Grief Recovery Method (Helping Children With Loss)
An action-based, powerful, directed approach to healing from life's deepest heartbreaks.
Developed by the Grief Recovery Institute, the Helping Children with Loss program is a step-by-step training program that gives parents and caregivers tools to help children manage grief now and for future losses. In this way, this program can and should be seen as prevention and intervention. Giving children tools to manage significant emotional loss at an early stage of life this may help build mental wellness and resiliency across the lifespan.
Here is what participants say about the Helping Children with Loss program
5.00 Stars - ★★★★★
The program allowed me to think about how I approach helping my students to deal with grief. The program also allowed me to identify that I still have some unresolved grief to deal with and that I can still take the time to work through it as long as I do. 07/26/2022
Developed by the Grief Recovery Institute, the Helping Children with Loss program is a step-by-step training program that gives parents and other caregivers tools to help children manage grief now and for future losses. In this way, this program can and should be seen as prevention and intervention. Giving children tools to manage significant emotional loss at an early stage of life this may help build mental wellness and resiliency across the lifespan.
This program is designed to be used by many people, including foster parents, school counselors, teachers, grandparents, and anyone with interactive responsibilities with children. Participation in this program can be a life-changing and multi-generational gift to the children in your care.
Most parents and others want to do whatever they can to protect their children from painful events during childhood and beyond. However, often, in trying to help children, parents repeat unhelpful coping behaviors that they were taught. I always assume the positive intent of parents, and it is simply that most of us were not taught how to effectively manage emotional pain brought about by grief and loss.
Take a moment and think about what you were taught as a child about coping with emotionally painful events. This could be any emotional loss from ending the relationship with a best friend, school bullying, change of school, moving, loss of a pet, the end of a romantic relationship, death of a grandparent or other significant person, or parental divorce. Chances are, when you experienced any of these losses and others, you were given a list of logical reasons why you should not feel bad. They might sound like this; "Don't feel bad, you'll get over it, here's a cookie, don't feel bad, we'll get you another dog this weekend, don't feel bad, you'll find someone else." Statements like this probably did not make you feel better. Grief and loss are emotional, not logical. Very few programs are available to teach caregivers how to help children successfully deal with the pain of a broken heart. Helping Children with Loss fills this knowledge and skill-based gap.
Program Schedule
Dr. Watson is a Grief Recovery Method Specialist, certified and trained by the Grief Recovery Institute. As the group trainer, she will assist you in understanding the tools and will facilitate you to utilize the information as applicable to individual loss issues.
This program is offered online worldwide and in person in the Treasure Valley, Idaho.
The maximum number of people for the online program is 8, plus Dr. Watson as the group trainer and facilitator. The face-to-face format can have as many as 18 participants. The minimum number of participants for either form is 4.
Class Options
The class meets weekly for four weeks, approximately 2.5 hours per class.
The cost is $250 per person
Click the link below to purchase now.
Grief Recovery Method - Helping Children with Loss Program
Meet with Dr. Watson to discuss Mending your Broken Heart.
Get to Know Your Advanced Recovery Specialist
Jo-Ellen Watson
Ph.D., CLC, LCSW
I was born in Washington State and raised in a small town outside of Walla Walla. My parents owned a family business and were involved in the life of our community. I learned the value of hard work and the importance of contributing to my school and hometown. I had animals to care for, gardening with my mom, enjoyed camping with my family, was active in girl scouts and equine 4-H, becoming an accomplished rider. Unfortunately, my early childhood was tainted by the trauma of sexual abuse, which remained a family secret. Like many children coming from similar situations, I learned to cope by repressing painful memories and tried to prove my value by excelling academically, socially, and in other activities, some of which were risky and unhealthy. I continued that pattern well into adulthood.
After receiving a BA in Sociology from Washington State University, I moved to Seattle, residing there for fifty years. I enjoyed the excitement of a large city and took full advantage of all the career and social opportunities. I continued to excel at my work and education endeavors, receiving advanced degrees including years of additional training in health and mental health care. My careers equipped me with valuable skills and experiences all of which I now draw on in my coaching, speaking and training services.
Like many of you reading this story, I have experienced a significant amount of trauma and loss in my life. My employment as a veterinary technician, ambulance EMT, social worker in a trauma unit, and later first responder mental health crisis worker, while all professionally rewarding, took a personal toll. In my 30's I experienced a life-threatening abduction and assault by a stranger. I escaped the situation without bodily injury, but coupled with my childhood trauma, I suffered from PTSD for years before receiving help.
On my journey I have benefited from the compassionate care of mental health providers, including a psychiatrist I worked with after the adult trauma. He told me he was impressed with my ability to repeatedly reinvent myself each time, evolving into a better, stronger version of myself. After one session he exclaimed, "You are like the Phoenix Rising"; hence the logo of my coaching services.
I share this part of my story so that you know I am able to understand the emotional pain of losses you may have endured and might currently be experiencing. While I may not know your experience exactly, I am able to relate to the feelings of confusion, sense of isolation, and questions about what to do next. I also know that healing, transformation, power, and revitalization are within your reach. I found these through my own work with The Grief Recovery Method.
