Grief asks so much of us. 

And sometimes we walk around in a grief that no one can see.

Grieving our loved one.
Grieving the loss of a pet.
Grieving the way a relationship is changing.
Grieving the suffering from violence, war, and injustice.  

If we are to be well in this world, we have to face our grief. Honor it. Learn how to feel it fully. And in other moments, how to gently set grief down for a time to tend to the rest of life.

This training will show you how to do both. 

What you will learn

You can balance honoring grief with caring for other parts of life.

Sometimes you have to let grief take you to your knees. Sometimes you’ve got to get to the meeting. This balance takes support and practice. And especially in the beginning, there won't be balance. Things will feel lopsided, because they are. 

Recognize when fresh grief is pulling on the strings of previous grief.

Fresh grief can stir old grief. We learn how to meet grief when it arrives, wherever it comes from.

Make gentle peace with the complexity of feelings that grief can bring, even when rage is dominating.

Anger, betrayal, irritation, cynicism, a deep sense of unfairness, and profound sadness are just a few of the most common feelings that grief brings. We practice acceptance—except when that elicits more rage. Sometimes we just have to be in it.

Make space for others’ grief and how they express it.

Effective leaders recognize that the people they work with are impacted by grief in various ways. No matter our environment, we can acknowledge and honor grief. We may need to set boundaries to keep people safe, but we can still acknowledge grief. 

Use your intellect and body to help that hollowed-out feeling in your heart.

When we have a more thorough understanding of our internal landscape, we can support ourselves and others by drawing on various parts more consciously. 

This training is for you if:  

You’re someone who leads yourself, a team, a class, in a helping profession, or in your family and you want specific strategies and practices to both carry grief and still lead well.

• You struggle to balance honoring grief and the stress of what must get done.
• You want to stay useful without abandoning your heart.
• You’re afraid that you or someone you care about will never feel true joy again.
• You don’t see the point of bringing up painful topics or you don’t know how.
• You need guidance to make space for grief without impinging on privacy in a professional or learning setting.

A note about support

This training will give you a real practice. It may also help you see that grief, burnout, resentment, old loss, and responsibility are asking for more than one evening can hold.

That is part of why I created Stop F’ing Around: Heal. Focus. Rise.

SFA is my year-long, small-cohort process for values-driven leaders who want to build change with close community, skilled guidance, and real practice, so life and work can match their values more consistently.

During the training, I’ll share a link to book a private enrollment call. The call is a way for us to check in with each other and see if SFA is the right next move for you.

About Anne O’Connor

Anne O’Connor is a licensed independent clinical social worker and psychotherapist who designs and facilitates long-term group experiences for people serious about change.

Anne has learned through many heartbreaks of the world, personal and global, that she does better with a consistent grieving process. 

Anne’s work is warm, direct, practical, and deeply human. She teaches values-driven leaders to build change with love, structure, accountability, and community.

Grief work is one part of a multifaceted coaching approach that she provides in her year-long cohort group Stop F'ing Around: Heal. Focus. Rise.