The holiday season isn't joyful for everyone and it can be a very difficult time for those who have lost loved ones.

On Thursday night, a counselor at Eastern Mennonite University shared advice with students about dealing with holiday grief.

One Harrisonburg couple, who lost their son, has been putting that advice to use.

"It's so raw in the very beginning that you don't even want to spend the holidays together, because it's always the first thing that's the hardest," says Judy Keens.

She and her husband Ed know the difficulty of seeing an empty chair during the holidays.

The couple's son died 12 years ago because of a drunk driver.

Since their son's death, the couple has found healing in part by reaching out to charity groups such as Angel Tree and Big Brothers, Big Sisters. They also partner with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to raise awareness.

"You need to stay out there and look for ways to be helpful and look for ways to make the world better," says Ed Keens.

They've found healing in keeping the memory of their son alive.

"People who don't quite understand what it's like should never be afraid of tears or be afraid to bring up the name of the person," says Ed.

"You like to hear your child's name being spoken and hear things about them," says Judy.

"You definitely don't want them to be forgotten," continues Ed.

That kind of thinking and action is part of the advice Pam Comer offers. She's the director of the counseling center at Eastern Mennonite University, and she 's helping students who have lost loved ones get through the holidays.

"Sometimes people think they can leave town for the holidays, but but what you have to realize is that your grief does not life in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It lives inside of you," says Comer.

She urges those grieving not to be in a rush to move forward. She also says it's okay to talk about your loss and to honor the loved one that is no longer around.