On October 29, I’ll be leading a full-day session at the Grief & Bereavement Conference hosted by the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. It’s called Walking the Talk: Caring for Others, Caring for Ourselves: and the name says it all.
This session isn’t just a professional development opportunity. It’s personal. The tools I’ll be sharing are the same ones that helped me find my way back from compassion fatigue, burnout, and self-doubt. Tools that made it possible for me to keep doing this work with authenticity, presence, and a full heart.
We’ll explore four key areas across the day:
- Mindfulness for grief and emotional regulation
- Reflective writing and meaning-making
- Rituals and traditions that honor loss
- Practices that support posttraumatic growth and resilience
Participants will walk away with practical strategies they can use with clients—and with themselves. Because the truth is, we can’t offer stability to others if we’re running on empty. And yet, most grief and deathcare professionals have never been shown how to care for themselves in sustainable, meaningful ways.
This is the session I needed when I was burning out.
When I first began this work, I thought giving everything I had made me a better practitioner. What I’ve learned—through lived experience and years of study—is that when we give from depletion, everyone loses. We lose connection with ourselves. Our clients lose the best of us. Our work loses meaning.
It wasn’t until I started applying the practices I recommended to others that I began to recover. Mindfulness, journaling, ritual, and community care became non-negotiable. They helped me feel grounded again. They helped me come home to my own body. And most importantly, they helped me remember why I chose this work in the first place.
Who this session is for
This session is designed for anyone who supports the bereaved: funeral directors, chaplains, hospice teams, social workers, counselors, educators, and spiritual caregivers. Whether you’re new to this field or decades in, Walking the Talk will meet you where you are—with practical guidance, compassion, and a deep respect for your lived experience.
It’s also approved for 5 CE credits, and lunch is included.
Event Details
Walking the Talk: Caring for Others, Caring for Ourselves
Grief & Bereavement Conference | Hosted by the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science
📍 October 29, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 2:45 PM | 5 CE Credits
🔗 Register here
If you’re in the Cincinnati area, I’d love to see you there.
And if you’re part of an organization, conference, or training program looking for grief education speakers in 2026, feel free to reach out. This is work I believe in, and I’d be honored to share it with your group.
Because we deserve the same care we offer to others. And we don’t have to wait for burnout to make a change.
