Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/navigating-through-grief-tickets-30032807937 The Good News Center(www.thegoodnewscenter.org) is hosting a day and a half long conference called Navigating Through Grief: Help, Hope and Healing on Thursday 6/8/17 from 12:30pm -5:15pm along with Meet and Greet at 6:00pm, and Friday 6/9/17 from 8:00am to 4:30pm at the Radisson Hotel in Utica, New York.. The Radisson has a special discount conference rate for our participants. Details can be found on our conference registration page. Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/148262932243878/ Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are available. For more information, contact Melissa Kehler at 315-735-6210 ext. 228 Our conference bookstore will feature books and other resources by our presenters.
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Our opening Friday keynote speaker, Kris Munsch, is an Assistant Professor at Fort Hays State University. He lost his sixteen-year-old son, Blake, in a tragic automobile accident on December 23, 2005. Overnight, Kris went from being a highly successful business owner to a reclusive basement-dweller. In 2009, he partnered with Jeff Fouquet to develop and write The Birdhouse Project: A Collaboration of The Heart, Mind and Hands. In honor of his son, Kris has traveled the lower 48 states, living out of his vehicle, teaching the metaphor of the birdhouse and hoping this challenge will lead to new levels of self-discovery. Kris’s presentations and workshops are 100% from the heart, in the moment, and filled with his life story of struggle after the death of his son. For more information go online at http://www.thebirdhouseproject.com/ In his keynote presentation, Kris will use the metaphor of pick up sticks to describe his evolution from the chaos of grief brought about by his sixteen -year-old son Blake’s death in 2005 to living a life of service and purpose with and in honor of his son. Kris will share various tools of self-discovery that helped him learn to live in a world that was different after loss.
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Our closing Friday speaker will be Carla Blowey (www.dreamingkevin.com) Carla Blowey has gained insight, guidance and wisdom from her dreams for more than 25 years. In 1991, at age 33, she entered the most painful and challenging time of her life when the death of her five-year-old son, Kevin, and the nightmare that predicted it, forced her to re-examine her perceptions about death, grief and the afterlife. Carla is a Certified Dream Work Facilitator through the Marin Institute for Projective Dream Work with director, Dr. Jeremy Taylor. She is also a member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams. An exceptional speaker, Carla has presented programs and workshops on dreams, grief, healing, and after-death phenomenon since 1994. Carla leads individual, group, and conference dream work sessions and workshops nationally and on the web as a certified dream work facilitator (MIPD) using the projective format; and provides editorial services for articles, memoirs, and manuscripts. Carla is a member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams. Carla is a Stephen Minister, a trained facilitator in Attitudinal Healing peer support from the Center for Attitudinal Healing, and served on the advisory board for Hospice of the Uncompahgre Valley in Montrose, CO. Carla has gained insight, guidance and wisdom from her dreams for more than 25 years. In 1991, at age 33, she entered the most painful and challenging time of her life when the death of her five-year-old son, Kevin, and the nightmare that predicted it, forced her to reexamine her perceptions about death, grief, and the afterlife. Dreaming Kevin became a valuable tool for reclaiming her life. Using her dream journal with much discernment and prayer, Carla found forgiveness, healing, spiritual growth, and new life. In her keynote speech, Carla Blowey shares her inspiring testimony of the healing power of dreams in reconciling the death of a loved one. Carla reveals the ominous and prophetic dream pointing to death of her five-year-old son, Kevin, less than 12 hours before he died in a bike/truck accident. Mistakenly, Carla believed she failed to heed the nightmare as a warning to save his life. For what other purpose had she been given such knowledge if not to save him? Devastated by the loss of her precious son and overwhelmed with guilt, Carla believed she had failed her son and her family. Using the nightmare as a tool for understanding and reconciliation, Carla reexamined her perceptions of death, loss and grief to discover forgiveness, healing, personal growth and new life.
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Carla invites the bereaved to empower themselves by dreaming their own way to healing. Just as a life without our loved one is a life without a future; a life without a dream, is a life without hope. Bearing witness to the heartache of the most unspeakable loss experienced by bereaved parents, Carla eloquently answers the questions, “How can we dream of the future when we are living our greatest nightmare?” “How do we bridge the gap from living with heartache to living in heartlight?”
Workshop Presenter Bios: In Alphabetical Order
Annah Elizabeth- Annah Elizabeth is an author, speaker, life coach, energy healer, and creator of The Five Facets Philosophy on Healing, a groundbreaking guide that helps us live our best personal, professional, and philanthropic lives, even in the face of adversity. As a Healing Specialist™, Annah is pioneering a new conversation, one that picks up in the space where grief leaves off; one that helps us live our best personal, professional, and philanthropic lives by finding resolution in conflict and grief. She is a Master-Instructor Integrated Energy Therapy® and a Level II Reiki practitioner. Learn more or join her neighborhood at www.thefivefacets.com. Workshop: Beyond Bereavement: Making the Transition from Grief to Healing .
