Support for parents
Learn how to support affected by suicide, with confidence.
It can be difficult to know how best to support children after a suicide, especially when you are grieving, too. Take the guesswork out of providing support. Learn how to provide mattering-reinforcing care; support provided their way.
You care deeply and you’re worried about your child. It hurts to know your child is hurting. You’d do anything to change what has happened. Even if your child ‘seems okay’ at present, you’re concerned about what you may not know and how what has happened might affect them in future years. You desperately want to support them in every way you can, yet you’re unsure how. You find yourself questioning if what you are doing is ‘enough’ or if you could be doing ‘more’.
I get it. It can be difficult to know how best to support a child who is grieving, even more so if you are grieving yourself. The reality is, we’re not taught about grief or how to support grieving children at school or when we become parents.
Know that you needn’t navigate this tricky terrain, by yourself. Regarded as a global authority in children’s grief support, I can support you to support your children, their way. That is, in a way that is truly responsive to their unique needs.
Explore the different ways I can support you, below. Contact me to book a consult, register your interest in the next See Me, Hear Me Programme or to discuss your specific needs. Together we can explore what type of support might be most helpful for you, at this time.
I invite you to watch my TEDx talk. Here I share the findings of my PhD research that lead me to develop the approach, mattering-reinforcing care, enabling grieving children to be cared for, their way.
One-on-one Consult
Book a 60 minute consult with me. A one-off conversation is often all it takes (although I’m absolutely available for follow-up sessions, too, or to support you with your own grief).
I will listen to understand your specific circumstance and needs, and share with you the key principles of a mattering-reinforcing care approach. You will leave the session with a clear set of specific support actions you can take moving forward (a Support Plan, of sorts).
The session will allow you to:
- take the guess work out of the support you’re providing
- better understand the key aspects of what makes support, supportive
- have your questions answered, and
- feel less alone in your experience.
If this sounds as though it might be helpful for you, I would love to hear from you.
No matter how full my diary gets with keynotes or workshops, I always find time to offer one-on-one consults. Why? Because I ‘get’ how tricky support can be (especially when you’re worried about your child and you’re grieving yourself). I also know the very real difference, the right support and information, can make.
Consults available via zoom or in-person.
One-on-one 60 min. consults are $200 (incl. gst).
Online Programme
See Me, Hear Me
Take the guesswork out of supporting your child, while feeling supported by other parents experiencing similar.
See Me, Hear Me, is a four session online educational and support programme for parents and caregivers supporting children and teenagers following the suicide of a loved one. Each session is two hours. By attending See Me, Hear Me, you will:
Connect with other grieving parents in a safe, small-group environment, and feel less alone in your experience.
Learn practical, research-informed tips and strategies that will help take the guesswork out of supporting your child/ren, and help you navigate your own needs as you support those in your care.
Benefit from group and individual support. In addition to the four small group sessions, the programme includes a 45 min. one-on-one session with myself, focussed specifically around what’s ‘on top’ for you. This one-on-one session is your chance to ask any questions and receive advice and support tailored to your specific needs.
All sessions are online.
See Me, Hear Me programme - including the 4 x 2 hour group sessions, 1 x 45. min one-on-one session and resources - costs $950 (incl. gst).
Resource Hub
The Children’s Grief Hub is an online video library for parents/caregivers and professionals supporting children who are grieving.
The hub includes an extensive (and growing) range of research-based short videos designed to equip you with the knowledge and practical skills to support grieving children, their way (and to look after yourself in the process). The hub enables you to have 24/7 access to support and guidance, in those moments you might be feeling unsure what to do or how best to navigate a situation with your child. The short form videos are designed to make it easy for you to find the information that’s most relevant and helpful for you, giving you practical ideas and tips, within minutes.
"Thanks so much Shelley. These last few months have been really tough, I can't imagine how much harder it would have been without your help.""Thank you Shelley! I have learned a lot from you and it's make a huge difference having you in my corner. While I still worry about the kids, it's not in the same all-consuming way it was before. Having the support plan has given me more confidence. Thanks again for everything.""Thanks Shelley. Your support and guidance has been a game-changer for my relationship with [child's name].I will be forever grateful.""I came to you needing help so I could better support the boys. You gave me that and so much more. Thank you for the way you listened and supported me, in my own grief, also."