A restorative yoga practice will invite you to soften, relax, and release, in a way that will restore, renew, rejuvenate, and nourish your whole being and release deeply held tensions. Your body will be supported by blankets, pillows, and or bolsters while using some yogic breathing that calms and soothes you in your center and generally brings a feeling of comfort, and grace while in the supported yoga poses.
Partner or Spouse Loss: Bereavement Group (Daytime)
This 8-week group is for anyone experiencing the loss of a spouse or partner. The group is led by peer-facilitators.
Registration is required. Contact Abby at 781-585-4221 ext. 4.
Family Night at Hope Floats
Thursday, February 9, 2023 – 5:00 – 6:30 pm
Join us at Hope Floats for family night for children and families grieving the death of a loved one. A pizza dinner will be served, then children and their families are invited to work together on a family art project, making vision boards and dream catchers. Please register all family members that plan on attending so we have an accurate number for pizza. Deadline to register is 2/7/23. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you! Registration is required. REGISTER HERE
Community Night at Hope Floats – Helping Your Child Understand Grief
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Hope Floats is starting community nights several times a year on different topics of grief. We invite you to our first Community Night which will focus on Children and Grief.
Did you know that children grieve differently than adults? Come join us as we discuss how children’s understanding of grief changes as they transition through the developmental stages of childhood. We will also discuss how to help a grieving child and behaviors that might signal a child needs help.
This workshop will be run by Maureen Walsh, NP, FT.
Maureen is the Education and Outreach Director at Hope Floats Healing and Wellness Center in Kingston, MA. She also has a private grief therapy practice at Hope Floats where she sees adults, children and families who are grieving.
Oil Painting With a Twist for the Beginner to the Intermediate.. (Adults)
Reawaken Your Creative Soul Learn to Paint, or Just paint…
Location: Hope Floats Healing and Wellness Center, 4 Elm Street, Kingston, MA 02364
Tuesdays 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (6-week session)
Starts: Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Ends: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Instructor: Laura Tryon Jennings, CAGs
Registration: call 781-936-8068 or REGISTER HERE
Fee: $198 (plus $28 supply fee paid to Laura if needed or desired)
For students who have absolutely no background in painting and desire instructional painting, I 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 number so I can connect with you at least one week before class. (LTryonJennings@gmail.com, 781-837-7982 landline)
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 will be made after one week of classes. Classes cannot be pro-rated except for COVID-19 related events.
Vaccines recommended. Be aware the class will be following state COVID-19 guidelines. Thank you for your patience while navigating this fluid situation.
Family Night at Hope Floats
Thursday, January 23, 2023 – 5:00 – 6:30 pm
Join us at Hope Floats for Family Night! Family Night is 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.
REGISTER HERE – Registration is required. Deadline to register is 1/24/23. Please register all family members that plan on attending.
Fundamentals of Grief for Educators: Helping Individuals Navigate Their Grief Journey
A 10 hour In-Person Professional Development workshop for Educators
Saturday, February 11, 2023 and March 4th, 2023
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Workshop cost with 10 PDPs: $175 (educators only)
Workshop facilitated by Maureen Walsh, NP, FT and Alice Kearney, LMHC
Registration deadline 02/06/23. Cancellations made before 02/03/23 will be fully refunded.
No refunds after 02/03/23. Workshop requires at least 8 participants. Certificates of completion will be mailed to participants after fully attending all ten hours of this workshop and evaluations will be completed in person immediately following the workshop.
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 in-person workshop is designed to give educators an increased awareness of the dynamics of grief, and to provide tools and strategies to best support grieving students and their families.
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
- Recognize signs of grief in children of all ages
- Identify tools for creating a grief-sensitive classroom
- Describe the current concepts of aiding a child through grief
- Recognize when outside help is needed
Training Schedule
Day 1:
8:45-9:00: Registration
9:00-11:15: Understanding Grief for Teachers
11:15-11:30 Break
11:30-2:00: Learning Assessment and Activities
Day 2:
8:45-9:00: Welcome and check-in
9:00-11:15: Helping Grieving Students
11:15-11:30 Break
11:30-12:30 Self Care
12:30-1:15 Resources
1:15-1:45 Post Workshop Assessment
1:45-2:00: Evaluations and 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).
Alice Kearney has over 25 years of experience as a licensed mental health counselor and registered art therapist. In 2007, Alice opened her own private practice. In 2013 she began leading Mike’s Club children’s groups at Hope Floats Healing & Wellness Center. Today, Alice is thrilled to move her positive, creative and strength-based counseling services to Hope Floats and be apart of the Hope Floats team full time.
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. This intermediate level training is intended for educators as a means to provide tools, strategies and knowledge needed to ensure a grief-sensitive learning environment.
Hope Floats Healing & Wellness Center has been approved with the following Content area: Safe & Supportive Learning Environments by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Professional Development Points will be awarded to educators upon full completion of this 10 hour program, an assessment of learning, and demonstration of mastery on behalf of the participant.
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 need4 Elm Street, Kingston, MA 02364