In-Person Training (Memphis)

1 CE Hour

“Holding Sorrows of the World: A Conversation about Grief”

Kristi Nobbman Dunaway, PhD, LPC-MHSP, NCC, ACS

As mental health professionals, we are often called to hold space for our clients’ grief. But what happens when grief is not solely personal, but rooted in something shared and collective? Francis Weller suggests that we all carry what he calls ” the sorrows of the world”. This is a form of grief that arises not from our individual lives, but from witnessing the suffering of humanity and the degradation of the natural world. Although this quiet “ache” of living in a troubled world is frequently overlooked or numbed, acknowledging it can be both meaningful and transformative. This presentation will define the “sorrows of the world,” introduce three therapeutic interventions for working with this form of grief, and guide participants through a guided meditation.

Objectives:

• Define and contextualize the concept of “the sorrows of the world,” as described by Francis Weller, within a clinical and therapeutic framework.

• Identify and apply three therapeutic interventions that support clients in processing collective and non-personal grief.

• Demonstrate and practice a guided meditation designed to help clients safely access, hold and integrate shared grief experiences.

About the Speaker

Kristi Nobbman Dunaway, PhD, LPC-MHSP, NCC, ACS

Dr. Kristi Dunaway holds a Master’s in School Counseling and a Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Memphis. She is trained in EMDR and Perinatal Mental Health with additional training in grief counseling, Motivational Interviewing, Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults and teletherapy. Dr. Dunaway is an Approved Clinical Supervisor through NBCC. She is the developer of Nobbman’s SAFETY Model of Crisis Intervention and has co-authored work on ethical decision making in school crisis situations. She specializes in grief and loss, family of origin concerns, and works with adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, and perinatal mood disorders. Grounded in Attachment Theory, she integrates mind-body and arts-based approaches and views counseling as a collaborative process rooted in transformation, courage, and diversity. She also teaches as an adjunct instructor and enjoys reading, gardening, and practicing yoga.

TLPCA Contact

If you any questions, please contact Christina Burns.