Bennett, Colleen- Executive Director/Founder of the KEYS Program Since 1993, Colleen has been delivering music, hope and smiles to kids battling cancer through her nonprofit organization, the KEYS Program, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that has been delivering music, hope and smiles to kids battling cancer. Founded and created by Colleen and her husband David, they created KEYS to
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provide support to families going through the same difficult time they had experienced after losing Colleen’s father to cancer. Today, the KEYS Program provides award-winning music outreach, family respite days and sibling support programs to families who have a child battling cancer both locally and across the US…all at no cost to the families KEYS serves. (Workshop: Music Heals, with Donna Mucks)
Carmody, Mitch- Mitch Carmody, GSP, CCP is the author of “Letters to My Son, turning loss to legacy” and the prognosticator of Proactive Grieving® seminars that features the S.T.A.I.R.S.™ model of grief processing. Mitch is the host of his own radio show “Grief Chat” and he supports grievers daily from his website. He is an accomplished portrait artist and has created hundreds of memorial Life Portraits for the bereaved worldwide created the power and innovative “20 Faces of Grief” workshop, cards and videos used in groups around the nation. His Proactive Grieving® seminars are reaching grievers worldwide; it is an organic holistic approach focusing on the mind, body, soul, and spirit connection by using the P.O.W.E.R. of vulnerability to process loss. Being Proactive, taking Ownership, hard Work, Inertia, (moving forward), and nurturing Resilience). This is empowering grievers everywhere to take charge of their own grief journey and finding resilience through their own vulnerability; to find the courage to repurpose a broken heart and taking the emotional risks to be honest, transparent and authentic to others and one-self. This is becoming an intentional survivor. Workshops- The Power of Vulnerability, Whispers of Love, Proactive Grieving Carrier, Kimberly: Kimberly Carrier is a Labor Relations Specialist with NYSUT where she advocates, negotiates, arbitrates and develops training programs for College Professors, K-12 Educators, Bus Drivers, Custodians, Clerical Workers and other School Related Professionals. Prior to her sixteen years at NYSUT, Kim taught History for eighteen years at Rome Free Academy. Kim graduated from RFA in 1975 and received her undergraduate degrees from SUNY Potsdam and her master’s degree from Colgate University. Kim is a Fulbright Scholarship recipient and was part of an Archeological research field school in Guatemala and Nicaragua during the Sandinista Revolution. Kim is currently focused on exploring the creation of a not for profit to help struggling professional women. The Amy Carrier Osgood “Carry On” Foundation would be established in her sisters’ memory.
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Kim is a proud life-long resident of Rome, NY. Workshop: Merging Back into Life: An Uplifting Journey Through a Path of Sorrow
Castaldo, Anne- Since the death of her son, Tony on July 11, 2009, Anne has been actively searching for ways to help others while processing her own grief. She has since become very active with The Compassionate Friends(TCF) and the bereaved. Anne is a member her chapters steering committee, facilitates meetings both at TCF and at The Tony Brown Foundation. Anne is certified grief specialist, through Grief, Inc. She has spoken at the 2013 Bereaved Parents Gathering, hosted a Grief Awareness Day following the Sandy Hook tragedy, chaired a two-day “Symposium of Life After Loss-A Journey to Hope” in 2013 and 2014, and many other events. Anne has presented workshops and spoken at the TCF National Conference in 2014 and 2015, at Bereaved Parents in 2015 and at a Retreat of Hope and Healing for bereaved moms in 2013 and at local venues. Anne has also written for newspapers, has appeared on NBC CT, Open to Hope’s Grief Relief TV and Radio shows. Most recently, Anne was the chairperson for the 39th Compassionate Friends Conference. Anne has worked hard at leading a productive life filled with purpose, love, and hope. Her life is not the same as it was before Tony died but Anne believes in living her life to the best of her ability not only to honor Tony’s memory, but to honor her surviving boys as well! Workshops: Grief Your Way- Rediscovering Yourself, Gratitude in Grief
Cooper, Susan- Susan Cooper is a Certified Child Life Specialist who provides child life services to area schools via the Oneida, Herkimer, Madison Counties BOCES Child Life Program. This program, which is the first of its kind in the country, supports local students who have experience a loss or other life-changing event by providing one to one and group support facilitated by a certified child life specialist. The focus of this program is to help children develop coping skills when faced with crises. Sue co-developed the BOCES School Crisis Response Plan that is used throughout Oneida, Madison, and Herkimer counties. Mrs. Cooper was the Child Life Specialist-Family Care Provider at Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, Utica NY from 1986-2012. During this time, she provided psychosocial and emotional support to hospitalized children and their families. In the role of Child Life-Family Care Provider, Sue also provided grief support, family support and community support during times of major traumas and life changing events. From 1992-2014 Sue was the clinical coordinator of the Mid-State EMS Critical
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Incident Stress Management Team. This group of volunteers provides stress management education and group and individual support to emergency service providers including law enforcement, fire fighters, hospital personnel and first responders. Sue is a regular presenter at educational workshops in New York State. She is a consultant for local businesses, schools, and funeral homes where she provides support to staff and families at the time of tragedies. Sue is involved in numerous community programs, boards and task forces that relate to the well-being of children. Workshop: Little Heartaches, Big Heartaches
Davis, Jim- Jim Davis has over twenty years of experience working with a diverse population including children, adolescents, and adults. Jim grew up in Utica and started his college career at Mohawk Valley Community College. He then transferred to the State University at Albany and completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree with a Certificate of Advanced Study in Counseling. In December of 2013, he graduated from the Sage Graduate School, Esteves School of Education, with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. He is a Certified School Counselor and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of New York. Jim has presented workshops and trainings on topics that include Cyberbullying, Teenage Behavior, Healthy Relationships, Substance Abuse and Addictions, Decision Making, and College and Career Planning. Jim believes that all people have the ability to learn and grow from their connections with others and through a conscious desire to change for the better. To Jim, counseling is a journey guided by the counselor and directed by the client. His personal goal is to provide a positive supportive environment to facilitate healthy change and success in one’s life. WorkshopDon’t Forget About the Kids (with Lori Robinson)
Falzano, Tony- Tony Falzano is a college professor, author and award winning songwriter. He is also the founder and Creative Director of The Caring Music Group; a company that creates and produces music for individuals looking for relaxation, stress relief and healing. The company's CDs, “In Abba's Arms” and “Just A Touch Away”, have brought comfort and inspiration to many grieving loss or confronting a challenging medical condition. Furthermore, Tony writes and speaks on the enormous health benefit music has to offer. He has conducted his “Composing Grief” seminar at the, 2010 Beyond Words - Redefining Loss Through Creative Approaches and then again at the 2013 Conference; Helping Families Through Grief After Sudden Loss. His music can be found in hospice care centers and cancer facilities throughout the Rochester-Monroe County area. Tony’s speaking resume includes; Saint Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry as well as Lifetime Home Care, Rochester, NY and The Upstate New York Chapter of ADEC (The Association for Death and Education Counseling), Syracuse NY.
