Mindfulness, Self Compassion and the Journey of Grief

Description

Through a combination of presentation and experiential exercises this workshop will consider how mindfulness and compassion techniques can be used to resource both the bereaved and those who support them on the grief journey.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the workshop participants will:

• be familiar with current mindfulness-based bereavement care models
• experience how mindful and compassion practices can deepen therapeutic presence and help maintain practitioner well-being
• learn simple practices to use with bereaved clients
• learn how the pillars of lifestyle medicine can support the carer

Presenter Profiles

Dr Jennifer Allen and Gay Robinson are Senior Social Workers practising in an older adult mental health service. They appreciate the power and learning potential of group work and have co-facilitated carer and bereavement support programmes over the past 15 years. Jennifer and Gay have previously provided training to Alone volunteers on ‘Grief and Old Age’.

Gay has over twenty-five years of social work experience in child protection, medical and mental health settings in Ireland and New Zealand. She facilitates Anxiety, Mindfulness and Grief therapy groups. Gay is also a volunteer on an online carers group. She is currently undertaking a Professional Diploma in Positive Health. She also holds Diplomas in Counselling and Psycho-Therapy, and Family Therapy and is a mindfulness practitioner. Gay has vast experience in facilitating anxiety management and mindfulness groups.

Dr. Jennifer Allen is a Senior Social Worker practising in the area of older persons' mental health. Jennifer is a graduate of the MSc Bereavement Studies, Royal College of Surgeons and holds a PhD in Social Work, University College Dublin, with the focus of her research on advance care planning. She appreciates the power and learning potential of group work and has co-facilitated bereavement and carer support programmes over the past decade, including a Carers Transition Group for spouses of people living with dementia who are on the cusp of moving to long-term care. Jennifer teaches on several third level courses in the area of grief and loss, and has facilitated seminars for numerous voluntary organisations. She is also a mindfulness practitioner.