Our Support Services are free of charge ~ Registration is required
This group is open to any parent coping with the death of a child of any age. The group will meet every other Monday, 6:00- 7:30 pm in the Wellness Barn, the white building at the back of the property.
Registration: Liz McKenna, 781-585-4221 ext. 106
There is no charge for this group. Hope Floats Healing and Wellness Center is a non-profit foundation with 501(c)(3) status offering educational, support and wellness services.
April Family Night
Wednesday, April 16 from 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Registration is required – REGISTER HERE
Join us at Hope Floats for Family Night, a night for children of all ages and their families grieving the death of a loved one. A pizza dinner will be served, then children and adults will be invited to work together on a fun family art project. Family nights are led by Hope Floats staff, clinicians, and trained volunteers. For more information contact Heather Gray 781-585-4221 ext. 2.
Oil Painting Workshop with a Twist for the Beginner to the Intermediate…(Adults)
Reawaken Your Creative Soul and Learn to Paint
Tuesdays 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (6-week session)
Starts: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 (No class May 27)
Ends: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Instructor: Laura Tryon Jennings, CAGs
Registration is required – REGISTER HERE
Fee: $220 (plus $28 supply fee paid to Laura if needed or desired). Limited space available.
Tap into an extraordinary resource: the vibrant, vital force of your own creative character in a nurturing, encouraging, and safe environment and discover your distinctive path to oil painting. You only need bring the willingness to give up any attachment to feeling you have no talent or creativity. The focus of this workshop is to enjoy the creative experience and self-nurturing qualities oil painting can provide to your soul. It offers a unique blend of learning the basics of oil painting materials, foundations of color theory, color mixing, composition and working with the flow of the creative process to awaken creative spirit, remember playfulness, and open a fuller expression of authentic self by nurturing your essence. Artist Jennings approaches teaching each student individually, so they can paint freely, at their own level, and paint a subject (landscape, still life, portrait, abstract, interior, etc. from life and/or from a photograph) befitting their skills and needs. The workshop can be used as a vehicle for expression, playing with paint, learning the techniques of oil painting, and/or to have instructional oil painting, which means you truly can be a beginner, intermediate, or simply get a feel for oil painting. All supplies will be provided or bring your own supplies if you prefer.
For students who have absolutely no background in painting and desire instructional painting, I sometimes recommend one or two private classes with me before jumping into a six-week session. If this isn’t feasible, I ask for patience, particularly on the first day, and encourage you to contact me with your email and phone # so I can connect with you at least one week before class. (LTryonJennings@gmail.com, 781-837-7982 landline)
All supplies will be provided or bring your own supplies if you prefer. There is a 12-student maximum.
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. For more information contact Hope Floats at 781-585-4221.
Make-up classes will be scheduled by the instructor only in the event they are cancelled due to weather or if the instructor cancels. No refunds, credits, or pro-rates except for COVID-19 related events. (Given only if the event is cancelled or at the discretion of the Hope Floats Director) ….and the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury and Hope Floats in Kingston have kindly agreed one make-up class per session can be made up at the other venue. This gives you five days to choose from to make up a class if you need to make-up a day. (No make-up on the first day of a new session) At least twenty-four hours’ notice is required to make up a class.
In case of inclement weather there will be a make-up class scheduled after the last class of each session.
Gentle Yin & Slow Flow Yoga Workshop
Saturday, April 12, 2025 from 2 – 4 PM
Donation: $35
This is an all levels class. Very gentle Yin with some movement following. This is great for beginners or anyone practicing yoga.
“In 2020 at the height of Covid, Boston Children’s Hospital saved my son’s life. Greg was suffering a bone infection that went septic. All of the symptoms mimicked Covid so diagnosis was difficult. BCH was able to find his real diagnosis and treat it. Our family is so grateful to the amazing professionals who treated him. Proceeds from these two classes are going to Boston Children’s Hospital.” – Jen Bartlett, Yoga Instructor. Please reach out to Jen at Jenbartlett70@yahoo.com with any questions.
Gentle Yin & Slow Flow Yoga Workshop
Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 2 – 4 PM
Donation: $35
This is an all levels class. Very gentle Yin with some movement following. This is great for beginners or anyone practicing yoga.
“In 2020 at the height of Covid, Boston Children’s Hospital saved my son’s life. Greg was suffering a bone infection that went septic. All of the symptoms mimicked Covid so diagnosis was difficult. BCH was able to find his real diagnosis and treat it. Our family is so grateful to the amazing professionals who treated him. Proceeds from these two classes are going to Boston Children’s Hospital.” – Jen Bartlett, Yoga Instructor. Please reach out to Jen at Jenbartlett70@yahoo.com with any questions.
