Grief Tending Training

27 Sep Grief Tending Training

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A Training in Grief Tending

The ‘Apprenticing to Grief’ programme is a training in Grief Tending. It is a short, deep immersion into the practice of facilitating groups through grief. On the training we teach how to lead a tried and tested guided journey for people who are experiencing grief. Students are given tools to work with ritual, and somatic practices which encourage people’s ability to anchor in resource, surface feelings, express in different ways, and regulate their nervous systems.

“Powerful group work and processes for tending grief with integrity and tenderness. Transformational work needed for today.” Former participant

The Teachers of Grief Tending

Building on the teachings of Sobonfu and Malidoma Somé, Francis Weller, Joanna Macy, Martin Prechtel, this lineage was orginally woven by Maeve Gavin, and has been carried forward by Sophy Banks and Jeremy Thres. The current form of this Grief Tending training was crafted by Sophy Banks and evolved by the team, who each bring their own wisdom and experience to ‘Apprenticing to Grief’. Ultimately, it is grief who is the teacher, and brings us to work with the medicine of Grief Tending.

Learning Modules

This Grief Tending training includes learning modules on:

The shape of a Grief Tending event
Holding ceremony and ritual
Safety and ethics
Facilitating groups
Holding space for grief in different contexts

Embodied and Experiential Learning

The design of the training emphasises embodied and experiential learning. The structure of the programme includes the opportunity to practice facilitating part of a Grief Tending journey with encouragement and supportive reflections from the group. Participants gain a clear understanding of the Grief Tending form, the skills needed, and a practical understanding of their strengths in relation to this work.

Roles Explored on the Training

Through the brilliant design of the ‘Apprenticing to Grief’ training, students work on multiple levels to gain understanding. We use the metaphor of ‘hats’ to differentiate between role switches, such as:

Participant – in my own grief process
Apprentice – learning about Grief Tending
Facilitator – delivering content and holding space
Meta – looking at the meta-perspective

Welcoming Diversity

In our Grief Tending training, we invite students to explore and expand their capacity to hold space for grief. This includes an understanding of facilitating across difference. We welcome participants from diverse backgrounds. This is reflected in the sliding scale of fees, and application process.

Who Trains as a Grief Tender?

People approach our Grief Tending training from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some may already be a helping professional, or working alongside vulnerable people. Some may have a strong spiritual or nature connection practice. Others may be stepping toward holding space for grief from a background in the arts or activism. Sometimes people already teach or facilitate groups, while others may be doulas or work with the bereaved. We aim not to exclude those who have relevant life experience; but may not have any therapeutic qualifications.

Gain Confidence and Knowledge

As a consequence of this broad mix, ‘Apprenticing to Grief’ is not a complete training. People come with such a wide variety of expertise, ages, and experience. After this intense, brief course, as well as gaining confidence and knowledge, students will also identify areas in which they may need further development or study.

Our Network of Apprentices

Although it is widely practiced, Grief Tending does not currently have a registration body. It often takes place in grassroots communities. The training provides a strong grounding in professional practice, but it is not currently certificated. However, after the training programme, our Apprenticing network is available to all alumni. We hold quarterly meetings for support and Continued Professional Development. There are also regular meetings for those organising Grief Tending events. We also offer assisting opportunities as a pathway for those who have completed the training and are building their practical experience, as well as options for mentoring.

Pre-Requisites for Applicants

Before undertaking a training in Grief Tending, we ask that people have experience of the practice by attending an event held by someone on the Apprenticing team. As well as a commitment to doing our own inner work, and ensuring that we are adequately supported, experiencing different Grief Tending events really helps students step towards becoming a Grief Tender.

Honouring Our Gifts

Before I became a Grief Tender, I was looking for something that would bring together the many segments of my own Venn diagram. These included:

Creativity and ritual
Nature and spirituality
Intimacy and relating
Embodiment and trauma
Systems thinking and processing pain
Mortality and grief
Community and care

Being of Service

Grief Tending training was a direction that made sense of my interests and skills. I was looking for a way to be of service in a world riddled with many kinds of grief, while living in a grief-phobic culture. The ‘Apprenticing to Grief’ training valued my unconventional life path and recognised the experience gained. This is a practice that does not ask for years of training at vast expense. I was welcomed onto the training, and my gifts were valued. I was encouraged to bring my own flavour into my development as a Grief Tender.