DONATE

Training & Education

BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF EMPATHY

About Imagine's Training & Education Program

Imagine provides free, peer support groups for children and their families coping with a loss due to death. Our mission is to ensure no child grieves alone. We recognize not every child will be able to walk through our centers, which is why our Training and Education Program is so essential.

Imagine’s Training and Education Program provides schools and organizations with the tools and knowledge needed to better support children who experience any type of loss. The same skills and information can be used for adults to support one another. By providing trainings within schools and organizations, Imagine is creating grief informed communities. This takes our vision from no child grieves alone, to no one grieves alone. Together, we can ensure we are better equipped to be supportive of one another with any loss that we will experience throughout life.

“Imagine is such a blessing to all those who love and grieve. I cannot say enough about Connie Palmer (Imagine Clinical Training Director) and Imagine’s programs for high school students.”
– Joanne Scarano Jakubik,
School Counselor at Union Catholic High

Together we can create grief-informed communities
where no one grieves alone!

Grief is the elephant in the room. It comes everywhere with us whether we like it or not. It shows up at school for students and workplaces for grieving adults.

Learn more about ways to help ensure these spaces are receptive and supportive for all those in need.

Schools
Workplaces
Testimonials

Grief Education For Schools

At Imagine, we are committed to creating communities where those who are grieving can find compassionate and supportive companions wherever they go. Imagine provides training and education to various stakeholder groups within the school community, and it is tailored to their specific role: leadership, mental health support team, teachers, parents/guardians, and students.

Learn More

Trainings For The Workplace

Imagine is committed to creating communities where those who are grieving can find compassionate and supportive companions wherever they go.

We all deal with many different types of loss: death, mental and physical illness, divorce, domestic violence, addiction, foster care, incarceration, etc.

Imagine partners with organizations to provide the skills needed to best support fellow team members and clients who are grieving any type of loss. When people who are grieving receive support, they learn to cope with their loss and develop resilience to cope with future losses.

Learn More

I TURNED TO IMAGINE​

“I turned to Imagine after one small department lost two coworkers within one month’s time. They provided onsite grief support for the team and others across the company. I am grateful for the impact they have with our workforce and the communities we serve.”

Sheila Rostiac, PSEG, Vice President –
Total Rewards & Talent Management
Not sure which type of Training & Education is right for you?

To find out the best type of training and education for your needs, fill out the Training & Education Interest Form or contact us at 908-264-3100 to learn more.

Training & Education Interest Form

Community Workshops

Join our free grief-informed community workshop webinars throughout the year!

Learn More
Upcoming Community Workshop:
Facilitator Training
Feb 18
2022
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Testing styles Event example
Aug 21
2022
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Upcoming Community Workshop:
Aug 21, 2022
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Testing styles Event example

Continuing Education

Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Learn More

Grief Myth Busters

Take our quiz below and determine if the most popular grief myths are true or false.

Time heals all wounds
Close, but… Contrary to popular belief, time alone does not “heal” grief, it’s what we do with our time that is key. We don’t ever “get over” our grief. There’s nothing that needs to be fixed or can be fixed. Instead, we learn to integrate grief into who we are. Grief changes us and becomes a part of us. This healing process takes time and effort. The more actively you pay attention to and express your grief as it naturally unfolds, the more you are giving yourself momentum toward healing.
You got it! Contrary to popular belief, time alone does not “heal” grief, it’s what we do with our time that is key. We don’t ever “get over” our grief. There’s nothing that needs to be fixed or can be fixed. Instead, we learn to integrate grief into who we are. Grief changes us and becomes a part of us. This healing process takes time and effort. The more actively you pay attention to and express your grief as it naturally unfolds, the more you are giving yourself momentum toward healing.
Grief happens in stages
Close, but… Grief is all the feelings you have after experiencing any type of loss, whether related to death or not. Everyone will have their own feelings of grief and it is not a linear or step-by-step process – grief is messy! When you go through a major loss or death, it changes you - that grief will change and look different over time. We can experience grief bursts many years after the loss, and even re-grieve our loss at different moments in our lives. Your feelings of grief are yours and whatever emotion you have at any point is valid.
You got it! Grief is all the feelings you have after experiencing any type of loss, whether related to death or not. Everyone will have their own feelings of grief and it is not a linear or step-by-step process – grief is messy! When you go through a major loss or death, it changes you - that grief will change and look different over time. We can experience grief bursts many years after the loss, and even re-grieve our loss at different moments in our lives. Your feelings of grief are yours and whatever emotion you have at any point is valid.
You can mourn the death of someone you don’t know
You got it! Mourning is the expression of our feelings of grief. Whether it’s a death of someone famous, someone at your school, home, or work community, or someone in a completely different state or country – you can experience grief and therefore mourn the loss. Your feelings are valid. If that person reminds you in any way, shape or form of someone within your life, you can experience grief, and with that you can mourn the loss.
Close, but… Mourning is the expression of our feelings of grief. Whether it’s a death of someone famous, someone at your school, home, or work community, or someone in a completely different state or country – you can experience grief and therefore mourn the loss. Your feelings are valid. If that person reminds you in any way, shape or form of someone within your life, you can experience grief, and with that you can mourn the loss.
You only have grief after someone dies
Close, but… Any type of loss changes us. Different types of loss include, but not limited to, job loss, pet loss, moving to a new home, immigration, incarceration, war and loss of identity. And with any change, we experience a loss of what we knew and what we were expecting thus resulting in a loss of security and safety. Grief is a normal reaction to any type of loss.
You got it! Any type of loss changes us. Different types of loss include, but not limited to, job loss, pet loss, moving to a new home, immigration, incarceration, war and loss of identity. And with any change, we experience a loss of what we knew and what we were expecting thus resulting in a loss of security and safety. Grief is a normal reaction to any type of loss.
Children don’t grieve
Close, but… If a child is old enough to love, a child is old enough to grieve. Children grieve differently than adults so sometimes it may not look like they are grieving. They go in and out of their grief and mourning – one moment you see them laughing or playing, and the next moment you see them crying, withdrawn or angry. No matter how old the child is, whether they're an infant or a teen or somewhere in between, they will feel a difference within their lives.
You got it! If a child is old enough to love, a child is old enough to grieve. Children grieve differently than adults so sometimes it may not look like they are grieving. They go in and out of their grief and mourning – one moment you see them laughing or playing, and the next moment you see them crying, withdrawn or angry. No matter how old the child is, whether they're an infant or a teen or somewhere in between, they will feel a difference within their lives.
Grief is a normal reaction to a loss
You got it! Grief is two things: painful and normal. It’s a normal reaction after a loss. At Imagine, we say that grief is like the weather because it’s unpredictable, always changing, and we can’t control it. This analogy is helpful for kids to normalize their grief experience. Rabbi Earl A. Grollman, an internationally acclaimed pioneer in the area of family crisis intervention known for his research and writings on death, stated, “Grief is not a disease, a disorder, or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical, and spiritual necessity.”
Close, but… Grief is two things: painful and normal. It’s a normal reaction after a loss. At Imagine, we say that grief is like the weather because it’s unpredictable, always changing, and we can’t control it. This analogy is helpful for kids to normalize their grief experience. Rabbi Earl A. Grollman, an internationally acclaimed pioneer in the area of family crisis intervention known for his research and writings on death, stated, “Grief is not a disease, a disorder, or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical, and spiritual necessity.”
Learn more

