An invitation to pause and make space for the many ways grief lives within us both personally and in our work as healthcare professionals.

Over the weekend we will gently explore grief through a series of practices: grounding in support, stirring and contacting grief, being witnessed in community, and integrating through soothing and resourcing.

Whether it’s what we hold for others, the strain of working within stretched systems, or the impact of personal, global, or environmental loss, you are welcome to come as you are with whatever grief you are carrying.

You are welcome to participate as feels right for you.

At its heart, we offer this work in support of a more healthy human culture, one that makes space for grief so we can keep showing up to life with openness and care.

We acknowledge that grief tending will not always be helpful for everyone in every moment. There may be times when grief is very raw or feelings are close to overwhelm in which case, focussing on supporting and resourcing or having some 1:1 support may be more appropriate than stirring grief further.

Upon registering, we will invite you to complete a short form so we can get to know you a little bit as we move towards holding the space. Completing this form is a requirement for attending. We may be in touch to discuss your answers and we welcome you being in touch with us also if you aren't sure if this workshop is right for you.

This event is open to all healthcare professionals.

We are thrilled that Dita, one of our teachers, will be joining the facilitation team for this event.

We are holding free online introductory sessions on the evening of August 20th and September 8th for those who are curious to hear a bit more about what grief tending is.

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Practical information

Where: sOma home, Stoke Newington, London
When: Saturday 10.30am - 5pm and Sunday 11am - 4pm

Lunch will be provided.
We can support you finding a host to stay with on Saturday night if needed, please indicate in the follow up form.

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Pricing

We are commited to making this event accessible and as such are offering this on a sliding scale from £60-150. We have two fully subsidised places.

Please choose the rate that feels sustainable for your current financial situation. Higher-priced tickets help fund subsidised places, while all attendees receive the same experience.

The information on the payment page should help you decide. You may also find this model helpful.

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Contact information

If you have any questions about the event or are unsure if it is right for you, please contact Alys on [email protected]

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Your Facilitators

Alys Clack is an NHS consultant in Women's health, a climate activist and a grief facilitator. She has worked as a doctor for over 20 years, primarily in the NHS, but also for some time in both emergency and educational projects in West Africa and Yemen. In 2019, while working with the Extinction Rebellion Arrest support team she was introduced to Frances Weller's 'Wild Edge of Sorrow' and soon after attended her first community grief tending. The experience initiated a transformative and ongoing journey with grief that continues to alter her relationship with the world, and support her work as an activist and a doctor. She is both immensely grateful for what she has received from her teachers through this work, and hopeful that she can be part of sharing its wisdom with others.

Deana Gershuny is an NHS GP and grief tending facilitator who is passionate about creating spaces where people can come as they are, and where grief is welcomed as a natural part of being human. With deep gratitude to her teachers, she has spent many years exploring, learning, and participating in spaces that honour grief. Alongside working within the NHS, she has experienced the realities of frustration and exhaustion in healthcare, strengthening her belief that caring for others should not come at the expense of those providing that care. Often finding herself bridging different worlds, she is drawn to holistic approaches that extend beyond the Western medical paradigm, centring relationship, community care, and reciprocity with the more-than-human world. Her practice is informed by grief tending, embodied practices including yoga and dance, nature connection, and a commitment to social and ecological justice.

Dita Vizoso is dedicated to regeneration, of people and land. She convenes and holds spaces for deep inquiry and composting. She’s walking and sharing the path where both grieving and joyous hope nourish thriving for self and others. She invites the wisdom of the physical world, of our bodies, and the life around us to support the development and strengthening of return paths to a healthier, more resilient way of being. You can read more about her journey with grief here: https://howlingcastle.wordpress.com/grief-and-grace-tending/my-journey-with-grief-grace-tending/

Mohammed Ali (he/they) has spent nearly 20 years working across social justice, humanitarian response and global health, supporting healthcare and community leadership in post-conflict contexts including Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia as well as the UK. 

Now, their work centres on creating grounded, compassionate spaces where people can process grief, reconnect with themselves and one another, and take courageous action within their communities and the wider system. Rooted in decolonial practice, Mohammed is passionate about collective healing, liberation and reimagining more just ways of being together.

Nic Stoke has been working as a medical doctor in the NHS for the last 10 years in emergency medicine, anaesthetics and intenstive care, as well as working for different humanitarian organisations. During this time, Nic has experienced cyclical burnout and through trying to understand this better, they became interested in somatic tools for processing emotion and trauma. Over the last few years they have trained in different types of breathwork, somatic practices and more recently, in communal grief tending practices. They are committed to seeing how these tools can be used for collective liberation and social justice movements, as well as how we might use them to tranform healthcare so that we can also tend to the bodies of those who work in it.