40 CE Zoom Training

6 months of virtual small group learning with a supportive, experienced instructor.

feeling deeply called to this field can lead to a desire to form deep roots.

Our traditional Grief Massage Zoom training is offered in a 15 CE format, which provides comprehensive training to work with grieving clients. For many massage therapists, 15 hours of training meets their training needs and gives them the confidence and support they need to get started.

However, some massage therapists are craving a deeper, even more in-depth experience of immersion into the field of Grief Massage.

When life changing loss has shifted our perspectives or initiated us into the path of grief and healing, we can feel called to dedicate ourselves to service. We can feel deeply called on a heart and soul level to this work. Perhaps we envision a long-term goal that brings Grief Massage to the forefront of our healing work, or maybe we sense that we will one day step beyond a practitioner role and become a leader in this growing field through teaching or mentoring.

Whatever the reason, and however life is calling you to go further in your training, the 40 CE Zoom training is created for you, the massage therapist for whom Grief Massage feels like more than a modality, and closer to a calling.

If you long to deeply commit to learning about grief, the body, the power of touch and all aspects of Grief Massage, we warmly offer the opportunity to delve into the depths of our body of knowledge and training materials with support, companionship and a structured format that will prepare you for supporting grieving clients through massage therapy.

What will "The Joy of Grief Massage" Five Class (40 CE) Series teach me?

Traditional massage therapy can be relaxing and grounding, however, most massage therapy schools do not provide in-depth education on the grief experience. So, an empathetic and attuned understanding of how grief and loss can impact the physical body and the massage experience are absent from many massage therapists’ skill sets.

Grief Massage is a unique modality because we blend our hand-on relaxation massage skills with deep understanding and empathy of loss (how grieving can be stressful and how touch can help); the understanding of grief provided by our training can help you curate a deeply validating experience for grieving clients during every part of their time with you, from first contact and appointment booking to the hands-on session and aftercare.

Why 40 CE?

Our traditional standard training program for live and Zoom live webinar formats is 15 CE. However, some students love to deeply explore, digest and marinate in the material. Aimee realized this when she created a stand-alone fully recorded online (self-paced) Grief Massage training option that is 40 CE.

She began to receive interest from folks who wanted a longer training experience in a live or live webinar format. Some students long for and crave the experience of diving very deep into the aspects of Grief Massage training that are covered in the self-paced recorded version of the training while also being in connection with others in real-time via live webinar.

Initially, Aimee had recorded the online self-paced training as a longer experience in order to compensate for the lack of live interactions and group discussions that live students and Zoom learners had access to. And she soon realized that some grief-oriented massage therapists wanted both: the longer training experience AND the interactions and discussions that could only take place in real time.

So, the 40 CE Zoom Training option was born. If you love details, enjoy taking deep dives into concepts, theories, research and the lived experiences of yourself and others - this program may be for you!

Class will meet on Saturdays, 9 am - 6 pm EST (one hour lunch break and short hourly breaks throughout the day).

Class will meet for 4 consecutive months, take a one month break to integrate, and then meet for the final class.

Example:

January- Class 1 | February- Class 2 | March - Class 3 | April - Class 4 | Integration Break During May | June - Class 5

Class 1 provides a foundational understanding of how grief can land in the physical body, how the stress of loss can manifest, why massage can help, and how to be grief-informed (we cover several grief theories and provide a cultural critique of modern grief-phobia in society).

Class 2 teaches approaches for crafting a grief-sensitive booking and intake process (including how to communicate boundaries such as a cancellation policy in a caring manner).

Class 3 provides instruction and support in implementing or creating a Grief Massage sequence, with research backed techniques (we also watch demo videos of the signature “Safe and Gentle Grief Massage” sequence).

Class 4 prepares you for setting boundaries around your massage therapy scope of practice and helps you distinguish between being a deep and empathetic listener/space holder and providing therapy/counseling. As a dual trained massage therapist and grief counselor, Aimee is able to provide valuable insights on how to stay within the massage therapy scope of practice. Class 4 also supports you in learning how to handle emotional release in a Grief Massage setting.

