Support Grieving Students

It is estimated that more than 5.6 million U.S. children are bereaved. More than 200,000 children have lost parents or caregivers to COVID-19 alone. One in 13 children will experience the death of a parent or caregiver by the age of 18. Such loss can destroy a child’s sense of safety, upend any sense of normalcy and completely reconfigure their understanding of the world. As school counselors, how are we serving our grieving students? Dive deeper into understanding grief and all of its complications in today's world. Through an overview of new and former grief work theories, understand the needs of the bereaved, while examining the societal stigmas and barriers many grievers experience. 

Learning Objectives
After attending this workshop, you will be able to:

  1. Discuss the varied signs and symptoms of grief
  2. Use preferred terminology surrounding death
  3. Identify and explain secondary losses
  4. Reduce discomfort and ambiguity surrounding grief work
  5. Adapt provided tools and resources to use with grieving students
  6. Strategize how to work appropriately with grieving students both individually and in small group settings.

Presenter:
Gen Nelson is a licensed professional counselor specializing in grief work and is adjunct faculty in the Missouri State University counseling department. Previously, Gen worked as both a school counselor for nine years and a grief counselor for six years in the group and individual settings at Lost & Found Grief Center in Springfield, Mo. She served on the ASCA Board of Directors and as assistant chair for the Missouri School Counselor Association’s Board of Directors. She has provided numerous presentations for school counselors, at both the state and national levels, on how to work effectively with grieving students and their families.

Schedule: Full day training; 0.6 CEUs available to attendees

Cost: $3,750* for full day

To bring this professional development workshop to your district, email Jennifer Walsh. 

*In circumstances requiring extensive travel arrangements, additional fees may apply.