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He has been quoted in journals, funeral and cremation publications and even a dissertation. His articles on the power in music to heal can be found in all the major grief publications. Workshop- Composing Grief
Furino, Patty- Rev. Patty Furino chooses to walk a sacred path using the wisdom that she gained from a variety of spiritual practices and philosophies. She attended The New Seminary and ordained as an interfaith minister. A few of the concepts she has studied over the years include; Near Death Experiences; Energy Exchange; Native American Spirituality; Animals Medicine; Reiki; and the Quantum Mechanics of Healing. She is currently contracted as the Coordinator of The Angel of Hope on Long Island, as well as, the Grief consultant for Angela’s House. The goal of her ministry work is to empower others to discover and develop their own unique life paths. She tries to inspire a peaceful perspective for people during their challenging times. Her story is unique and has been filled with many challenges along the way. During her early teens, she developed major ear problems that resulted in surgery during December of 1977. During her hospital stay she had an experience that changed her perspective of life and death. Patty has always been determined to find the balance between her connection to Spirit, and how to journey in our 'zip code'. She attended the New Seminary in New York City and was ordained an Interfaith Minister, June 1998, at St. John the Divine Cathedral. She was inspired by the founder, Rabbi Joseph Gelberman and his philosophy to learn other faiths "never instead of, always in addition to." Workshop- What Do You Believe
Graham, Debra- Debra lost her 17-year-old son, Josh to suicide on April 16, 2003. Debra became involved as an advocate of Timothy’s Law in the fall of 2003 and attended her first AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk in Long Island on October 3, 2004, (Josh’s 19th birthday). In August 2006, Debra chaired her first Out of the Darkness
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walk in Syracuse, NY and along with a small but dedicated group of survivors; they began working diligently toward forming an AFSP CNY Chapter, which they accomplished in November of 2007. Debra became the AFSP CNY Area Director in 2011. She graduated from Columbia College in May 2008 with her BA in Psychology, her inspiration to return to school came from her son…who she says “Continues to inspire me each and every day”. Debra is a member of the CNY, Madison & Oswego County Suicide Coalition. She is the AFSP Survivor Outreach Program intake coordinator, an ASIST, safe TALK and CONNECT trainer. Debra has worked tirelessly to help reduce the stigma toward suicide and mental health disorders, and to bring suicide awareness and educational prevention programs to Central New York communities. Workshop: Loss by Suicide: Support for Survivors and For Those Who Support Them
Haldenwang, Jana: Jana Haldenwang is a native of Verona, graduating from VVS Central School. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and her funeral service degree from Simmons Institute of Funeral Service in 2001. In 2003, Jana became a Certified Bereavement Facilitator through the American Academy of Bereavement. With the sponsorship of her current employer, Campbell-Dean Funeral Home, Inc, where she has been employed since 2002, she facilitated a bereavement support group for many years, helping the people of Oneida, Canastota and the surrounding areas. Professionally, Jana has served as the first woman president of the Tri-County Funeral Directors Association and currently is serving her second term on the NYS Funeral Directors Association’s Board of Directors as well as other various committees. In 2014, Jana earned the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner from The Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. The CFSP designation is the highest professional designation that may be achieved in funeral service. Personally, Jana is no stranger to grief. Before having her son in 2015, she suffered multiple miscarriages. These losses have helped her to better understand and empathize with the families she serves on a daily basis. Hobika, Gina: Gina has been employed by CNY Services-Milestones since 2009 and is currently is the Director of Operations. She continues moves forward with her passion for assisting individuals and their families affected by the disease of addiction. Prior to working at Milestones, Gina worked as a Behavior Manager, Mentor and Parent Aide for Kids Oneida and as a Family Advocate for YWCA Rape Crisis/Oneida County Child
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Sexual Abuse Task Force. While Gina was a stay at home mom, Gina served as Chairperson of the ARC of Oneida Lewis County, Inc. Gala for 10 years, serving as the Vice President of the YWCA Board of Directors and board member of The Utica Zoo, ARC of Oneida Lewis County, Inc., St. Louis Gonzaga Church and ALS Foundation. As fundraising for community agencies is a passion of hers, she chaired and served on fund raising committee events for St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Sculpture Space, St. Lukes Memorial Hospital, Humane Society, ALS Foundation and many other community agencies. Workshop: Understand the Grief Process Through Hope and Healing (with Judy Reilly)
Johnson, Joseph: Joe Johnson, LCSW, RYT-200, Retired SMSgt, USAF) has over 28 years of Mental Health experience. He has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 16 years. His work has been primarily focused on mental illness. Joe has worked in a variety of settings, to include the United States Air Force, St. Luke’s Hospital, United Cerebral Palsy, The (former) Division for Youth, and most recently, the N. Y. State Correctional System with the Office of Mental Health. Joe is also a 25-year veteran of the U.S Air Force, having retired from the N.Y Air National Guard in 2005. He completed tours of duty in Germany, Turkey, and Washington, D.C. A new life chapter opened for Joe when he discovered Yoga and decided after 8 years of individual practice to become a Certified Yoga Teacher. He subsequently completed his 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training under the direction of Master Yoga Instructor Tony Riposo at Infinite Light Yoga Center, Jamesville, N.Y. In his spare time, when he’s not teaching Yoga or working in Corrections, Joe likes to hike, bicycle, kayak, hit the gym occasionally, work in his garden, travel to new destinations and attend concerts & cultural events in Central N.Y. (Workshop: Healing Grief with Yoga, with Audrey Ventura)
