COVID-19 has changed our world. The current situation may be temporary, but things will never go back to what they once were. While grief is typically understood in the context of death, it can follow any type of loss. Many of us are grieving the loss of our jobs, our connection with others and even the collective loss of our normalcy. David Kessler, author and world-renowned expert on grief, explains that many people are experiencing grief on multiple levels including “anticipatory grief” or anxiety and feelings of loss about what is to come. During times of grief, we often struggle with finding meaning in the situation which can affect our ability to eventually experience peace and hope. Embracing a new “normal” requires resilience and “tragic optimism” – optimism about the future even in the face of tragedy. This workshop explores the loss that has occurred because of this pandemic and how participants can understand and manage the stages of grief including Kessler’s 6th stage, finding meaning. Characteristics of crisis-related stress will be explored along with protective factors and activities to manage stress and promote resilience and guide us down the path of hopefulness. Strategies to build self-efficacy toward emotional, physical, and psychological wellbeing will be shared along with effective ways to communicate and support others who need the same level of support.

Presented by Stephanie Colvin-Roy, Training and Organizational Development Associate, Center for the Promotion of Social and Emotional Learning