Visit our Community Webinars page to signup for our next learning session! 

Learn more

Testimonials & Shoutouts!

The foundation for understanding grief

“Students and educators manage so many types of grief in any given year and the Imagine training provides the foundation for understanding grief and for creating the time and space to talk about it in ways that strengthen the overall resilience of the community. My school partnered with Imagine to become a grief-informed community. Their amazing facilitators worked with our administrative team, faculty, students and parents to help us understand that school communities need this kind of training and conversation in an on-going way.”

Nicole Hager
Kent Place School
Insightful, honest, and candid

"Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss came to our event and provided training for participants that truly struck a chord with those who attended. The training was insightful, honest and candid in the manner in which it addressed, discussed and engaged participants. I was anticipating, given the topic, I would leave feeling downhearted. Instead, I felt at ease, and like there was an understanding amongst the participants. My domino piece still sits on my dresser as a reminder of the training."

Laura Del Prete-Conde
Deputy Director, NAMI NJ
Creating a safe space to reflect, share, and learn

"The Point Pleasant Borough School District was fortunate enough to partner with Imagine to provide our School Counselors and Child Study Team with the necessary tools to assist our students and school community when experiencing grief. Veronica kindly accommodated our training needs to ensure the staff members' needs and questions were answered. Imagine created a safe space during the training to reflect, share, and learn from one another."

Nicole Hankins
Point Pleasant Borough School District
Powerful learning experience

"The training provided by Imagine was a powerful learning experience. Our goal was to educate professionals on the many and complex facets of grief, and Imagine did just that through this training. The presenters explained the concepts in relatable ways, and utilized examples and object lessons that were moving. The session was engaging, enlightening, and practical for individuals in every setting. Everyone who attended walked away better equipped to engage with the topic of grief."

Rachel Ishak, MSW, LSW
Camp TREK at Brain Injury Alliance of NJ
Helped elevate our work inside our schools and beyond

“We truly cannot say enough about the incredible experience our school social work team had during the Grief/Loss Specialist trainings with Imagine. Veronica and Angela created a safe environment for our team to not only learn how to support grievers, but also reflect on our own experiences and understanding of grief and loss. The information, exercises, and opportunities to share and learn from one another helped elevate our work inside our school buildings and beyond. We are on our way to becoming a grief informed school district because of Imagine and look forward to this continued partnership in service of our school community!”

Dr. Jillian Martinez, DSW, LCSW
North Star Academy - Camden Prep
Providing grief tools, terms, and framework

"Imagine provided a thorough overview and deep dive into the world of grief, providing us with tools, terms, and frameworks to think about grief in different ways in the work we do in prisons and in the community in the aftermath of violence. Their facilitators were well-prepared, thoughtful, and heartfelt guides in a place that's not necessarily comfortable to explore. I'm grateful for the work they do!"

Julian Ward
The Ahimsa Collective

Support Imagine Grief Programs

Donate to Imagine
You are not alone.
Visit Imagine and see firsthand how we can help.

908-264-3100

info@imaginenj.org. 

Contact us. 

Subscribe to Our
E-newsletter
Receive updates along with resources for coping with loss.