project understand how life-altering the loss of a spouse can be. Everything that was once familiar and known and expected is suddenly, drastically, tragically different.
But we believe that there is hope, not only to survive devastating loss, but to thrive and move toward new purpose and meaning. At Paisley Project, we use a framework called L.I.V.E.
Early in our history, we recognized that grief is not linear. There are no definitive “stages” and no accurate timelines. As writer Amy Boardman Rejme wrote, “deep, profound grief is just weird. So, keep that in mind when you wonder why grieving people do (or don’t do) what you think they should do, or what seems normal. Grief is really weird.”
Despite this, we have identified “categories” of the grieving process, which are roughly described as L.I.V.E.
L
The “L” stands for LOSS, and represents the many different parts of moving through the initial loss. Loss of a spouse, a partner, a co-parent, a life-style, as well as an image of one’s life.
I
The “I” stands for IDENTITY. One of the primary losses in widowhood is the loss of who you were and what your life was supposed to look like.
V
The “V” stands for VISION and represents the silver lining of loss. You have an opportunity to reimagine your life from the ground up. What would you like to see in your future?
E
The “E” stands for ENGAGEMENT. With time and healing, many widows feel drawn to re-engage in the world, shifting from surviving the loss to using their gifts and experiences to thrive in a new normal.
OUR EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH
We include the following Pillars for Healing in all our services and programs, which are carefully crafted to promote well-being and mitigate the risk of chronic grieving disorder. Each of these tools are backed by extensive research:
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Social support is vital for grieving individuals, offering understanding and alleviating isolation. Safe spaces are a platform for open expression and empathy, fostering better mental health outcomes.
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Ecotherapy or green therapy, has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while enhancing mood and cognitive function, offering solace and rejuvenation for better overall well-being.
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Professional coaching for widows provides personalized emotional support, tailored healing plans, resilience-building techniques, assistance in rediscovering identity and purpose, guidance on practical matters, and help in creating a supportive network to navigate grief and find healing.
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Art therapy offers a means of processing emotions and trauma through creative expression, providing an outlet for difficult-to-express feelings and fostering self-awareness, healing, and growth.
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Journaling allows widows to explore emotions, memories, and hopes, improves emotional regulation, reduces distress, and provides an outlet for processing grief and finding resilience.
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Physical exercise, massage, and other healing practices can help alleviate the impact of grief by promoting neuroplasticity, releasing mood-enhancing endorphins, improving sleep quality, managing stress, boosting energy levels, and providing emotional balance and resilience.
Meet Other Widows
We have a private group feed for widows only. It’s a judgment-free safe space to connect, vent, or celebrate your experiences. To join, visit our contact page via the button below so we can get you connected.
Make A Donation.
Our mission is to provide essential tools and resources to support women to survive, heal, grow, and thrive after the loss of their husbands, while also mobilizing the widow’s own support network.
Paisley Project is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization in the state of Colorado.
All donations are tax-deductible.
EIN #47-1052225