Workshop "A" descriptions

Speakers: Laurie Rail & Jane Davey

Workshop Description:

Many grieving workshops focus on people’s acute grief period: what grievers are experiencing their first days, weeks and months following the death. This workshop focuses on the period after the first year, and well beyond. It provides more insight into what that timeline will give those people who are further into their grieving journey.

Question: When can an hour seem to last forever, and year feel like a moment?

Answer: When you are grieving the death of someone significant.

The first year immediately following a death is a surreal one, with time seeming to both standstill, and, fly by at the same time. In year one we experience all the “firsts”, and once we get through all of these (birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, etc.), we anticipate, and perhaps even look forward to, the second year of grieving becoming somewhat easier. Understanding that each person experiences grief uniquely, it is important to learn that grief beyond year one is normal, and, that the grief can change from year one, through year two and beyond.

This workshop will illustrate how the years following the first year of grieving will differ significantly. 

We will:

• highlight the unexpected challenges brought on in year two and beyond;
• discuss the concepts of a ‘new’ identity and finding ‘new’ meaning;
• provide insight into the griever’s revised circumstances of life and relationships;
• illustrate how to set boundaries and practise self-care;
• discuss the concept of ‘closure’.

About the Speakers:

Laurie Rail is the past Executive Chair of Bereaved Families of Ontario-Ottawa. Following multiple losses, she facilitates numerous support groups, including the MAiD group. She has completed Death Doula training, is certified as a Crises & Trauma Specialist, and as a Grief Educator. 

Jane Davey is a Program Director at Bereaved Families of Ontario and contributor to the book ‘Always with me-Parents Talk about the Death of a Child”, 2018