How to Confidently Respond to Grieving Individuals - Presenter: Wendy Graham
The amount of unsupported grief experienced by families during this pandemic has been heartbreaking. Calls have been made in the press for a national strategy to cope with the loss left by COVID 19 - experts warn that an echo pandemic of mental health issues largely fueled by grief and loss will be with us for years to come. All of us have seen the many programs, books and groups organized to support the bereaved, but these fall short when someone walks into the funeral home or cemetery office and is triggered. We need tools at our fingertips to help the highly emotional, hurting people who we serve every day. Meet Wendy Graham, Manager of Hospice Services at Hospice Vaughan. Wendy will provide us with an overview of how people grieve and what variables can impact the grief journey. She will outline what we can expect in the early stages of grief and will give us guidance about what to say and what NOT to say to someone experiencing a loss. The art of holding space and companioning the bereaved will be explored and we will be taught how to prevent taking another’s grief home with us at the end of the day. Bring your questions to this informative and practical webinar designed to provide you with PPE for grief reactions.
This webinar will feature Wendy Graham, B.A., B.Ed., M.A.C.P, R.P.
With a background in Counselling and Education, Wendy transitioned into Palliative Care and Grief & Bereavement counselling, while volunteering in community hospices. Wendy then expanded her focus to include children, adults, caregivers and families. Additional education at King’s College in London Ontario increased the scope of Wendy’s practice to include palliative care and end-of-life support.
For the past 27 years, Wendy has supported communities with education, advocacy and counselling in Palliative Care, Grief, Traumatic Loss, Anxiety and Depression, and navigating changes in life.
As a Registered Psychotherapist, Wendy currently works part-time at Hospice Vaughan managing Services and Programs, and is also in private practice.
The 2021 webinar series is brought to you by the following sponsors: