Overview

In this training program, we share with participants the tools, tips, and techniques for surviving and thriving after grief and loss. This program is based on Shawn Doyle’s book of the same name.

Objectives

• To understand societal myths and misinformation about grief and loss

• To learn and understand how to become hopeful again after the adversity of loss

• To learn tools and techniques for coping, grieving and healing

• To learn and understand how to make difficult decisions every day

• To discuss possible reactions to grief that can result in understanding

• To understand the rules of grieving and the fact that there are no hard and fast rules

To understand how to take care of yourself as you go through the adversity of grief

• To understand and evaluate where you are in your life and where you want to go

Program Outline:

Myths and misinformation

In this part of the training program, we talk about the nine common, self-defeating myths about how grief and grieving should be handled that people in society hear constantly, and what we can do about them. We also talk about damaging things people say to people who are grieving and misinformation that people have about grief.

Hope and assurance

In this part of the program, we talk about different tools and techniques for finding hope again after a massive loss, and finding ways to rediscover how to be optimistic, or at least hopeful of being optimistic in the future.

Coping, grieving, and healing

In our next part of the training, we talk about some very creative and unique tools for coping, grieving, and healing after loss. Some of these techniques are quite unusual but have been proven to be very effective with many people who are trying to heal after a loss. We then have a group exercise, where participants break into smaller groups and make a list of some of the techniques they’re going to try, and how they’re going to try them, and then discuss them with their partner.

Making difficult decisions every day

One of the most trying aspects of grief and loss is that the person who is grieving still has to make very important life decisions along the way. They have to think clearly about the decisions that they need to make, and many of them are significant: What to do with personal items, finances and paying bills, real estate, family and children, household management, going back to work—the list seems endless. This section of the program will help attendees learn how to think clearly and make sound important life decisions even while grieving.

Possible responses to grief

In this portion of the training program, we talk about the possible responses people can have to grief, and how to handle each one of them.

The rules (not)

In this part of the session, we talk about the societal rules (or implied rules) about grief that people seem to believe in. We also discuss the idea that there are no rules, and the concept that the only rules that apply are the ones that you create for yourself.

Taking care of you

When people go through great grief and adversity, it’s easy to stop taking care of yourself mentally and physically. In this part of the training program, we talk about taking care of yourself mentally, physically, spiritually, and nutritionally to make your healing journey just a little easier.

Where you are

In our last portion, we talk about analyzing where you are in your journey, making the determination about where you’re headed, and conclude by using the analogy of having a compass to determine your next direction.

Action plans/Life plans

We wrap up the training by asking each person to create a Compass of Action plan, and describe how they are going to apply what they learned to their work and their life.

Formats:

• Option #1- One half day program

• Option #2- (1) Webinar