The Seven Languages of Sorrow: We All Grieve Differently

During this Learning Institute session participants will learn about the Seven Languages of Sorrow and how to both recognize them and also how to work with them. Participants will first identify their own language(s) of sorrow and also to notice which language(s) of sorrow are least like them. In doing so we all become more multi-lingual in our expression and reception of grief. This self-exploration piece will be done in breakout rooms.

Once participants have become familiar with their own languages and are more grief multi-lingual we will begin to explore how each language is unique and requires its own type of support. We will explore all manner of tools that can be used with each language and how we can use these tools when working with individuals or families. Slides will be used to show how unique each language is and how our grief work in this way is more of an art form.

Participants will leave with a solid understanding of these seven languages and how by applying them we can help families be much more inclusive of all seven languages not just the language of the parent.

By the end of this session, participants will: 

• Gain an understanding of all seven languages of sorrow.
• Recognize their own unique combination of grief languages.
• Gain some skills in learning how to speak a ‘foreign’ language of sorrow.
• Learn how to be more inclusive of grief languages other than their own.
• Learn how to describe the seven languages to others.

The Seven Languages of Sorrow: We All Grieve Differently
Monday, June 29 12:00pm to 3:30pm (Eastern).

Rev. Stephen Garrett, MA

A genuine heart and commitment to life have produced in Stephen the qualities of a true warrior: integrity, strength, leadership, kindness, and wisdom. He has experienced success in life as a teacher, investment banker, social worker, author, cremationist, Interfaith Minister, executive director of the Memorial Society of BC, and in his current role as an end-of-life doula trainer for Rhodes Wellness College in Vancouver., BC.

Arising out of his personal experience of hundreds of deaths Stephen’s heart passion and life energy are focused on changing the conversation we have about death from one of fear and denial to one of embrace and inspiration. Stephen combines his life experience with his Masters in Leadership and Training as he trains and mentors people interested in dealing with dying, death, and grief in new and inspiring ways; the Way of the Inspirational Teacher.