Grief Support and Education

I have a real heart and passion for walking with people through their journey of grief. This is a very lonely time of life made worse by the fact that most people in our ‘kiwi’ culture find death and loss a challenge to deal with. Unless a grieving person comes to terms with the loss, they will never find wholeness. Grieving people need support through this process. It can be a long and difficult one depending on the relationship.

I have worked throughout my adult life in supporting grieving people as well as being employed on the Family Support Team at the Southland Hospice. More recently I was employed as Chaplain at Elmwood Village – a retirement village, rest-home and hospital in Auckland. I was also a Funeral Celebrant. It is my heart to walk this journey with people to renewed healing and hope.

Through People Matters, I now conduct ‘Understanding Grief and Loss’ Workshops and ‘Self-Care’ Workshops. These workshops are aimed toward people who are supporting grieving people in whatever profession or capacity that might be – health-care professionals, pastoral care workers, community workers, care-givers, counsellors, therapists, employers and managers, or as a friend or family member. People working through their own grief have also found these workshops to be very helpful.

I also see clients on a one-on-one basis for Grief Support through my Life Coaching practice. I will also come into an organisation or workplace to support employees who have had a colleague die.

 Thank you for the good 'Undertanding Grief and Loss' workshop you facilitated. It was very helpful and you conducted it well in a relaxed atmosphere where people could share and take part. The illustrations were especially helpful and I am sure much of what was said will come back speaking with people in grief situations. So thank you
Elaine Paton (N.Z.)

Clare, I wish to extend sincere thanks to you for accepting to lecture to our Public Health Nurses and Registered Nurses on separate occassions on the topics of Self-Care and Understanding Grief & Loss. I think your presentations were awesome and timely. It was definistely acceptable by both groups of students. We acknowledge you as a true Nurse who places self last.

Rev.Noel Holder       Director of Health Sciences Education Georgetown School of Nursing Guyana Also Chief Medical Director Guyana Ministry of Health