October 28-29, 2020
Ferry Beach Retreat and Conference Center, Saco, Maine
How do you support a family with infant loss? This retreat will provide professionals and volunteers from a variety of backgrounds with an increased understanding of the special needs of families grieving the death of an infant and offer practical tools for being a caring companion on the grief journey. The learning format will encourage self-care, personal reflection and discussion.
The retreat will be at the Ferry Beach Retreat and Conference Center which has 32 acres on the beach and woods and borders Ferry Beach State Park.
Participants will:
- Enhance their ability to understand the needs of grieving mothers (most especially), and also fathers, siblings and grandparents as they move through the grief journey after infant loss.
- List the 11 tenants of the “companioning philosophy” as developed by Dr. Alan Wolfelt.
- Develop skills in attunement, or deeply hearing, seeing and understanding another person.
- Discuss the relationship between self-care and other-care.
- Increase awareness of resources to help families grieving the death of an infant.
Presenters
Dr. Sue Carroll Duffy is a psychologist serving the Passamaquoddy tribe at Pleasant Point Health Center. She approaches this workshop as a mother who experienced infant loss. Dr. Duffy is an experienced presenter and author to the children’s book, “Finding Diamonds” and has written professional book chapters on her expressive therapy, the Moving Stories Method.
Healing Music Artist Amy Robbins-Wilson’s voice has been described as “angelic”, “crystalline” and “a whisper to the soul.” She uses her extraordinary voice to open space within which listeners experience a renewed sense of well-being. As one listener commented about a session, “I love how it both stills me and fills me.” Amy has been performing and exploring the intersection of healing and music for 30 years. She holds multiple degrees in music and healing and is the creator of Angelsong for those seeking healing and a restored sense of peace in the world. AmyRobbinsWilson.com
Schedule:
Thursday October 28th
2-3 PM Check-in
3-3:30 Welcome
3:30-4 Grief Sculpture Slide Show
4-6:00 PM Trails and Beach
6-7 PM Dinner
7-8 PM Healing Music (Amy Robbins-Wilson)
Friday October 29th
7:30-8:30 Breakfast
9:00-12:00: The needs of families experiencing infant loss
12:00-1:00: Lunch onsite
1:00-4:00: Developing skills of companioning, attunement and self-care.
Who Should Attend?
This retreat is designed for professionals and volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, such as hospice, healthcare providers, therapists, clergy, and funeral directors.
Certificate of Completion
Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion for 7 instructional hours. It will be up to each participant to determine whether these hours might be used as continuing education credits. By The Sea Seminars takes full responsibility for the workshop.
Size
This workshop is limited to 30.
Cancellation Policy
A refund of 50% can be provided with 72 hours notice.
Cost
$284 (Single Occupancy) and $249 (Double Occupancy)
Includes:
- Companioning in Infant Loss Workshop
- Lodging (single or shared room)
- Healing songs concert and infant loss sculpture show
- Nature walk and fireside gathering
- Thursday night dinner and lodging
- Friday breakfast and lunch
Location Address and Contact Information:
Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center
5 Morris Ave, Saco, ME 04072
207.282.4489 • info@ferrybeach.org