May 5 and 6 : Juggling Joy and Sorrow & Neurobiology to Support Grief Journeys & REST in Grief: The Power of Stillness in Healing

Description

Juggling the Joy and Sorrow:

Supporting Healthy Grief in Children, Families and Ourselves

 Friday, May 5, 2023, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Presented by:  Andrea Warnick RN, MA, RP

Overview:

The human experience of grief is always a difficult one yet additional challenge comes with navigating grief in a society that struggles with both emotional expression and mortality. In addition, living through a pandemic has provided an abundance of losses, many of which are unacknowledged, which can further complicate and compound a child’s experience of grief.

While grief is an often-misunderstood process, at its core it is an extremely healthy one and one that can be integrated into a child’s life in a way that allows for it to co-exist with growth and joy.  This day-long workshop will go a long way towards enhancing the grief literacy of participants by weaving together strategies for supporting grieving children and families and provide opportunities to process our own experience of the past three years. Current literature on the topic will be touched on and practical strategies that can be used in a variety of settings for supporting young people who are grieving will be shared. Important messages from children and their families that illustrate “best practice” guidelines will be woven throughout.

Neurobiology and Play to Support Grief Journeys

Saturday, May 6, 2023  8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Presented by:  Jan Yordy, MEd, MSW, CPT, EMDR

Overview

Emotional regulation of children who have experienced grief and loss is a key skill for play therapists to explore.  This workshop will incorporate an overview of brain development to better understand how to reach a child who is grieving.  Breathwork, Brain Gym activities, energy exercises and even a demonstration of NeurOptimal Neurofeedback will make sure that each participant has new activities and ideas for emotional regulation to add to their toolbox when they return to their play/therapy rooms.

REST in Grief: The Power of Stillness in Healing

Saturday, May 6, 2023  1:00 – 4:30 p.m.          

Presented by:  Suzanne Trotman, Registered Psychotherapist

Overview

Society has taught us ways that have shaped, and are embedded in our belief systems, which has heavily influence how we should respond to loss of any kind.  We have been given messages around how we should behave; how we should respond to check-in questions; how we should express our grief and how long we should be off work after a loss of any kind, just to name a few.  We often wear masks and minimize our grief to fit into these boxes.  In an effort to grieve in a certain time frame we hide, put on a shelf,  or bury our grief  and carry on which  invalidates the healing process.

This experiential half day workshop will provide a space to promote awareness in participants of the importance of ‘Rest in Grief’ as the nucleus for healing.  Participants will discover ways that are meaningful in their context, to rest in their process of healing from loss of any kind.   Participants will also gain insights to determine which practices can be integrate into their work with those living with loss of any kind.