Grief and Bereavement

NEW! Grief as a Ritual of Clarity

If we only understood how the grieving process can heal us, we would embrace it with a whole heart. We might even recommend it to others as a transformative practice, rather than shying away from the powerful feelings that accompany the profound sorrow of dramatic loss. Understanding bereavement as a ritual of connection we are wired to perform can forever liberate us from fear of this natural but mysterious process. You are invited on a journey of exploration as we follow grief’s path through helplessness and confusion to a vivid clarity of meaning and hopeful imagination. This workshop can include a special piece on creating new rituals that honor grief rather than reject it. To schedule this presentation, contact us at (303) 398-6326 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

NEW! Anticipatory Grief: Coping with the Dread of Future Loss
 Depending on your loved one’s illness, you may actually grieve for a very long time before death or other dreaded event occurs. Patients also mourn their own decline, and everyone concerned is likely to experience anxiety over the progressive loss of terminal illness. In this workshop, families and professionals will learn how to face the reality of today and lessen the burden of present worry and future sorrow. To schedule this presentation, contact us at (303) 398-6326 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

NEW! When Grief Intrudes on Holiday Joy
Holidays can be a very difficult time when we are grieving the many losses that come from illness or death. We may try to appear happy when we’re not, but struggling to fulfill unrealistic expectations—our own and other people’s—only increases our pain. This interactive workshop offers practical tips and tools for celebrating holidays while also being gentle with yourself and present for those you love.

Grief, Out of the Closet: The Need to Mourn Our Losses 
We live in a society that grieves well and mourns poorly. We are experts in pushing down our emotions, avoiding the pain of our losses and diverting our attention through addictive behaviors. We must recognize our losses, experience and express the intensity of our emotions, and learn to stop avoiding our losses and integrate them into our lives. To schedule this presentation, contact us at (303) 398-6326 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Grief “at Work”

Few of us are comfortable with grief in the workplace. Whether it is the death of a co-worker, comforting a co-worker who has lost someone, going back to work after you have lost someone, or (in the case of healthcare professionals) losing a patient, we really don’t know how to respond. This presentation will explore how to support each other as we honor the losses in our lives. To schedule this presentation, contact us at (303) 398-6326 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Belief and Grief: What is the Connection?

How does your perception of God (the Divine) shape your experience of loss? Are you angry? Sad? Confused? Do you feel abandoned? Comforted? Companioned? Do you have doubts about what you believe to be true? Grief, prompted by suffering and loss, often challenges our foundational beliefs, literally bringing us to our knees in search of help and hope.

Consider the possible reactions and responses to suffering and loss by revisiting the well known story of Job. The story of Job eloquently articulates the issue of theodicy. Theodicy is defined as the justification of God in response to the charge that undeserved suffering/loss is incompatible with God’s omnipotence and perfect goodness. The different responses to catastrophic loss exhibited by Job, his friends, and the author reflect the respective expectations (beliefs) each character has of God. Furthermore, the individual’s experience of loss is predicated on their personal beliefs.

Viktor Frankl also explored the issue of inexplicable suffering and concluded that to live is to suffer. Human beings cannot control everything that happens in their lives; however, we always have the freedom to choose an attitude in response to the situation. Again, the chosen attitude emanates from personal beliefs, expectations, and understanding of the circumstances. Frankl encourages people to resist the disempowering, victimizing “Why me?” mentality. Instead, respond to suffering and associated losses with a proactive, transformational approach of “What Now?”

Please join us to consider and to question how our beliefs influence the grieving process. Additionally, reflect on how our experience of loss transforms our understanding of God (the Divine). Explore how your spiritual beliefs serve to inform, shape, and influence your journey through grief as we discuss the plight of Job as well as four contemporary case studies depicting death, career, relationship, and health losses. Belief and Grief: What is the Connection? To schedule this presentation, contact us at (303) 398-6326 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .