Using movement to help grieving kids

When it comes to grief, it can be hard for children -- and adults -- to understand what they are feeling and to find the words to express or process those emotions. While some children will process verbally, others will be drawn to art, music, or physical activity. Movement and play can help children identify and safely express their feelings.

The Dougy Center, in partnership with Laura Cerny and Alana Davison, Occupational Therapy students from Pacific University, recently created this Movement Activity Tip Sheet to help provide physical outlets for connecting with feelings and processing grief.

Strong emotions can create stress in the body, resulting in tight shoulders, achy low backs, or even headaches. Here are a few poses that can help. Download the tip sheet for additional movement activities here.

Child’s Pose: Sit back between your heels and bring your knees wide. Bring your toes to touch and forehead to the ground. Allow your belly to relax.

Bug Pose (Happy Baby): On your back, bring your legs up to your chest and grab your feet, rock side to side to massage your low back.

Cobra Pose: On your belly, bring your arms by your sides and palms flat on the ground, press into your palms and lift your chest.

Save the Date for the Reflection Benefit, May 8, 2020

Join us for the 2020 Annual Reflection Benefit Dinner & Auction, presented by KinderCare Education. This fabulous evening includes a silent auction showcasing a gallery of children's art, an elegant dinner, and a live auction filled with unique packages.

Friday, May 8, 2020 at 5:30 p.m.
The Portland Art Museum
1219 SW Park Ave, Portland

Purchase tickets here.

The evening culminates with the announcement of the 23rd Annual Porsche Boxster Raffle winner at 9:30 p.m.

Find out how you can support The Dougy Center with your donation to the live or silent auction, or become a sponsor.

Be part of this Portland tradition! Contact Rebecca Sturges at 503.542.4827 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information.

Grieving through Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is one of the many holidays that shift and change while grieving. As with so many other holidays, the lead-up can be difficult -- advertisements and casual conversations about plans can leave grieving people left out, or eager to flee.

If you or someone you know is carrying both love and grief in their heart, Episode 05 of the Grief Out Loud podcast is full of strategies for approaching Valentine’s Day. In this episode, Jana and Brendon talk about Valentine's Day in a way that opens up space to express love and appreciation. However you decide to mark the day, go easy on yourself. There can be so much pressure, both internal and external, to think or feel a certain way. Know that it’s okay to feel whatever you feel (sadness, anger, numbness, irritation, etc), leading up to and on the actual day.

Apply now for the 2020 Summer Institute Scholarships

In partnership with the New York Life Foundation, The Dougy Center is pleased to provide annual scholarships for the International Summer Institute held at The Dougy Center's Portland location. Each year, we will award four applicants with a scholarship for free tuition, equal to $1,300.

International Summer Institute participants will join The Dougy Center’s knowledgeable staff for an opportunity to discover the fundamentals of developing and operating peer support groups for grieving children, teens, and families. Learn with colleagues from around the United States and beyond who plan to start or who have already directly established programs for grieving children.

The 2020 Summer Institute will be held July 20 to 24, and the scholarship deadline is April 1, 2020. You can download the 2020 International Summer Institute Application here.

For questions, please contact Monique Mitchell at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 503.836.3645.