Summer 2024 Newsletter
FREE Events, Summer Hours and more…
Section 1: Upcoming FREE Events & NEW Offerings
**FREE Nature Informed Workshop, June 19th, at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, Maryland**
Join Marie, Certified Nature Informed Therapist & Registered Sandy Point State Park DNR Volunteer on a walk & talk adventure to reconnect with Mother Nature. This event incorporates forestry knowledge, social - emotional learning concepts and nature metaphors to highlight the important relationship between Mother-Nature and Human-Nature.
Participants attending can expect to...
learn a brief history of Juneteenth
identify and develop your eco-identity
learn about “reciprocity”
reflect on ecological grief & climate anxiety
engage in reciprocal practices (litter pick-up)
gather with like minded members of your community
At minimum, participants will learn something new, meet someone new or reap the benefit of lowered blood pressure by simply being in nature. There is a lot to learn from our original Mother, Mother Nature and I can’t wait to see you there! Registration is optional for this FREE event but would help me prepare my materials. To register, click HERE.
To learn more about the (Re)Connect series and see pictures of previous events, go HERE.
Indicate your interest, Group & Workshop Interest Form. This information can also be found on my website HERE.
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/990699631970763/
**Pushing Daisies is back this FALL for FREE**
When my son Harvey died 8 years ago, finding other parents who KNEW what I was going through was LIFE CHANGING in it's own way. Not just because I wanted to connect with others who really UNDERSTOOD what I was going through, but because I had QUESTIONS about this journey. Questions like, how do I "adult" when I'm crying or angry 24/7? How do I answer the question, "how many kids do you have?" I knew that when I was ready, I wanted to be the one to help other parents living through the nightmare of child loss.
Pushing Daisies is a grief support group for parents who have experienced the death of their child.
The purpose of the group is to help parents navigate a world that continues in spite of the death of your child. My child too, Harvey. I’m honored and excited to announce that Pushing Daisies IS NOW offered AT NO COST to participants. It is held monthly, on the first Monday of the month at 5pm via telehealth. Additionally, an in-person offering will be available in Pasadena, Maryland with information forthcoming.
Save and share the flyer (or web link) with friends, family and neighbors who may be on this very specific grief journey. Grief is harder, it's harder alone.
**Grief Consultation with Marie**
Grief is hard, it’s even harder if a provider doesn’t feel competent supporting you while you are on a grief journey. This new offering is for professionals and providers who are looking to improve their understanding of death, dying, grief, bereavement, hospice and more…save and share the attached flyer or see my website for more information.
Grief Consultation with Marie is what you are looking for if you:
Feel “stuck” as a professional supporting a grieving client
Don’t know how to support children grievers
Notice your own activation and need support keeping it “in check”
Aren’t sure where the line is between being professional, ethical & HUMAN
Want to learn about NEW grief theory (the 5 stages have been updated)
Want to discuss case specific challenges
Are curious about integrating post-traumatic growth focused interventions
Are interested in weaving nature into your grief interventions
Grief Consultation is beneficial for professionals working with clients that:
Are preparing for the anticipated death of a loved one (anticipatory grief)
Are in denial of the impending death of their special person (or themselves)
Meet criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder
Ask “what is wrong with me?”
Experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder related to a death/grief
Are struggling with integrating the loss into their lives
Want a “different” approach to processing their grief (ie, Nature, brainspotting…)
Section 2: Reflections & Celebrations
**Sharing is Caring: How our story will benefit Hospice Fundraiser “Fashion for A Cause”**
I've been asked to share our story—of Harvey's life, our journey with hospice and everything since—at this year's "Fashion for a Cause" fundraising event presented by Hospice of the Chesapeake. At this event, local community models showcase new fashions from Annapolis retailers while guests enjoy food and drink by area restaurants and food trucks. Proceeds from this FUNdraising event support Chesapeake's Kids--a division of Hospice Of The Chesapeake that aids children and families dealing with advanced illnesses and grief. This is the same program that supported my family while Harvey was on his journey toward death.
Learn more about our journey and how to support The Chesapeake Kids Program HERE.
**I was on the news!**
It was an honor to be interviewed for WMAR-2 News Baltimore alongside Faith Fitzgerald, Director of Community Health Programs for Hospice of the Chesapeake.
WMAR-2 answered the call to highlight grief programs offered by Hospice of the Chesapeake [HOC]. He requested to interview Faith, but also suggested including someone who had directly benefited from hospice programming–which was me! Learn more and watch the story.
