ABOUT "THE JOY OF GRIEF MASSAGE℠" LIVE WEBINAR (DISTANT LEARNING) 5 CLASS SERIES

In times of deep sorrow and grieving, massage therapists can be uniquely empowered to offer comfort and create grounding, nourishing physical retreats for heart-broken clients.

This class was created to guide licensed massage therapists in the beginning stages of providing gentle massage to newly bereaved or grieving clients. We will discuss helpful ways to be present and show genuine compassion and care to massage clients who are dealing with a fresh loss, and are making their way through their first year of grieving.

You will be a part of a very small group (this live webinar series is limited to 1 instructor and 4 students) and will be provided with individual attention. Class meets five times online via Zoom live web conferencing.

You will need to either download or run the Zoom software in order to participate in this class. Your instructor will schedule a Zoom test call prior to the start of this class series, to ensure that you understand how to join the class via Zoom. However, use of the Zoom application is your sole responsibility.

HOW THIS CLASS IS OFFERED:

Classes are offered as a live webinar (distant learning) via Zoom web conferencing software. Class schedule is as follows:

1: Saturday 3/23 7-10 am EST - "The Joy of Grief Massage Class One: Grief, the Body & the Nervous System" - Distant Learning- 3 CE

2. Saturday 4/6 7-10 am EST - "The Joy of Grief Massage Class Two: Grief Massage Intake and Protocols" - Distant Learning - 3 CE

3. Saturday 4/27 7-10 am EST - "The Joy of Grief Massage Class Three: The Grief Massage Sequence" - Distant Learning - 3 CE

4. Saturday 5/4 7-10 am EST - "The Joy of Grief Massage Class Four: Emotional Release & Scope of Practice" - Distant Learning - 3 CE

5. Saturday 5/18 7-10 am EST - "The Joy of Grief Massage Class Five: Developing Grief Massage Programs" - Distant Learning - 3 CE

As a small group, we will share insights and experiences, in a warm and accepting atmosphere. Lecture and discussions will center on the "big picture" (which is preparing you to offer Grief Massage℠ to your clients and community) while attending to the necessary small steps and details that will create your path forward. Our topics for the class series include:

-developing empathy for the experience of grieving

-how the physical body may respond to grieving

-how grieving may influence the nervous system

-special considerations for intake and appointment scheduling

-the massage therapy scope of practice, emotional release, and making referrals when necessary

-helpful tools for (and practices for) letting go of the need to "fix" sorrow and creating a safe space for clients.

-self-care and boundaries

-hands-on practice & introductory level training in a very simple and calming Grief Massage sequence (Safe and Gentle Grief Massage℠) in which clients can remain clothed

-insights on how to gain experience with Grief Massage℠ and create a simple program or offering that nourishes you and your clients (and your community) - without quitting your day job!

-Marketing ideas for sharing this work with your community

WHY THIS CLASS IS OFFERED:

It's easy to feel powerless and overwhelmed in the face of great suffering. We may feel inadequate or ill-equipped to "fix" the pain we see both in the world at large, and in the faces of those near us.

But, what if the impulse to "fix" the pain of others is actually part of the problem?

What if instead of "fixing", we could learn to simply communicate support and acceptance through touch?

What if we, as massage therapists, could learn to ground ourselves, take deep breaths of courageous empathy, and create compassionate spaces where suffering souls could rest and find simple comfort amid the hard work of grieving?

What if steadfastness, empathy and gentle massage in a safe, respectful and sacred environment were contribution enough?

What if we could train our hands and our hearts to let go of the need to "fix" suffering?

What would that ability bring to this world?

(Whether or not you join this class, you encouraged to ponder those questions and let those questions become a part of your work.)

HOW THIS CLASS HELPS

This class, "The Joy of Grief Massage℠" was created to inspire you to develop the ability to be present with people who are experiencing the pain of loss – without trying to “fix” anything.

You will learn specific tools and visualizations to help you let go of the need to change your client’s grief. You will learn the importance of meeting your client where they are – accepting them as they are – and simply letting your touch communicate support and empathy.

And, you will learn that gentle touch can be powerful.

Please note that this is a newly emerging modality and may not be an immediate income generator for your massage practice. However, this modality provides you with tools to offer gentle touch to an under-served population and we will discuss ideas for creating a specialized program or offering to share with your community.

We believe that you do not need to quit your day job in order to start following your calling and offering Grief Massage℠ in your community!

IMPORTANT DETAILS:

Continuing Education:

Each of the five distant learning courses in the series is approved by the NCBTMB for continuing education. Classes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are approved for 3 CE each. The total CE for the entire class series is 15 CE.

After each weekly class meeting, you will be required to take and pass a short quiz on the subject matter covered. You must earn at least a 70% score on the quiz, but you will have unlimited opportunities to take quiz until you pass.