Class 5 presents you with options for bringing Grief Massage into your community, and provides information about various formats and options for doing this work (private practice, employment based and non-profit). This class offers ideas and discussions around Grief Massage pricing, marketing, and burnout prevention to ensure longevity in the field.

This 40 CE bundle of 5 classes covers all aspects of providing Grief Massage, to prepare you to begin seeing grieving clients in your practice.

Does Grief Massage “fix” grief?

In this "The Joy of Grief Massage" live webinar 5 class series, we train students on the importance of witnessing (not “fixing”) grief. 

This can be a shift in mindset and intention for some massage therapists, because many traditional massage modalities do focus on “fixing” problems such as tense muscles, pain or even stress levels.

Grief is not something to be fixed. Grief is a part of the human experience and the loss experience needs to be tended, witnessed and honored.

So, a significant focus of our training is to help massage therapists learn to hold space, trust the moment, and “just be” with a client. There’s a lot more to Grief Massage than a simple list of techniques or a particular bodywork sequence. One of the biggest takeaways we hope to impart to students is that releasing the need to “fix” grief is essential for doing this work.

What can I expect from a live webinar training?

As a small group, we will share insights and experiences, in a warm and accepting atmosphere. Each class is capped at 9 students, and the instructor will prioritize interaction with all group members. Your voice matters and we will want to hear from you! At the same time, if you prefer to be in a group setting with less interaction/sharing, that will be respected! You are welcome to use the chat function within the live webinar to participate if you prefer. We encourage you to have video “on” but this is not required.

Lecture and discussions will center on the "big picture" (preparing you to offer Grief Massage to your clients and community). 

Our comprehensive training will empower your work by covering a wide range of important factors such as:

-empathy for the experience of grieving (Class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

-how the physical body responds to loss (Class 1)

-how grieving influences the nervous system (Class 1)

-special considerations for intake and appointment scheduling (Class 2)

-grief and the massage therapy scope of practice/emotional release (Class 4)

-creating a safe space for clients (Class 2, 3, 4)

-self-care and boundaries (Class 2, 3, 4, 5)

-Grief Massage techniques & sequence (Class 3)

-insights on how to gain experience with Grief Massage (Class 5)

-marketing ideas for sharing this work with your community (Class 5)

-and much more

Important Details About Continuing Education:

The five part 40 CE training series is approved by the NCBTMB for continuing education. 

Classes meet five times, for eight hours each time.. The total CE for the entire class series is 40 CE.

You will receive a a single certificate for a combined total of 40 CE upon completion of the training (after all five meetings).

Each class must be attended in its entirety and students are responsible for ensuring their computers, internet access, and Zoom application are in working order. 

If a student misses any portion of the class, they will not be eligible to receive their CE certificate. 

If a student misses class or misses a portion of class, the instructor MAY be able to schedule a make-up session but this is not guaranteed, If a makeup session is able to be scheduled, students are responsible to pay the additional tuition.

Each class meeting will include a 10 minute break per hour of the course and time is scheduled for students to complete their quiz during the class.

Very Important: Please note that while this course is approved by the NCBTMB, it is the sole responsibility of each student to check with their individual state board/licensing body to ensure that the CE from these classes will be accepted toward licensure renewal. 

The instructor makes no guarantee that the CE offered in this class will be accepted by any individual state massage board. 

New York students: This NCBTMB approved course is NOT sponsored in New York by the NCBTMB and will not be accepted toward license renewal (to the best of our knowledge).

Please also note that this is a training course and not a professional certification. You will earn continuing education credits through this course but will not be certified as a result of taking this introductory course.

Registration Policy:

The first step is to join the waitlist! Email Aimee at AimeeTaylor(at)griefmassage(dot)org to join the wait list for a 6 month 40 CE series.

You will be notified when a group of 5-9 learners has expressed interest and a class can form.

Private instruction is available by request as well.

Tuition

Tuition for the 40 CE Zoom class (6 month series) is $1500.

Registration Deadline:

The deadline to join to waitlist is open. Join the waitlist anytime.