“Thank you again for the training! It was informative and identified practical ways to best support someone dealing with grief. Grief is complex and often complicated and before your training, I was not aware of all the different types of grief. This is informative in my practice and working with clients dealing with grief as well as in defining my own experience with grief. I truly appreciate your approach and sharing your personal experiences with the group. Taking your training has strengthened my confidence in working with grief and being better support for those dealing with grief. I would recommend this training to colleagues and have already shared your information and website with clients”.

All the best, 

Stephanie

Stephanie Keating, LCSW

Trauma Therapist for Adolescents and Adults

West Seneca, NY 

“My name is Allison Plunkett, and I am an LCSW located in Getzville, NY. I work as an independent contractor with Buffalo Nutrition and Dietetics, PLLC. In this workshop, Hilary quickly creates a welcoming environment in which she utilizes her own experiences to welcome vulnerability from others while teaching valuable information about grief, how it impacts us, and how we can be good supporters both personally and professionally. I would highly recommend this workshop, especially to those who work in professions where information around grief (especially how to cope with it, how to support others, e.g.) is not always at the forefront. I thank Hilary for her time, her vulnerability, and her expertise”.

Allison Plunkett, LCSW Getzville, NY.

“I sought this training series for the clinical team at my private practice and it was an exceptional experience for everyone involved. We all learned so much about grief in general, supporting others through grief and reflecting on our own experiences with grief. I fully anticipated it would be a great learning experience, but I was surprised that it ended up being so much more than that. It was eye-opening for me, despite being a seasoned clinician and having experienced numerous significant personal losses. My clinical team expressed having received tremendous benefit from the series, calling it “transformational” and identifying countless “lightbulb moments.” It was consistently evident that Hilary is an expert in this arena, and her ability to explain complex and emotionally charged topics in an  understandable and meaningful way was a much-appreciated asset. I wholeheartedly recommend this training series to as wide an audience as possible. The content has the potential to be a catalyst for a much-needed cultural shift around

grief and loss.”

Kelly Bartle-Bush, LCSW-R, RPT; Horseheads, NY

“This program was truly life-changing. Going into it, I did not

know what to expect. Through this program, I learned about the language surrounding grief, and how some language with good intentions can be harmful. This training also taught me about the impact of both Big Grief and little grief and how they build on each other. This both greatly surprised me and brought awareness to some of the experiences I had through my own grief experience. I will be applying this within my therapy practice, having a new

language when talking about grief with my clients. Hilary’s presentation style was beneficial, giving information in a way that was easy to digest by creating space for others. I would highly recommend this training to everyone, both professional and non-professional as we continue to shift the language of grief”.

Anna Detar LMSW; Horseheads, NY

“I had the privilege of attending Hilary's grief-informed care training, and I must say it was truly enlightening. Her deep understanding of how unhelpful comments, although well-intentioned, can impact individuals grieving was eye-opening. Hillary's ability to navigate and educate on this sensitive topic with grace and empathy was truly commendable.

Moreover, her willingness to share her own story of grief added a layer of authenticity to the training that resonated with everyone in the room. It was evident that Hillary not only possessed the knowledge and expertise in this area but also had a genuine passion for supporting others through their grief journey.

Overall, Hilary's training left a lasting impact on me, and I highly recommend her to anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of grief and how to support those experiencing it.”

Diione Fox-Murch LCSW; Horseheads,
NYOsteopathic Manual Practitioner

“Hilary is an incredible teacher about one of life’s hardest things – grief. Hilary has personal experience with overwhelming grief and shares herself fully for the benefit of others. I came away from Hilary’s training with a deeper understanding of myself, others, and the complexities of grief. Hillary has psychological, philosophical, and practical wisdom that she weaves into a compassionate, engaging, and interesting course. I would highly recommend this training to anyone who wants to learn how to understand their grief or support others in their grief now or in the future. Since all of us will experience grief and support those in grief many times in our lifetimes, this is truly a course for everyone.”

Jennifer Sovik Intern; Horseheads, NY

The information provided in the Understanding Grief Workshops is an invaluable educational experience when working with people of all ages. In my work as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, I often see loss associated with injury or physical pain and this course empowered me to be able to better support my clients experiencing all forms of grief. This course not only teaches you the importance of verbiage and how to create a safe clinical space to support clients while staying within your scope of practice, but how to also protect yourself from burning out while providing that space. The tools provided were clear and concise and I was immediately able to apply them to my practice to better support my clients and myself. Not only do I feel more confident in my ability to hold space for my clients who need it, but I have the skills to be able to take care of myself as a practitioner and continue to care for my clients with longevity.

Emma Quigley, M.OMSc, MSc

Osteopathic Manual Practitioner

I am impressed by the amount of information shared, anyone who works with others, as I do with VETS Canada would be advised to sign up for this type of session. It gives a foundation of what not to say importantly, avoiding platitudes and triggers as best you can and what may be other ways to say what you mean and how you could support a person through their grief and loss in the best possible ways. Thank you for the engaging session and for sharing your experience with deep grief.

D. Macdougall ED VetsCAN

The Understanding Grief Workshops training has helped me feel more confident and competent in working with people who are experiencing grief and loss. In particular, it left me with a greater appreciation for the way grief is minimized, discounted, and ignored in our culture. Without this type of training, we as providers can perpetuate these unhealthy cultural norms around grief. This training is an important opportunity to reflect and learn more so that we can be part of the change that's needed.  Hilary is an engaging, candid, and funny presenter and she was skilled at helping us as participants engage with the material and carry it forward into our practices. 

Fiona Leckenby, 

Somatic Experiencing Practitioner 

Hilary’s training in Understanding Grief Workshops has been an invaluable gift in both my professional and personal life. I’m amazed at how much wisdom she was able to impart in a short period of time. While I am already trained in Trauma Sensitivity, I didn’t realize how different grief is from other types of traumas and how it needs to be handled differently. I didn’t know what I didn’t know! Not only did Hilary help me to better understand grief, including the sources of it and the different ways it may affect someone, but she also helped me to see the ways in which we, as a society, may inadvertently be adding to someone’s suffering by not being aware of the ways grief is misunderstood and mishandled. I was immediately able to apply what I’d learned from Hilary to my work with clients and also in my interactions with friends and family. I’m so grateful for this training and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Shannon Sponagle

Nutritionist, Meditation Coach & Yoga Teacher

Every day I work with people experiencing grief. Some have had dramatic health changes, some are approaching the end of their lives, and some have experienced setback after setback with no end in sight. Sometimes their grief comes to the surface; sometimes it doesn't. But it's always present, and always impactful.

Hilary's Understanding Grief Workshop training immediately and significantly changed my practice. It gave me simple, concrete strategies to help me better connect with and support struggling clients. More importantly, teaching me how to support people through their most difficult life experiences, made me feel better equipped to show love and compassion to the people around me. I highly recommend her training. Grief is part of life. It's time to acknowledge it.

Jesse Robson
Physiotherapist, Live Well Physiotherapy