Grief, Holidays, and Family Dynamics

Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv and Sherry Schachter, PhD, FT

Continuing Education Available for Professionals!

A valuable educational offering for individuals or organizations, with CEs included--in an easy-to-access on-line format! One hour of continuing education is available for social workers, nurses and counselors. See complete list of board approvals. 

This is an archived on-demand webinar (available through November 15, 2010.)

Register for the webinar online | Register via mail/fax |What is a webinar?

Dealing with the complex relationships in a family facing grief can be challenging. Facing loss during the holidays often is very difficult. It's not uncommon for grieving people to feel out of sorts with the celebratory tone of the season. The additional stress may have an impact emotionally, cognitively, and physically, and it is important for professionals to help grieving people be prepared for these feelings.

The Hospice Foundation of America will offer a webinar offering advice and practical assistance for helping grieving persons during the holidays. Some may be grieving a death, while others may be anticipating the impending death of a loved one, knowing the holidays are approaching. And while this is the “season” of important holidays for many, holidays occur throughout the year that can generate grief such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, or summer holidays that were reserved for special family reunions.

In this program for professionals and consumers, Dr. Ken Doka and Dr. Sherry Schachter will discuss:

  • How bereavement professionals and other providers can help grieving families think ahead about how their holidays may be different and difficult, and help them plan to cope more effectively
  • Give three principles to help grieving people cope with the holidays
  • Note two things to avoid as one faces the holidays
  • Offer strategies to help grieving children during the holidays
  • Describe programs and rituals that organizations can use to assist grieving families during the holiday season

Learning Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Discuss how bereavement professionals and other providers can help grieving families think ahead about how their holidays may be different and difficult, and help them plan to cope more effectively
  • Give three principles for grieving people  cope with the holidays
  • Note two things to avoid as one faces the holidays
  • Offer strategies to help grieving children during the holidays
  • Describe programs and rituals that organizations can use to assist grieving families during the holiday season

View the technical requirements.

About the presenters:

Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv, is Senior Consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America and Professor of Gerontology at the Graduate School of The College of New Rochelle. Dr. Doka is editor of both Omega: The Journal of Death and Dying and HFA’s Journeys: A Newsletter for the Bereaved. He has written or edited more than a dozen books on various aspects of grief and loss, and has published over 100 articles.  Dr. Doka has served as a panelist on all sixteen of HFA’s Living With Grief National Bereavement Teleconferences. The Association for Death Education and Counseling presented him with an Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Death Education, and he is a member of the International Work Group on Dying, Death and Bereavement.

Sherry R. Schachter, PhD, FT, is the director of bereavement services for Calvary Hospital/Hospice where she develops, coordinates, and facilitates educational services for staff and families. She facilitates weekly bereavement groups for bereaved spouses/partners, adults whose parents have died, and parents who have lost children. Dr. Schachter is a recipient of the prestigious Lane Adams Award for Excellence in Cancer Nursing from the American Cancer Society and for over 28 years has worked with dying patients and their family caregivers. In addition, Dr. Schachter has a private practice in New York City and Pennsylvania and also publishes and lectures on issues related to dying, death, and loss. She is the past president of the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) and a member of the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement (IWG). Dr. Schachter is the mother of five and grandmother of eight.

Technical Requirements:
View the technical requirements and test your system. We strongly recommend you use a PA system if you intend to show this a large audience. Do not rely on laptop/desktop computer speakers as they will not be able to project the sound enough for an audience to hear. Please be sure the system you intend to watch the webinar on is compatible before you register for the webinar. Hospice Foundation of America cannot offer refunds for technical difficulties.

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