Managing and Moving through Grief

This full day course examines grief in its many forms and expressions. Participants will recognize that no matter the nature of the loss, the grief process forever shapes the internal working model and resultant behaviors for a child. Participants will examine and consider the ways in which our role as caretakers and providers will serve to help the child’s coping process, and allow them to integrate the overwhelming feelings they may be struggling with. Lastly, participants will also reflect on our own feelings and challenges in dealing with the grief of others.

Participants will:

• Recognize grief as a natural process in children and youth
• Build empathy to shift away from pathologizing grief responses in children
• Learn techniques for helping children manage and move through grief
• Build comfort to talk about loss to children
• Honor grief triggers that surface for us during the work as staff and caregivers