Once you have passed the quiz for the weekly class, you will also be required to complete and submit a course evaluation before receiving your CE certificate for that class. Classes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are approved by the NCBTMB for 3 CE each. You will receive an individual CE certificate for each weekly class completed, not a single certificate for a combined total of 15 CE.

Students must attend each class in its entirety and students are solely responsible for ensuring that their computers, internet access, and Zoom application download/running of the Zoom application are in working order.

If a student misses any portion of the class, they will not be eligible to receive their CE certificate. If a student misses class or misses a portion of class, the instructor MAY be able to schedule a make-up session but this is not guaranteed, If a makeup session is able to be scheduled, students are responsible to pay the additional tuition ($21.93 per CE credit hour).

Each class meeting will include a 10 minute break per hour of the course and time is scheduled for students to complete their quiz during the class.

Very Important: Please note that while this course is approved by the NCBTMB, it is the sole responsibility of each student to check with their individual state board/licensing body to ensure that the CE from these classes will be accepted toward licensure renewal.

The instructor makes no guarantee that the CE offered in this class will be accepted by any individual state massage board. New York students: This NCBTMB approved course is NOT sponsored in New York by the NCBTMB and will not be accepted toward license renewal (to the best of our knowledge).

Please also note that this is a training course and not a professional certification. You will earn continuing education credits through this course but will not be certified as a result of taking this introductory course.

Registration Policy:

You register for this class by purchasing a ticket here on Eventbrite. Once you have purchased your ticket through Eventbrite, you are officially registered for the entire 5 class series.

Once you have registered and purchased your ticket through Eventbrite, the instructor will contact you within 48 hours via email with welcome information and some optional suggestions to help you prepare for the class. Please contact the instructor at aimeetaylor@griefmassage.org with any questions once you have registered through Eventbrite.

An electronic class workbook with handouts and fill-in-the-blank forms will be emailed to you prior to the start of the class series.

By registering for this class series and paying the tuition, you agree to be fully responsible for attending each class in its entirety, as well as for ensuring that your computer, internet access, Zoom download/running of the Zoom application are in working order. The instructor is not responsible for any technical failure, internet connectivity issues, or other factors that may interfere with a student's ability to attend or participate in a scheduled class.

Further, by registering for this class, you affirm that you are a licensed massage therapist and hold an active massage therapy license (or that you are a massage student and the laws of your governing body allow you to participate in continuing education courses).

Registration Deadline:

The deadline to register for this class series is March 16, 2019. However, space for this workshop is limited and once 4 students have registered, the course will be full and registration will end. If all spaces are not filled by March 16, 2019, the registration period may be extended.

Payment and Fee Information:

The tuition for this 5 week class series (15 CE combined total for the five individual classes) is $329.00. Please note that this price is subject to change at any time.

The current tuition rate breaks down to approximately $21.93 per class hour (or, per 1 CE).

Payment of tuition is due in full at the time of registration and no refunds will be offered for any reason except in the event of an emergency on the part of the instructor (which causes the instructor to reschedule or cancel class) or a technical failure on the part of the instructor that causes class to be cancelled. In the rare event of such an emergency or technical failure, the instructor will offer to reschedule the class and/or offer a refund if a makeup class cannot be scheduled.

Please note that, per the attendance policy, if you miss part of any class, you will not be eligible to receive the CE certificate at the end of that class.

Cancellation Policy:

Class will only be cancelled in the event of an emergency or technical failure on the part of the instructor. In the event of an emergency or technical failure that requires the instructor to cancel class, every effort will be made to reschedule the class session. If the cancelled class session cannot be rescheduled, that individual class session will be refunded.

Refund Policy:

Refunds will not be offered, except in the rare event of an emergency or technical failure that requires the instructor to cancel the class session. If a class session is cancelled, every effort will first be made to reschedule the session.

Only when/if a class session that was cancelled by the instructor cannot be rescheduled will a refund be made available.

IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to ensure that you understand how to download/run and use the Zoom application, your instructor will schedule a test call with you prior to the start of the class series.

However, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your computer, internet access, and Zoom application download/running of the Zoom application are in working order. If a student misses any portion of the class, they will not be eligible to receive their CE certificate. If a student misses class or misses a portion of class due to an issue with their computer, internet connectivity or Zoom application, the instructor MAY be able to schedule a make-up session but this is not guaranteed.

If a makeup session is able to be scheduled, students are responsible to pay the additional tuition ($21.93 per CE credit hour).

Grief Massage℠, The Joy of Grief Massage℠ and Safe and Gentle Grief Massage℠ are service marks of Aimee Joy Taylor/The Institute for Grief Massage Inc℠