All certified and PTI members, including CPT and CPT-S, are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education each 1 year period following the certification year for Certified Members and following the completion of the CAPT Foundation Play Therapy credits for PTI members.

The human experience of grief is always a difficult one yet additional challenge comes with navigating grief in a society that struggles with both emotional expression and mortality. In addition, living through a pandemic has provided an abundance of losses, many of which are unacknowledged, which can further complicate and compound a child’s experience of grief.

While grief is an often-misunderstood process, at its core it is an extremely healthy one and one that can be integrated into a child’s life in a way that allows for it to co-exist with growth and joy. This day-long workshop will go a long way towards enhancing the grief literacy of participants by weaving together strategies for supporting grieving children and families and provide opportunities to process our own experience of the past three years. Current literature on the topic will be touched on and practical strategies that can be used in a variety of settings for supporting young people who are grieving will be shared. Important messages from children and their families that illustrate “best practice” guidelines will be woven throughout.

1. Enhance grief literacy
2. Identify common barriers to supporting a healthy grief process in children.
3. Identify practical tips and resources to help children integrate their grief into their lives in healthy ways including Grow-vid 19, an interactive presentation that can be used to help kids process their experience of COVID-19
4. Explore strategies for caring for our own grief while caring for others

Andrea is a Registered Psychotherapist and Registered Nurse whose passion lies in helping individuals, families and communities support people of all ages who are grieving an illness or death in their lives.

With years of nursing and counselling experience both in Canada and abroad and a Masters degree in Thanatology (the study of dying and death)
Andrea brings to her work a rare mixture of medical and psychosocial expertise. Andrea developed and teaches the 5 Day Certificate Program in Children’s Grief and Bereavement at SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health. She was also the lead content developer for KidsGrief.ca and KidsGrief for Educators.

Once a month Andrea hosts a free monthly forum through Canadian Virtual Hospice, KidsGrief Q& A, where she responds to questions from families and professionals from across the country about supporting grieving children and youth. Andrea lives in Guelph Ontario, from where she runs Andrea Warnick Consulting, a group practice of over 25 therapists who provide grief counselling across Ontario and grief education across Canada.