Join us this Fall for professional trainings on perinatal loss. Trainings will be led by Carol McMurrich, founder of Empty Arms Bereavement Support, in partnership with Empty Arms Vermont. Register below for trainings for (1) Outpatient Clinical Staff, Providers & Home Visitors, (2) Mental Health Therapists, or (3) Doulas. These trainings are provided to professionals for free by a grant through the Vermont Department of Health – Family & Child Division. CE hours are available for licensed social workers and nurses.
outpatient clinical STAFF, Providers & Home visitors
Patients who suffer pregnancy losses often experience uncomfortable social interactions in outpatient health care settings. Typically, this is because both care providers and office settings lack protocols and phrasing to support bereaved parents. This two hour training will review some of the most typical "awkward interactions" that happen in outpatient settings, and will offer specific recommendations and language to help to make both patients AND staff/providers more comfortable when a loss has occurred. We will discuss both how to structure front desk and nursing procedures to prevent awkward encounters, and also will provide scripting so that you as a staff/provider will know what to say and what not to say.
Northern Vermont In-Person: Outpatient Clinical Staff, Providers & Home Visitors (2 hours total)
Monday, November 17, 9:00-11:00am OR Monday, November 17, 7:00-9:00pm
Location: Maitri Healthcare, 185 Tilley Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403
Virtual Outpatient Clinical Staff, Providers & Home Visitors : Lunch & Learn (2 hours total)
Monday, December 1, 12:00-1:00pm AND Monday, December 8, 12:00-1:00pm
Location: on Zoom
Mental Health Therapists
Providing clinical support to parents who have experienced pregnancy loss can be a challenge for even the most experienced clinician. The grief journey when a baby dies is unique, and understanding some of the nuances of this journey can help you as a clinician feel more comfortable in your practice and will help your clients feel more validated and supported. This 2.5 hour training will offer an overview of the anticipated challenges for bereaved parents, data to support a unique grief journey, and specific, supportive language. This seminar will help you as a clinician to create a warm, welcoming environment for bereaved parents and truly make a difference in their healing and growth.
In-Person Southern VT: Mental Health Therapists (2.5 hours total)
Monday, November 3, 4:30-7:00pm
Location: Winston Prouty Center, 209 Austine Dr, Brattleboro, VT 05301
In-Person Northern VT: Mental Health Therapists (2.5 hours total)
Monday, November 17, 4:00-6:30pm
Location: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 21 Library Ln, Williston, VT 05495
Virtual Mental Health Therapists (2.5 hours total) Lunch & Learn
Tuesday, December 2, 12:00-1:00pm AND Tuesday, December 9, 12:00-1:00pm
Location: on Zoom
Doulas
As a doula, we want to be present and capable for our clients no matter where their pregnancy journey takes them. This means having tools to help patients cope with miscarriage, termination for medical reasons, stillbirth, and also helping them through pregnancy after loss. This course will offer an overview of best practices in a variety of loss situations with an emphasis on how to accompany parents when a baby dies just before or at birth. We will then discuss how these skills can be transferred into supporting a family who is expecting a new baby after a loss. This course will provide you with specific strategies and language to meet bereaved parents where they are at and will help you to feel more confident in providing care to bereaved parents.
In-Person Southern VT Doula Training (3 hours)
Monday, November 3, 12:00-3:00pm
Location: Winston Prouty Center, 209 Austine Dr, Brattleboro, VT 05301
In-Person Northern VT Doula Training (3 hours)
Tuesday, November 18, 1:00-4:00pm
Location: South Burlington Library, 180 Market St, South Burlington, VT 05403
Virtual Doula Training (4 hours total) Lunch & Learn
Monday, December 1, 9:00-11:00am AND Monday, December 8, 9:00-11:00am
Trainer: Carol McMurrich has been running support groups for 18 years and has been caring for bereaved families at the bedside for 15 years. Witnessing so many hundreds of families in the midst of loss, combined with hearing them process, reframe, and grow in the aftermath, has given Carol a rich, deep understanding of the diversity of the loss and grief experience.
In addition to this first-person experience, Carol is an enthusiastic member of the Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance. As a presenter and participant in their biannual conference, Carol has fostered connections with the top researchers, bereavement care professionals, and specialized medical professionals in the nation, including Cathi Lammert of Share, Rana Limbo of Resolve through Sharing, Dr. Brian Carter, Dr. Terri Major-Kincade, and more. As part of a robust national and international community of bereavement care professionals, Carol has some of the deepest networking connections on the East Coast.
Continuing Education
For social workers:
Number of Credit Hours: 2.0 NASW Authorization Number: D 92593
Contact: Carol McMurrich
Pregnancy Loss Training for Clinicians
The above listed Standard program has been approved in accordance with the regulations of the Board of Registration of Social Workers, 258 CMR 31.00.
For nurses:
This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved by the
American Nurses Association Massachusetts, an accredited approver by the
American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
*Due to cost and time, we do not have further accreditations for continuing education hours at this time. But hope you can join a training regardless!