Even after the pandemic, it seems that we are still lacking in addressing grief effectively in the workplace.  Grief is an equal opportunity event and does not discriminate based on size or type of organization.  It will cross the threshold of your office door at some point and can be the silent killer of productivity.  Is your organization being proactive in ensuring a grief-sensitive and compassionate workplace culture?  

A Premier All-Inclusive Grief Coaching Support Program

NOT THERAPY  |  NOT THEORY  |  NOT THEOLOGY

• Employee Benefit Program to Supplement EAP, Health and Wellness Benefit Programs, Etc.

• Grief Sensitivity Training for Management and Supervisory Personnal

• Grief Coach Training and Certification with International Coaching Federation (ICF) Accredited Programs

"Grief is a universal human experience, yet workplace culture is often inhospitable to people suffering profound loss.  There are many taboos at work, and death is one of the greatest."  When a Colleague Is Grieving, Harvard Business Review Magazine, July-August 2019.

"Conversations around death and dying don't have to be uncomfortable if employers are able to foster an open culture," says Paul Fraser, People Management, October 4, 2022.

"Grief doesn't have to be dark if we lighten the conversations surrounding it," says Dora Carpenter.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAM

When grieving, there is pain and sadness because we are human and we deeply feel the loss of our loved one’s physical presence; however, one must return to the physical or virtual office as the aftermath lingers for days, weeks, and months following the loss.  Our grief-avoidant society dismisses grief as a discussion topic which forces us to become somewhat grief-illiterate.  Due to the current rise in the need for mental health services and the shortage of providers and appointments, access to these services may be limited.  Our online, convenient 24/7 access, stigma-free program is an option for those not requiring mental health intervention.  In addition, members have access to the program for 365 days after enrolling, so there is no worry of missing a scheduled appointment, a limited time to receive services, or feeling uncomfortable with attending scheduled in-person support groups. 

Program content includes:

• Downloadable journals. Members are encouraged to navigate the grieving process using the safe and private space of journaling.  Journaling prompts are included such as reflection and memories, emotions and feelings, coping strategies, mindfulness and self-care, hope and perspective, and connection and help.

• Downloadable planners. Members consistently move forward in doing the grief work with planners such as the ‘Firsties Planner Kit,’ which helps integrate the loss into their new sense of normalcy during the first year following the loss.

• Mini-Courses. Mini-courses are self-paced on various topics and include instruction topics for creating memorial books, family keepsakes, and more.

• Book excerpts. Excerpts from some of Dora Carpenter’s grief-related books are in the portal for download, such as The Grief Talk Revolution: It’s Time to Talk About the Elephant in the Room, which has been endorsed by Jack Canfield, best-selling author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series.

• Pre-recorded webinars. Members can listen to webinars on a variety of topics such as coping with holiday grief, the five pitfalls of grief, the ABC’s of grief, and more.

• Life coaching tools. Grief affects every area of one’s life.  Personal development and self-improvement tools and exercises include grounding meditations, affirmations, balancing the wheel of life, and more.

• Private online community. The portal hosts a private community for members to share, network, and support each other.

• Pop-up events. Occasional pop-up virtual events are held to further inform, educate, and support members.

GRIEF SENSITIVITY TRAINING

Are you addressing grief as part of your mental health awareness plan?  Do you know where grief fits into the work-life balance equation?  Do you know what to say and what not to say during these uncomfortable conversations with grieving employees?  If grief education is not a required subject for medical students, we can’t expect it to be included in an employee’s job description.  The fact is, however, that grief will affect every office at some point and knowing how to manage this inevitable occasion can reduce the resulting negative consequences of decreased productivity, lagging morale, retention issues, and bottom-line costs.  Virtual and in-person training is facilitated by our certified grief coaches and empowers your management and supervisory personnel with information, education, and tools to foster compassionate care in creating a grief-sensitive workplace culture. Training is customized to meet the needs and requests of your organization.

GRIEF COACH CERTIFICATION

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity, and leadership.  The From Grief to Gratitude Coaching Program aims to help bereaved individuals move from pain to peace, heartbreak to happiness, and grief to gratitude in the shortest time possible.  Sponsoring an employee or team as certified grief coaches will lend credibility to your company’s commitment of care and concern for your employees’ well-being.  An in-house grief buddy, compassion partner, or peer grief support network helps ensure a smooth and supportive transition for grieving employees returning to work.  Dora Carpenter’s signature From Grief to Gratitude Coach Certification Program is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). 

GRIEF WELLNESS PROGRAM COSTS

Investing in grief wellness coaching support for your employees, members, or students affords significant benefits for your organization including reducing the grief-related costs to your bottom line.  The Employee Benefit Program can start with as few as 50 members.  For much less than a cup of coffee per day, we are quite certain that the cost is significantly lower than similar coaching wellness benefit programs.  There is no setup fee and you receive quarterly engagement reports.  If only one employee takes advantage of the program, you’ve not only exceeded your ROI, but you’ve shown compassionate care and concern at a time when it is needed the most. 

The cost for the a la carte Grief Sensitivity Training and Grief Coach Certification program options are based on your specific needs and requirements.

Who is My Grief Coach Wellness Program For? 

Executives - Managers and Supervisors - Human Resources Professionals - Professional Practitioners - Federal and Local Governments - Community Organizations - Small Business Owners - Death Care Professionals - Unions - Trade Associations - Healthcare Organizations - Educational Institutions - Churches - Hospice Organizations - First Responders Organizations - Nonprofit Organizations - Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation Facilities - Legal and Eldercare Practices - Insurance Agencies - Entrepreneurs - Coaches - Health and Wellness Programs - Correctional Institutions - Law Enforcement Organizations - Military and Civilian Personnel ... and more

About Our Founder

Dora Carpenter is the curator of the My Grief Coach® Wellness Program and facilitator of the Employee Benefit Program.  She is a serial entrepreneur, celebrated death care professional, personally licensed by the late Susan Jeffers, Ph.D. to teach Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway® work in the United States, and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization webinar series faculty member.  Dora is the founder of the Institute of Professional Grief Coaching.  She is a graduate of Strayer University and holds professional certifications in life, grief, and relationship coaching.  Her mission is to help individuals go from pain to peace, heartbreak to happiness, and grief to gratitude in the shortest time possible.  Coach Dora has trained and certified grief coaches in the United States, Canada, Cayman Islands, Spain, Brazil, Kuwait, Slovak Republic, Pakistan, Kenya, United Kingdom, and New Zealand.

Grief is the journey. Gratitude is the destination.®

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL GRIEF COACHING