8:30 am

Registration and Continental Breakfast 

9:00 am

Chapter leaders will provide a opening of the conference with Music by Jane Foote

9:15 am

Jane Foote, singer/songwriter, will sing at approximately 9:00. Jane's songs tell stories and seek truth in everyday experiences that many of us share. Over the years, the music has evolved, just as we all have. She hopes that some of the lyrics and melodies will inspire you to find your own inner minstrel and a little peace in what can often be a busy rush of daily life.
“There are songs in us all that are waiting to be sung, and there are days when I hear them on the breezes. There are times in our lives that we cherish as they pass, but the pass just as surely as the breeze does.”
- Seasons, by Jane Foote.

9:30 am

Jessica M. Lawler - Sibling Grief

Jessica M. Lawler received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and psychology from the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities in 2011. She received her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA, before returning home to Minnesota for her pre-licensure work.

Jessica has worked in the field since 2011 when she began internships and research within this realm, but she became an independently licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Minnesota in 2017. She has worked with individuals, couples, families, and groups in multiple therapy environments throughout her career thus far, in various parts of the country balancing being a military spouse as well, to include: therapeutic foster care and in-home/in-school services, residential facility services for children and adolescents with severe emotional/behavioral difficulties, outpatient/in-school agency services, Military and Family Life Counseling within the on-post CDC’s, adult day treatment, outpatient couples/family services at the VA Hospital, and private practice. Within all of these environments and in and out of her education, grief and loss remained a special area of interest for her, showing up in her research, facilitation of group therapy/support groups, volunteering at grief camps, and throughout all therapy services she’s provided.

Jessica’s other areas of specialty include: anxiety, trauma and other stress related difficulties, shame/guilt issues, intense emotional dysregulation, life changes/adjustments, navigating military life/experience and transition, and all things relational such as systemic difficulties/patterns, interactional difficulties/patterns, and attachment wounds. Jessica has special training in Gottman Method (level 1), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and various Family Systems models. 

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Jessica currently works in the Rochester area at Onward Counseling providing individual, couple, and family therapy. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, anything outdoors, and spending time with her son and husband. 

10:30 - 10:45

Break - Get some water or coffee and connect with other.
 

10:45-11:45 am
Music Through Sound Bath

Connie the MSW will lead this Moving Grief through Music/Sound Bath.  

Connie Iezzi, BS, MSW, is the founder of Soul-cial Circles, a space devoted to gentle restoration, connection, and the quiet unfolding of the human experience.  With a presence that is both grounded and compassionate, Connie creates environments where nothing needs to be forced, and everything is welcome.

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Through the resonance of crystal singing bowls, gongs, tuning forks, chimes, and more, Connie guides immersive sound bath experiences that invite the nervous system to soften and settle. 

In her grief-centered offerings, Connie holds space for the many forms of loss we carry,-whether spoken or unspoken, recent or long-held. These sound bath journeys are not about resolution, but about allowing: allowing emotion to move, allowing the body to rest, allowing the heart to be met with tenderness. Through vibration and tone, participants are gently supported in honoring what is, while reconnecting with a sense of presence, peace, and quiet resilience.

Connie's work is supported by a strong foundation in both clinical training and integrative wellness with over 30 years of experience in the health and wellness arena. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Iona University and a Master of Social Work from New York University, and has completed advanced mindfulness and wellness coaching training through the Mayo School of Health Sciences. She has also received a Certificate in Integrative Health Interventions and Reiki Mastery training through the University of Minnesota, along with certifications in sound and vibrational energy work from Life Changing Energy and Meditate School of Mindfulness & Sound, and is a Certified VibroAcoustic Therapy and FasciaWave practitioner.    

12:00 pm
Lunch
Lunch is provided. Enjoy your meal in the lunch hall or feel free to eat outside in nature.

1:00 - 1:50 pm
Breakout Session A - Choose one of the following

1. Moving Grief by Walking in Nature (outside - more details to come)

2. Sharing Circles. Sharing Circles are a time to intentionally connect with other families who have lost children within a child's similar age group, regardless of cause. This supports a round table discussion in which families can share about their child, what has helped them, and what continues to challenge them in their grief and loss.

2:00 - 2:50 pm
Breakout Session B - Choose one of the following

1. Moving Grief through Breathwork with Jane Foote EdD, MSN, RN, HN-BC. Breath is an essential part of life. The evidence of how breath can positively impact the nervous system and well-being is well known, as is the impact that grief has on well-being.

2. Moving Grief with Gentle Qigong with Penny Pries. Qigong is an ancient form of movement that originated in China over 6,000 year ago. Intended for deep healing, many people practice Qigong for overall well being.

3:00 pm
Final Ceremony of Remembrance / Music

Chapter leaders will lead this ritual of remembrance. Jane Foote will close with music to bring the group to closure.