*VIRTUAL* New to Grief workshop

When someone experiences a loss, their grief can overwhelm them with strong and conflicting emotions. Some may feel drowned in sorrow, while others feel numb and removed from daily life. Grief can make it difficult to carry on with day-to-day tasks or relate to others. While many think of grief only over the death of a loved one, people can experience feelings of grief over any significant loss – a job, a beloved pet, a relationship, even the loss of daily activities due to the pandemic.

In this free two-hour online workshop, you will learn what to expect as you experience grief and foster ways to strengthen resilience and cope with loss. We will explore common myths and expectations, the difference between grief and depression, and the importance of self-compassion. Through group discussion, sample ritual, and self-soothing practices, you will learn practical ways to care for yourself during the grieving process.

Whether you are grieving yourself or want to support a grieving loved one, you will walk away with a better understanding of the grieving process and tools to help you get through.

Instructor: Christine Kovach, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in grief and loss. She has more than two decades of experience in hospice social work and grief counseling. She is currently a part-time instructor with Berkeley City College and a bereavement counselor with Mission Hospice in San Mateo.