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Johnson, Meesha- Meesha Johnson is a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and will soon be a recent college graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She plans on obtaining her Credential as an Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC), as well. Her educational pursuits are founded in my love for my native family and for all people. In order to sustain life, Meesha truly believe that we are obligated to protect mother earth thus I do what I can to help protect the environment and especially the indigenous land where I have lived for most of my life. Meesha is also a parent who has experienced the death of a child. As a single mother who is blind and as a student embarking on a new chapter of my educational pursuits in the fall, she enjoys writing poetry and short stories during her free time. She is also actively involved in local and state government to help create awareness about the rights of the disabled community on Long Island. Her long-term goals are confronting the drug and substance issues that threaten some of her tribal members as a result of various inadequacies that are ever apparent in many Native communities, and working in Indian family law is also a passion and a goal that I intend on pursuing in the future. Workshop: “Seeds of Hope”-Grief Through the Eyes of a Native American Mother
Kelly, Ron- R. Glenn Kelly, or Ron to his friends, is the father of Jonathan Taylor Kelly, an amazing young man who passed away after living sixteen wonderful years with only half a heart; a rare congenital heart defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Since that fateful time, R. Glenn has dedicated his time and resources to supporting the bereavement community through his books, articles and public speaking engagements on the taboo topic of grieving men, and the way men and women process their grief equally, yet in ways unique to their gender. In 2016 alone, R. Glenn has appeared on Trinity Broadcast Network, CBS News, and multiple radio programs. He was honored as the Key Note Speaker at the headquarters of Delta Airlines in March, before a national “fly-in” of grieving employees who had lost children. In support of the grief support community, R. Glenn currently serves on the Board of Directors for Bereaved Parents of the USA, as well as holding active and participatory
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board memberships with The National Grief and Hope Coalition, and Cry for Me No More, Inc. He is also a proud board member with the Parents Advisory Council at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where his precious son Jonathan lost his life. R. Glenn Kelly is the published author of the award-winning books, “Sometimes I Cry in the Shower: A Grieving Father’s Journey to Wholeness and Healing,” “The Griefcase: A Man’s Guide to Healing and Moving Forward in Grief,” and “Grief Healings 365: Daily Inspirations in Moving Forward to Your New Normal.” To find out more about R. Glenn Kelly, or for access to grief support resources, please visit www.GrievingMen.com, or facebook.com/rglennkelly Workshops: Returning to Work After a Profound Loss, When Venus and Mars Collide.
Lord, Glen-, Dad of Noah Thomas Emory Lord, 1/25/1995 ~ 6/14/1999. Glen Lord’s life was forever changed after the death of his son, Noah, over 15 years ago. He has since learned that joy and sorrow can and do co-exist and life can be good again. Early on Glen found that the tools to finding hope again are different for each person, this realization inspired him to co-founded The Grief Toolbox (www.thegrieftoolbox.com), a community of grief resources. In addition, he is the executive producer of Walking Through Grief® (www.walkingthroughgrief.com) a grief support video series and serves as President on the Board of Directors of The Compassionate Friends and vice-president of the National Grief and Hope Coalition. Glen has presented and spoken on multiple grief topics at dozens of chapters, regional and national conferences, including The Compassionate Friends, Funeral Directors, Hospice, The Tony Brown Foundation and Bereaved Parents of the USA. Workshops: Grief and Internet Resources, Finding Your Way Again
Molina, Clemencia- Clemencia Molina, MA - is the Regional Coordinator for the Central New York Office of the Sudden Infant and Child Death Resource Center, a service of Contact Community Services, Inc. in East Syracuse, New York. As part of this statewide
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program sponsored by the School of Social Welfare at Stony Brook University, the CNY office reaches out to communities and families affected by the sudden and unexpected death of an infant or young child in the region. This is done through educational and public awareness programs for parents and professionals, as well as support and referrals for bereaved families. Clemencia is a member of three multi-disciplinary Child Fatality Review Teams in the Central New York region, which endeavor to understand the direct and associated causes of infant death and contribute to the development of risk-reduction strategies. She is also a member of the Mohawk Valley Infant Sleep Coalition, and steering committee member of Safe Kids Upstate led by Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. To learn more about the Sudden Infant and Child Death Resource Center, please visit our website at: http://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/sicd Workshop: Forever My BabyPanel Discussion Moderator Panel Member Bios:
Allen, Melissa is thirty years old and works in financial services. She has a background in nursing and massage therapy. Unfortunately, with all of her medical education, Melissa was never taught how to cope with the death of her own child who died at the age of 5 months and 23 days old. After 3 years of constant ups and downs, Melissa hopes to convey help to others affected by infant loss. By sharing the struggle of balancing grief and the relationships dearest to her, she hopes to provide a clearer picture into the not so linear timeline of grief.
Daoreuang, Emily is a teacher and mother to two sons, Leland and Allyn. Her son, Leland passed away suddenly when he was 5 weeks old due to an undiagnosed heart arrhythmia.
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Rotblat, Darya is professionally a realtor and property manager but is also a SIDS mom. She has been involved with the CNY SIDS program for over 6 years after reaching out for help after the death of her daughter in 2005 and is focused on education of law enforcement and hospitals when dealing with a SIDS death.
Wilson-Boycheck, Anne Marie has worked in the field of human services as a family worker for over 25 years and is the mother of 7 children. Anne's 1st daughter died at the age of 4 months and 1 day in June of 1968. Anne volunteers her time, whenever possible, to be supportive to parents who have lost their babies suddenly and unexpectedly.
Diflorio, Dana is the mother to her infant daughter who passed away in 2012. From hiring a forensic pathologist to participating in the Boston’s Children’s Hospital SIDS program, she has struggled to understand how a healthy child in a safe sleep environment passes away. She currently lives with her "rainbow" baby and father of her children.