Fundamentals of Grief: Helping Individuals Navigate Their Grief Journey
An in-person training for members of the community
Next Training: Saturday, April 5, 2025 from 9 am – 4 pm
Cost: $129
Registration is required – REGISTER HERE
Workshop facilitated by Maureen Walsh, NP, FT and Heather Gray, MSW
“The Fundamentals of Grief Training was not only interesting and informative but provided much needed answers to questions such as how to explain death to children. It was clear from the outset that the presenters Maureen and Erin were not only very knowledgeable but also very caring and warm individuals. Also appreciated, were the wonderful book recommendations each provided.” ~Madeleine F.
“Fundamentals of Grief Training provided a platform where education and expertise are met with compassion and commonality. Families at Friends of Aine will truly benefit from the guidance provided. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this extraordinary experience.” ~Mandi S., Good Grief Program Coordinator
Certificates of completion will be administered upon completion of course evaluation. This is an in person workshop. Workshop requires at least 8 participants. For more information contact us 781-585-4221 ext.3 or at info@hopefloatswellness.org.
Every person will experience grief and loss – a normal yet profound sense of final separation from something or someone important. While there are similarities in how individuals work through and experience loss, grief is a complicated and truly unique experience that requires helpers to be sensitive to the needs and experiences of those they are supporting. This workshop is designed to give helpers an increased awareness of the dynamics of grief, and to provide tools and strategies to best support someone who is grieving.
Course Overview
Through presentation, case study exercises, personal reflection, and group discussion, this workshop will cover Disenfranchised Grief, Grief Theories, Chaos of Grief, Children & Grief, Grief vs. Major Depressive Disorder, What Grievers Need, Grief Over Time, Tools and Strategies and more.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this training you should be able to:
- Explain the characteristics of grief
- Define the difference between grief and mourning
- Define the differences between grief theories
- Describe how secondary loss impacts an individual
- Describe the current concepts of aiding a child through grief
- Recognize when outside help is needed
Training Schedule
8:45AM-9:00AM Registration
9AM-11:15AM Understanding Grief and Its impact on Our Lives
11:15AM-11:30AM Break
11:30AM-12:30PM Activity: Grief Over Time
12:30PM-1:00PM Lunch
1:00PM-2:15PM Self Care & Resources
2:15PM-2:30PM Break
2:30PM-3:45PM What Works/What Doesn’t
3:45PM-4:00PM Helpful Resources
4:00PM Evaluations & Certificates
Maureen F. Walsh is a psychiatric nurse practitioner, grief therapist and educator. Maureen is certified as a Fellow in Thanatology by the Association for Death, Education and Counseling (ADEC). While working as a school nurse/health teacher Maureen started the school bereavement program and coordinated it for 14 years. She developed Lessons of Life and Loss, a grade 1-8 school bereavement program, which she has presented to faculties of various schools on the South Shore. Maureen began her own grief practice, Grief Weavers LLC in 2007 in which she sees private patients and speaks at schools and community organizations about grief issues. In 2017, Maureen moved Grief Weavers to Hope Floats Healing and Wellness Center where she continues her private practice as well as facilitates the Sibling Loss Support Group, assists in Mike’s Club and is part of the H.E.A.R.T program. (Hope Floats Education and Awareness Response Team).
Our goal is to raise awareness about grief through education and community outreach. This encompasses trainings, workshops and presentations for professionals, educators, and members of the community.
Hope Floats is handicapped accessible. Please contact us at 781-585-4221 for further accommodation needs.
Hope Floats Healing & Wellness Center is a bereavement and educational center for adults, teens, children and their families who are grieving, dealing with illness, or facing other life challenges. Our free support services bring hope and healing to those in need. 4 Elm Street, Kingston, MA 02364
Pregnancy Loss: Bereavement Support Group for Parents
This group is open to any parent experiencing the loss of a child at any stage of pregnancy. This is a peer-led support group that will meet via Zoom. Peer facilitators are parents who have experienced the loss of a child and are trained by Hope Floats as volunteer peer facilitators.
Tuesdays, Monthly on Zoom, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Registration is required. Please contact Abby, 781-585-4221 ext. 4
Newly Bereaved Support Group
This bereavement support group is open to anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved on in the last two months.
Registration is required. Contact us at 781-585-4221 ext 8 or 9 to register.