**Fun with a frolleague: Networking in Nature with Marie**
This past March I met Dr. Erin Kinney, Stress Reset Expert and owner/founder of The Kinney Clinic, at an event she hosted for holistic practitioners and healers. The Kinney Clinic is a naturopathic medical clinic in Annapolis, Maryland whose mission is to help “stressed and burnt-out men and women with adrenal fatigue improve their mood, balance their thyroid, hormones or testosterone and cortisol, and increase their energy.” Dr. Kinney is “passionate about helping clients reconnect with the wisdom of their bodies and reestablish harmony in their lives.” Dr. Kinney has personally changed the lives of several women whom I admire, so hanging out with her was PRETTY COOL.
(Not me fangirling over here on Dr. Erin. )
You may be thinking, “Marie, is what you do holistic?” While traditional talk therapy is often considered VERY western and “new age,” many healing grief practices and nature informed therapy concepts are grounded in eastern and indigenous practices. I figure I’m a little of both. So, I went.
I’m glad I did. Read the rest of this story HERE.
Section 3: Did you know…?
**Hospice isn’t just for terminally ill old people…**
As the parent of a chronically ill and medically fragile child, it was SCARY when the hospital team at Johns Hopkins Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Baltimore started mentioning, “quality of life,” “we’ve done all we can do” and “hospice” during our last staycation in the summer of 2015. My family and I were DISTRAUGHT at the idea that we were “giving up” on our four year old warrior, Harvey, by signing up for the program that meant death was imminent–-hospice. Pediatric hospice.
Learn more about Marie’s experience with Pediatric Hospice.
**(Re)Connection Sessions are an easy way to schedule a NO FEE call with Marie.**
A (Re)Connection Session is a NO FEE service I'm providing to my clients. These sessions are 20-30min VOICE calls that can be used in a variety of ways. This is different from a therapy session because we are discussing admin issues or doing other updates, not processing or going deep emotionally.
Some of the topics discussed in (Re)Connection Sessions are:
questions you may have regarding policy updates for 2024
questions about your good faith estimate, which reflects my new fee starting Feb. 1
Feedback from you about treatment/services. You can provide feedback ahead of our call by completing this form.
treatment plan check-ins and amendments
any updates you'd like to provide on personal, social & academic realms of the client
anything else going on in Ava's life you want me to know about.
You can schedule your (Re)Connection Session through the client portal (link in signature). I look forward to talking with you soon.
Section 4: Summer Schedule, Vacation Closings & Feedback Form
**Summer Hours ARE BACK!**
Summer hours are in effect from Monday, June 17th thru Friday August 16th. All sessions will be held during DAYTIME hours from 9am-2pm on Tuesday or Thursday. Mondays are reserved for in-person Nature-Informed Sessions ONLY. Nature-Informed Sessions are 90 mins in length and locations for sessions are on a fixed schedule at parks across the State of Maryland. See the park schedule HERE.
What does this mean for you?
If your regular session occurs on a Monday OR after 2pm, you’ll need to choose a new day and time for the summer OR join me for an in-person Nature-Informed session. Nature sessions are 90min and the fee is $295. Some parks require an entrance fee that you are responsible for paying. You may change your appointments through the portal OR I can help you via email. Fall hours resume mid-August and will accommodate after-school sessions. For planning purposes, after-school sessions will be on Mondays and Thursdays.
**Summer Closings & Vacation**
If your regularly scheduled appointment falls on one of the below dates, your appointment has already or will be canceled. Depending on your session frequency, you may wish to reschedule. You may do so via the client portal or respond to this email to let me know you want to reschedule. As a reminder, I will not be responding to email/text communication when I am out of office. If clinically indicated, a sub-therapist will be available to you for consultation in the event of a mental health emergency.
Wednesday, July 3rd through Sunday, July 7th
Friday, July 19th through Sunday, July 28th
Friday, August 30th through Monday, September 2nd
Friday, September 13th
**Seeking constructive feedback!**
In 2024 we are addressing growth head-on! Twice a year and upon discharge, clients are requested to complete a feedback form to assess your level of satisfaction with your care. It is also an opportunity to share thoughts, feelings or recommendations. Constructive feedback is sometimes difficult to digest AND is important in developing my skills.
A few of the benefits of seeking client feedback:
improves therapy outcomes
increases trust between client and therapist
empowers clients to shape their therapy experience
Please provide your feedback or contact me. GCP Feedback Form