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Mucks, Donna- Singer, Songwriter, Author and Music Specialist at the KEYS Program Donna Mucks is an award-winning singer, songwriter and author receiving the “Friend of Children Award” in 2013 from the Child Care Council of Cornell Cooperative Extension for her outstanding dedication to children and the "Red, White and Blue Award" from the American Legion for her moving military tribute song "For You and For Me." Since 2007, Donna has been a music specialist with the KEYS Program sharing her gifts to bring hope and smiles to children battling cancer and their families through the power of music. Donna is n ASPIRE certified trainer and a certified teacher who provides educational and inspiring music workshops to teachers, parents, care givers and community groups. Her workshops are a beautiful blend of live music, positive spirit and inspiration that will bring out the song your heart. (Workshop: Music Heals ,with Colleen Bennett)
Reilly, Judith: Judith H. Reilly is the Services Director for Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. Her work, is focused on building human and community capacity. Judy is known as a fierce competitor, talented mentor, coach, and confidant. She is passionate about helping others find and use their voice to move initiatives forward, and building a stronger, and more supportive community. She has been a Rotarian for over a decade. Judy is a bagpiper with the Mohawk Valley Frasers Pipe Band. Judy’s faith guides her in her work and personal life, and is at the core of who she is. (Workshop: Understand the Grief Process Through Hope and Healing, with Gina Hobika)
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Roback, Susan- Susan has been called a brazen rebel, sister, daughter, wind-dancer, fire breathing dragon, and a safe place to fall. She began her work with energetics in the unseen world of her childhood, journeying into hidden realms of the woodlands for comfort and healing. Through great loss and trauma, the years took a darker direction and she turned to addiction and self-abusive behavior. In 1993 another life altering trauma brought a re-awakening. This led to leaving addiction behind and to the discovery of the healing potential of non-ordinary states of consciousness, from hypnosis, flower essence therapy, and breathwork, into the deepest realms of the Shamans. Susan's holistic and shamanic energy medicine practice echoes her personal healing evolution as a woman, a grief carrier, and Earth dancer. She has dedicated most of her life to excavating diamonds from her personal shadows and is fearless when exploring on behalf of others. Her many years of ongoing studies with impeccable teachers have forged like molten steel into something uniquely hers from the heat of her passion and colorful life experience. Susan's intuitive methods allow her to wield a sword and feather, fire and water. Empathy, compassion, clear sight, humor, and fearlessness are her expert tools. Workshop: The Soul Knows the Way
Roberts, Dave- David J. Roberts, LMSW, became a parent who experienced the death of a child, when his daughter Jeannine died of cancer on 3/1/03 at the age of 18. He is a retired addiction professional and is an adjunct professor in the psychology department at Utica College in Utica, New York. Dave has presented workshops at national conferences of The Compassionate Friends since 2009 as well as for
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the Bereaved Parents of the USA. Dave was also the opening keynote speaker at the 2011 and 2015 national gatherings of the Bereaved Parents of the USA. Dave is a featured speaker, workshop facilitator and coach for Aspire Place, LLC (www.aspireplace.com) Mr. Roberts is a Huffington Post contributor as well as a contributing author for the Open to Hope Foundation. One of Dave's articles,” My Daughter is Never Far Away" can also be found in Open to Hope: Inspirational Stories of Healing and Loss. Dave has also been interviewed on the Healing the Grieving Heart and Advocacy Heals U radio shows, as well as Open to Hope television. For more information about Dave and his work, please visit www.bootsyandangel.com Workshop: Journey of Self-Discovery: Empowerment Through Grief (with Kris Munsch)
Robinson, Lori-Lori Robinson is a New York State Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She has her Bachelor’s Degree from Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA, and her Master’s Degree in Counseling and Certificate of Advanced Study in Marriage and Family Counseling from New York State University College in Oneonta, NY. Lori has been a therapist for over 32 years, having spent the last 15 years with Samaritan Counseling Center of the Mohawk Valley in Utica. Lori is a Samaritan Institute trained Clergy and Congregation Care Consultant. She also is working on Certification in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy which she will be doing in a joint project with United Cerebral Palsy’s Root Farm and Samaritan Counseling Center. Lori works with individuals, couples, and families, with a special emphasis on teens. Area of specialty include anxiety, depression, grief, parenting, restoration of marriages after an affair. Her approach is holistic and health based, believing the ultimately we know what we need to heal if we just listen. Workshop- Don’t Forget About the Kids (with Jim Davis)
Russ, Brandon- Brandon Russ is the founder of Spirit Tree Connections. His path has been profound to the formation of the talent, the vision and delivery of the vibe of all things Spirit Tree. He incorporates Integrity, Kindness and Empowerment in all he does. As a practitioner, he delivers workshops on Intuitive Development, Intuitive Living and Indigo Parenting. He works closely with Indigo parents, and Soul Path for both men and women to help redefine and balance their responsibilities in this life and their passion. He uses tools of mediumship as well as practical applications, as a credentialed Recovery Coach and Spiritual/ Intuitive Counselor. He hold events and workshops around the world delivering to Wellness retreats and local
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venues in upstate NY promoting Intuitive Living and becoming the best version of yourself. Brandon has also produces and performs on Meditation Recordings(iTunes) and is the author of the forthcoming book, “Return on Energy” (Balboa). A book that begins the conversation of what energy is to the human life and how Empaths are affected, how to create and combine your passions, emotions and challenges into your life of triumph and success. Workshop: Physically Gone, But Spiritually Present: How the Energy of Grief Works
Ventura, Audrey: Audrey Ventura is a Registered Yoga Teacher; N. Y. State Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Nationally Certified Medical Massage Therapist. She is also a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist. She has been licensed for 20 years committing her lifework to the well-being of others. Audrey’s specific training includes: Yoga Tune Up, Medical Massage, Geriatric Massage, Neuromuscular Massage, Connective Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Therapeutic Stretching, Neuromuscular Reeducation, Orthopedic Evaluation, and specific treatments for the neck, upper back, lower back, pelvis, legs, shoulders, and arms. Audrey is totally committed to helping you heal and maintain your health. In 2009, Audrey suffered from a tumor in her brain stem. She used Yoga to help her recover after surgery. Audrey knows how debilitating, both mentally, emotionally, and physically, pain and illness can be for an individual. Audrey is the Owner and Operator of The Universal Yoga Center; Washington Mills, which has been in business since 2001. (Workshop: Healing Grief with Yoga, with Joe Johnson)
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Wolfe, Lisa: Lisa B. Wolfe, LMSW is a New York State licensed master’s level social worker. She has a B.A. degree in Psychology from the University of New Haven and an MSW from the University of Albany. Ms. Wolfe has worked for hospices and in private practice since 2000. She worked at Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. in New Hartford, as both a social worker and as a bereavement counselor and was a founder of the Bereavement Center in New Hartford, now closed. Since 2013, Ms. Wolfe has been the owner of Translating Grief LLC, which offers bereavement counseling via telephone or secure video. She was an invited speaker at the New York State Funeral Directors Annual Convention in 2016. She also writes a blog about all issues related to grief, which can be viewed on the Translating Grief webpage found at translatinggrief.com. Workshop: Compassion Fatigue: Finding Balance in an Unbalanced World
