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Hope for the Holidays and Beyond - A Grief Seminar

This program is to help those who have suffered a loss. For some the holidays are a difficult time. This is their 14th Annual Event

Click Here: Hope and Help for the Holidays and Beyond

Tuesday, November 12, 2024 frin 9am - 3:00pm

Lunch is provided and PD, CEU Credits are available. Find out more and how to sign-up here:

Location - Poinsett Club, 807 East Washington St., Greenville, SC 29601 2024 Hope and Help for the Holidays Course Descriptions:

General Session 1: “Hope and Help with Grief through the Holidays”

Kennth Doka, PhD (Professor Emeritus at the Graduate School of The College of New Rochelle and Senior Consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America)

This session explores the reasons that the holidays can be a particularly difficult time when one is grieving a loss.  In this session, participants explore strategies to help individuals cope with grief during the holidays as well as coping strategies to avoid.  The final section describes ways varied organizations can help grieving individuals.

General Session 2: “Can We Grow Through Grief?

Kennth Doka, PhD (Professor Emeritus at the Graduate School of The College of New Rochelle and Senior Consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America)

We have little choice about the loss and the ensuing grief, we do retain choice on whether we will grow up or down, grow bitter or better, as a result of our loss.  This presentation—drawing from my new book, Grief Is a Journey: Finding Your Path through Loss—explores how we can draw upon our inner strengths and outer resources as we cope with loss. This presentation will be helpful to all who are dealing with loss, those who wish to understand grief, and professionals who counsel persons who are bereaved including psychologists, counselors, clergy, social workers, nurses and other health care workers, as well as educators, teachers and school-based personnel. 

Breakout Session: “Grieving Beyond Gender”

Kennth Doka, PhD (Professor Emeritus at the Graduate School of The College of New Rochelle and Senior Consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America)

Many individuals believe that if an individual does not show or share sadness or express other emotions, that individual is not in touch with or is suppressing grief.  In fact, grief reactions are highly individual and varied.  Many men, and women, may express their grief in more instrumental ways, showing grief in more cognitive or active manifestations.  This session explores the different patterns or styles of grief, emphasizing that each of these patterns has their own distinct advantages and disadvantages.  The grieving style of a bereaved individual is influenced by numerous factors including gender, temperament, socialization, and culture.  The seminar further explores interventive strategies that are effective with different patterns.

Breakout Session: “Griefwork with Children” (for professionals)

Laurie Forrest, LISW-CP (Clinic Director & Therapist at Ellie Mental Health, Greenville)

Daniela Hatter, LPC (Therapist at Ellie Mental Health, Greenville)

Join us as we explore the presentation of grief in children and teens as well as the value of utilizing Play in your work. You will leave this presentation with new tools for your clinical toolbox to address the difficult work of supporting children and teens (and their parents, of course) in the arena of grief and loss.

Breakout Session: “The Body’s Response to Grief: How Grief Impacts the Physical Body and the Medicines That Can Help”

Rebecca S. Smith, M.D., FAAFP, CPE (Family Physician at Prisma Heal and the Taylors Free Medical Clinic)

In this seminar, we will cover the physical changes that occur at the neuronal level during the process of grief, the physical and mental signs of healthy grief, and the DSM-V disorders Complicated Grief, Grief-Related Depression and Prolonged Grief. After a review of common treatments, a physician might prescribe to a person in grief, we will end with how our bodies and brain learn from loss.

Breakout Session: “Whispers of the Heart – Embracing the Loneliness of Loss”

Lucy Henry, LPC, CEAP-MDiv and EdS in MFT (VP of Business Development, First Sun EAP)

Becoming vulnerable is both difficult and necessary. It is difficult because we are not sure we can trust someone with our grief. The necessary side of being vulnerable connects us with those who can help us navigate our grief. They are the trusted voices who speak compassionate and loving truth into our pain and feelings of loneliness. So embracing who we are in our journey and embracing others are grieving tools we pull out along the way to grow through the grieving process. Lucy’s session will help to identify the tools we need to grieve in our own way with our own people.

Breakout Session: “Suicide and Grief”

Dennis Gillan (Executive Director of Half a Sorrow Foundation)

In this talk, Dennis will use his personal grief journey as a springboard to discuss the importance of one’s mental health and some of the risk factors and warning signs that a colleague may need a hand.  He will also use his time to review the importance of using the resources available to the audience and reinforce their role in saving lives, and how to deal with their losses.

Breakout Session: “Grief Support and Spiritual Community”

Reverend James King, BDiv (Unity Church of Greenville)

Being in a spiritual community provides a sense of togetherness and belonging.  Someone knows my name and wants to support me.  I am safe to grieve and to process.  I am allowed the space to feel and to heal.  Though my grief is unique to me, I have learned through watching others what to expect.  I am surrounded by friends who give me strength, guidance, and compassion.  I have permission to grieve my losses.  I move forward through prayers, rituals, and routines.   In this workshop, you will learn the value of faith traditions and shared grief.

Breakout Session: “Estate Planning and Probate”

James Lyon, JD (Associate Attorney, Heritage Law)

In this breakout session the audience will gain a better understanding for the need for planning for events prior to death, including the difference between how a general power of attorney works versus a health care power of attorney and why these documents are an important component to a larger estate plan. Probate will be covered to assist with a clearer idea of how probate works. Unpacking the difference between wills versus revocable trusts and when one may be a more appropriate for one’s

estate planning will be discussed with an aim of understanding the options for avoiding or reducing the amount of time an estate spends in probate.

Breakout Session: “Traumatic Grief and PTSD”

Tiffeny Davidson-Parker (NAMI Executive Director)

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Greenville Swamp Rabbits STAR WARS NIGHT & Walt’s Waltz is the NonProfit of the Night!

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November 12

Stress Management