The workshop is divided into four consecutive Saturday sessions starting Feb. 4. The 9 a.m.-2 p.m. classes will take place at the Bereavement Center on the Hospice campus, 1862 Parallel Drive. There is a $25 material fee to cover resources, tools and materials included in the training. Each participant will receive a variety of printed materials and a DVD.
Offered to community members who desire to be more knowledgeable and skillful in their relationships with those who are mourning, this workshop is designed to meet the variety of needs in the community, according to workshop facilitator Linda Laing, a licensed marriage and family therapist. It is recommended for caregivers, counselors, human service professionals, volunteers and others interested in the topic.
The number of participant seats will be limited. Registration is recommended. Complimentary snacks and beverages will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lunches. To register for the workshop, contact Laing by calling (707) 263-6222 or sending an email to her at llaing@lakecountyhospice.org
“Supporting individuals who are mourning the loss of a loved one can be challenging, especially in Lake County where so many complicated deaths occur,” said Laing. “A deeper understanding of grief, coupled with enhanced skills, will help us reach out and comfort those that are grieving.”
Laing will lead participants through topics using a bereavement support group model including guided discussions, use of DVDs, and instruction.
“Discussions involving our collective experiences with death and dying will enrich the learning environment as we journey through this group process together,” said Laing.
Guest speakers will also present at workshops.
Laing is the director of Bereavement Services for Hospice Services of Lake County. She holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology and is a registered art therapist. She earned a certification in Death and Grief Studies under the supervision of Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt at the Center for Loss and Life Transition in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Coming to Terms workshop scheduled
Hospice Services of Lake County is planning a workshop for individuals and families interested in information about end-of-life decisions. The workshop will take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Hospice Bereavement Center, 1862 Parallel Drive.
The free workshop will focus on the End-of-Life Option Act, the California law permitting terminally ill adults to make medical decisions involving prescribed aid-in-dying medication. The law went into effect in June 2016.
Pre-registration for the workshop is required. There is no cost, and a light lunch will be served. To register for the workshop or obtain additional information, call Hospice Services Bereavement Counselor Kathleen Bradley, LPT, at (707) 263-6720, ext. 123, or send an email to her at kbradley@lakecountyhospice.org.
Workshop participants will learn how the End-of-Life Option Act is being implemented, and professionals from various disciplines will share their perspectives that may help provide clarity on issues related to end-of-life decisions, according to Bradley.
Topics will include religious and ethnic considerations and the dynamics and sensitive communication among families with members who are exploring the details of the act as an end-of-life option.
“We will provide a relaxed and safe environment for attendees, allowing them to fully and personally explore the option,” said Bradley.
Hospice Services of Lake County’s mission is to support and comfort people by providing the highest quality medical, emotional and spiritual care and is presenting the workshop to provide educational and unbiased information about the End-of-Life Option Act. The organization neither advocates for nor opposes the provisions of the act.
For more information, call Hospice Services of Lake County, (707) 263-6222. Visit the organization’s website at www.lakecountyhospice.org.