Zumbo, Tammy-As a therapist, author, healer and workshop presenter, Tammy has worked in a variety of settings, with many different populations during the past 25 years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology /Social Work from the College of Saint Rose, and a Master's Degree in Social Work from the State University of Albany. In addition to this education, Tammy is also trained in Energy Psychology (David Feinstein), Energy Medicine (Donna Eden). Reiki, and Healing Touch. Additionally, she offers clinical supervision for counseling staff members and also to individuals with MSW degrees pursing further credentials from New York State Education Department. Currently, Tammy has a private practice, Balance Psychotherapy and Energy Wellness, where she sees children, adolescents, and adults. She treats individuals, couples, and families. Her treatment approach is holistic and collaborative, with a blend of traditional and complementary therapies incorportated. Her approach is one of honoring an individual as to where they are in their life path, and where they wish to be. Her areas of treatment
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include anxiety, depression, trauma, school behavioral issues, grief and loss, domestic violence, relationship issues, life transition issues, recovery, LGBT, and gender identity. Her experience includes being a teaching assistant for Donna Eden and David Feinstein for Energy Medicine and Energy Psychology workshops at Kripalu Yoga Center in Massachusetts and Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. Tammy has also worked in hospice, schools, private and not for profit agencies as a Social Worker and Therapist. Workshop: Finding Your Way Through Grief with Energy Healing Techniques
Schedule –June 8th Time 12:30pm- 1:00pm 1:15- 2:30pm 2:45pm- 4:00 pm 4:15pm- 5:30pm 6:00pm- 8:00pm
Activity Opening Remarks Breakout Sessions Breakout Sessions Breakout Sessions Meet and Greet Reception
Breakout Sessions: 1:15pm-2:30 pm 1)Workshop: Grief and Internet Resources Presenter: Glen Lord Description: The internet and technology have become such a major part of our lives. We will discuss how to use Facebook, online chat groups and other websites that offer help and support to survivors of suicide loss. There are also many ways and opportunities to honor and share our loved ones with the world. It is important to understand how to use the internet to be helpful while avoiding all the potential pitfalls. In this workshop, we will learn from each other and share all the internet has to offer to help as we grieve. 2)Workshop: Grief Your Way-Rediscovering Yourself Presenter: Anne Castaldo Description: During this workshop, participants will find comfort grieving your loss in your own way, while discovering yourself along the path. Tools will be shared as suggestions to help you on your path. 3)Workshop: Little Heartaches, Big Heartaches Presenter: Susan Cooper Description: This workshop is a combination of lecture and collaborative learning designed to help adults support grieving children. It is reflective of an innovative schoolbased child life program that addresses skill building and coping strategies for children
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who have experienced loss or other life changing events. Through lecture and interactive conversations, attendees will review children’s grief reactions based on age and developmental levels. Information will focus on the importance of support systems and how adults can help a child travel through the grief process. There will also be time allotted for questions and answers. 4)Workshop: Composing Grief Presenter: Tony Falzano Description: In this interactive workshop, participants will be introduced to the concept of songwriting. They will learn to listen to their voice of grief in a creative, relaxed, environment. Using their imagination, creativity and personal expression, participants will write their lyric on paper to recognizable songs. Participants will be free to sing/read their work during this session. _________________________________________________________________________
Breakout Sessions: 2:30PM-4:00PM 1) Workshop: What Do You Believe Presenter: Patty Furino Description: The universe has allowed me the opportunity to experience many different Rituals as well as experience many different planes of existence. The passing of a loved one causes suffering and unleashes the search for meanings. People, at any age, attempt to understand such a devastating experience. In this workshop, participants are shown tools, which engage new thought processes. They can redefine their perspective for life, by understanding signs in their world from nature and other daily signs. Participants will learn to develop their own way to connect to a personal creative source. 2) Workshop: The Power of Vulnerability-Who Am I As a Griever Presenter: Mitch Carmody Description: The many components of the grief journey will be represented in a series of hand drawn pencil portraits called “The 20 Faces of Grief”. These images are used interactively with participants to identify their grief emotions. Grievers will be identified as well by the 5 basic personality archetypes as see through the characters of Milne’s classic Winnie the Pooh. Discovering our strong suit and our weakness we empower our personal operating system to survive trauma and chaos. Many circumstances around the death can complicate, delay and that can acerbate the journey. Discovering what our grieving style is and identifying our personal challenges builds our resilience for the journey and for life itself. We can use the power of vulnerability to not only survive our loss but some day to thrive and again find joy. Session includes short PPI personality indicator quiz. 3) Workshop: Loss by Suicide: Support for Survivors and For Those Who Support Them Presenter: Debra Graham
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Description: The purpose of this interactive workshop will be to validate the pain and grief for those survivors of loss by suicide, provide hope and suggestions/tools for working through grief due to suicide loss Tools/strategies will also be shared with those support people (EMT’s, police officers, law enforcement, family and friends, medical examiners, coroners, and funeral directors.) who work directly with survivors of suicide loss. 4) Workshop: Grief from a Funeral Directors Perspective Presenter: Jana Haldenwang Description: This interactive workshop would discuss grief and grieving from the funeral director’s perspective, including the use of ceremony, ritual and family involvement in services. “Case study” examples from Jana’s work with support groups will also be shared. Also, Jana will share her experience with miscarriage loss and give participants tools for helping others talk about it. _______________________________________________________________________
Breakout Sessions: 4:15pm-5:30pm 1) Workshop: Returning to Work After Profound Loss Presenter: Ron Kelly Description: This workshop will focus on the fact that we must often return to work after the loss of a loved one. This workshop will incorporate a PowerPoint presentation and interactive discussion, designed to help the bereaved face the challenges of returning to work after loss. 2) Workshop: Beyond Bereavement: Making the Transition from Grief to Healing Presenter: Annah Elizabeth Description: Healing Specialist ™ Annah Elizabeth breaks new ground and encourages us to rethink what we know about loss, grief, and healing. The first question often asked in the face of adversity or tragedy is “How am I going to survive this?” In other words: How am I going to heal? Annah Elizabeth’s groundbreaking Five Facets Philosophy on Healing™ begins in the space where our suffering starts to soften, when we decide that our grief is no longer serving a purpose and is actually holding us back from living our best life. Annah’s work is not only breaking new ground in the world of loss, grief, and healing, it gives us a plan and a purpose where once we only had platitude to lead the way out of our pain. 3) Workshop: “Seeds of Hope”: Grief through the eyes of a Native American Mother Presenter: Meesha Johnson Description: This workshop will address the following topics: 1. The meaning of the 7 generations and its significance as it relates to the circle of life, 2. My experience as a mother who has lost a son to SIDS and how my Native American traditions helped me navigate grief, 3. How our experience with loss can be viewed as seeds of hope.
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This workshop will be interactive; utilizing the gift of creativity and storytelling. Since storytelling has long been a staple in many Native American communities, participants will discover that when decisions are made to use our experiences as seeds we plant, a harvest of hope will be sowed. Friday, June 9th Schedule- General Activity Opening Keynote Breakout Sessions Breakout Sessions Breakout Sessions Closing Keynote
Time 9:30am-10am 10:15am-11:30am 12:45pm-2:00pm 2:30pm-3:45pm 4:00pm-4:20pm
Breakout Sessions: 10:15am-11:30 am 1)Dreams: A Blessing in Disguise for Healing through Loss & Transition Presenter: Carla Blowey Description: “Sharing our dreams in the projective format is an opportunity to see our grief and our journey from a different perspective. When we are willing to see our dreams differently we are in a mode of healing—letting go of the perceptions that inhibit our personal and spiritual growth. With each insight, we can examine the diverse issues and hidden agendas that block the path to healing.” ~Carla Blowey Carla Blowey, bereaved mother, author of Dreaming Kevin: The Path to Healing, 2014 Expanded Edition, and certified dream work facilitator, shares the prophetic dream about the death of her five-year-old son, Kevin, and the subsequent dreams that offered her forgiveness, healing, spiritual growth, and new life. In this experiential workshop, Carla shares examples from her own dream journal, to aid participants in discerning the elements of a “dream visit” and a “grief dream”, and recognize both dreams as a valuable tool for reconciling the death of a child. Carla’s compelling presentation will invite the bereaved to examine their own dreams for personal symbols, synchronicities, and metaphor, as a means to reconciliation and self-empowerment. There will be handouts and time for questions. At the conclusion of this creative experience, the participants should be able to:
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1. Have an elementary understanding of the “Who, What, Where, Why and How” of dreaming for the bereaved. 2. Recognize that dreams and daydreams of the bereaved illustrate the grief issues that block the path to acceptance and reconciliation, and that “all dreams come in the service of health and wholeness”. 2)Workshop: Don’t Forget About the Kids Presenters: Lori Robinson and Jim Davis Description: The goal of this workshop is to educate conference attendees on issues families and children face when grieving and help them develop strategies to aid families and children through the grief process. Children and teens experience death and manifest symptoms of grief differently than adults. There are three workshop objectives: 1) educating attendees on understanding developmental level and grief; 2) Grief and its impact for ages 12-18; 3) Provide attendees with strategies and resources to effectively support the family and children that they work with. The skills taught during this session will include: how to talk to children and teens about death, tips on how to help children through bereavement, and identifying when to seek professional help for children who are grieving. 3) Workshop: Finding Your Direction Again Presenter: Glen Lord Description: Life had order. We “knew” hoe things worked. Our loved ones died. We lost many things, some of which we can get back-some we cannot-in the beginning, we do not see the difference. Through a variety of interactive exercises, participants will come to see what they can get back and what choices there are for them to make. 4) Workshop: The Soul Knows the Way Presenter: Susan Roback Description: My experience and personal healing path has taught me that the Soul knows the way back to wholeness. Having experienced death of my best friend in the fourth grade, followed by the murder of my high school sweetheart in 1976, and many subsequent deaths, I am no stranger to grief and healing. My offering to our community for this conference, will be a combination of storytelling, journeying, and an offering of various tools to take home for future use. This experiential workshop has the possibility to open one to getting in touch with their higher listening and knowing, if in fact, they are open and ready. 5) Workshop: Understand the Grief Process Through Hope and Healing Presenters: Judith H. Reilly and Gina Hobika Description: This interactive workshop will guide participants through the grief process from the perspective of various people in the loved one’s life: young children, teens, their
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parent, and friends. Though the workshop is open to all, the specific focus will be the loss of a loved one due to addiction.
6) Workshop: Finding Your Way Through Grief with Energy Healing Techniques Description: Grief is manifested not only in the heart and mind, but also in our body’s energy system. This interactive workshop is designed to explore what our energy system is, and how we store and manifest grief energetically. In this workshop, participants will be able to: 1) identify and learn ways to sense their body’s energy;2) Identify energy systems and their relationship to healing;3) assess energetic imbalances; 4) practice energy balancing exercises and learn how these exercises balance energies; identify ways grief is stored and manifested in the body energetically; 5) understand how energies affect our ability to heal;6) use these tools in “finding their way through grief.” _________________________________________________________________________
Breakout Sessions: 12:45- 2:00pm 1) Workshop: Merging Back into Life: An Uplifting Journey Through a Path of Sorrow Presenter: Kimberly Carrier Description: The purpose of this interactive workshop is to give participants new skills and a new perspective on how they might view grief. Uplifting opportunities emerge through discussion, provided that we are open to them. Some key content for discussion is: 1) sorrow can be uplifting,2) there is value to the journey;3) “Pit Stops” and “breakdowns”, equal breakthroughs;4) Popping out on the other side; 5) You have to feel to heal. 2) Workshop: Physically Gone, But Spiritually Present: How the Energy of Grief Works Presenter: Brandon Russ Description: Does grief have a return on the energy that you put into it? In this workshop, participants will be given information on the understanding of: 1) the energy of loss;2) personal vibration, 3) why some connections are easy, and some difficult, 4) how loved ones connect with you every day. 3) Workshop: Forever My Baby: Infant Death- Let’s Talk About It (Panel Discussion-Pt 1) Moderator: Clemencia Molina Description: The Sudden Infant and Child Death Resource Center will coordinate and facilitate a panel of bereaved mothers who have lost their children to sudden and unexpected infant death. Parents will address one or more aspects of that loss and the impact that it has had on their personal lives. This will include the effect such a loss can have on the self, the relationship between the parents, the extended family and the
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community. Parents will share examples of interactions and events which have complicated their bereavement process, instances of welcomed support, and the on-going nature of the grief work that becomes necessary in order to survive this devastating experience. 4) Workshop: Proactive Grieving-Finding Equilibrium in Trauma and Chaos Presenter: Mitch Carmody Description: Proactive grieving is embracing your grief, not fighting it, medicating it (long term), or ignoring it; it’s living with the loss and choosing to being transformed by it. Choosing your road to reinvestment in life; exploring ways to grieve out of the box and address each unique aspect of your loss. One can choose to become an intentional survivor and legacy builder or become more collateral damage. The somatic (physical) component of grief will be discussed in detail as it relates to the four pillars of strength of a human being: body, mind, spirit and soul. The synergistic integration of these strengths is crucial to surviving traumatic loss. We will be identifying common stressors experienced in grief and discuss healthy ways to neutralize its toxic effect on our body. A brief guided imagery to introduce the relaxation response will be conducted. 5) Workshop: Journey of Self-Discovery: Empowerment Through Grief: Presenters: Kris Munsch and Dave Roberts Description: In this interactive workshop, Kris Munsch and Dave Roberts will share how together and separately they discovered empowerment in being able to transform the tragedy of loss into meaningful and purposeful lives. The workshop will address: how to develop clarity during our grief journeys, how the pain of grief looked for us in the early vs. later phases of our journeys and other tools to facilitate self-discovery after loss. 6) Workshop: When Venus and Mars Collide-The Difference in Male vs. Female Grief Presenter: Ron Kelly Description: The workshop will focus on the difference in how men and women grief. Not only will we discuss the obvious traits of external versus internal expressions, but why we are the way we are, going back to look at the longest running debate in psychological discussions: Nature vs Nurture. This workshop will show how both nature AND nurture play a large role in how each gender processes and displays all emotions, including those many that reside within grief. As a result of this workshop, the attendees will recognize that men do grieve equally as women, however in many different ways. We will discuss such things as the false meme that the loss of a child leads to divorce, when in fact statistics show it does not, how men compartmentalize, and women are more empathetic. The workshop will be assisted by a PowerPoint presentation, which I provide, and includes humor and interaction with the group. Regardless of the level of attendee input throughout the workshop, a Q&A period will be reserved for the final 15 minutes for opportunities for follow up questions.
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Attendees will leave with a new or deeper understanding and respect for the way the other gender expresses the emotions of grief, and is interspersed with a little bit of science, a little bit of the obvious and a little bit of fun. _______________________________________________________________________ .
Breakout Sessions: 2:30-3:45PM 1) Workshop: Music Heals Presenters: Colleen Bennett/Donna Mucks Description: Music is a powerful medium that releases endorphins in the brain that improves our mood, behavior and makes us feel happy. Music is a powerful medium that triggers emotions, feelings and provides a creative outlet for those navigating through grief. This workshop will share information and research of the physical, spiritual and emotional benefits of music. Attendees will participate in intervention techniques that incorporate music, such as: relaxation, imagery, improvisation and song writing. Participants will acquire basic music skills that they can implement in their (and their client’s) everyday life, in order to use music as a tool in healing, comfort and hope. 2) Workshop: Forever My Baby (Panel –Part 2) 3) Workshop-Whispers of Love-Signs from Our Loved Ones Presenter: Mitch Carmody Description: No matter how, when or where our loved one died, there is compelling evidence to support the belief that we can still feel their presence through signs. We will explore this phenomenon in detail and provide a slide show of extraordinary anecdotal evidence from all over the world that validates the experience for the griever. It provides hope for the newly bereaved still in pervasive shock and despair that our loved ones may have survived physical death on some level. 4) Workshop- Healing Grief with Yoga
Presenters: Joseph Johnson/Audrey Ventura Description: In this interactive workshop, Joe and Audrey will provide participants with a brief history of yoga and its benefits physically, emotionally and mentally; information about yoga as a healing modality for grief, stress and trauma. There will be a brief grounding and meditation exercise and a brief yoga practice consisting of assorted poses (all poses are suggestions and are optional for all yoga participants). There will also be a brief question and answer period. 5) Workshop: Compassion Fatigue: Finding Balance in an Unbalanced world Presenter: Lisa Wolfe Description: This interactive PowerPoint presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of compassion fatigue (aka: vicarious or secondary
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traumatization), how it differs from burnout, prevention suggestions, and coping techniques. Attendees are encouraged to participate and share their own experiences. Participants will: 1) understand how compassion fatigue differs from burnout;2) learn to spot the early warning signs in themselves;3) learn how to prevent compassion fatigue; 4) learn how to cope with the effects of compassion fatigue both on the job and in one’s personal life. . 6) Workshop: Gratitude in Grief Presenter: Anne Castaldo Description: This workshop is designed to help those discover that even in our darkest moments, not only are their things in our life to be grateful for, but by recognizing them, our journey through grief will not only be less crippling but may aid in a rediscovering of hope. Personal experience will be used to demonstrate how it pulled me from the darkest moments of my life, to a place I am now content in. Handouts and tools will be provided.
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/navigating-through-grief-tickets-30032807937
