After losing my 20 yr old son Austin to suicide 6 years ago, I have been actively searching and learning how to work with my PTSD, and grief.

Just 2 months after he died, I found the MBSR course through the prevention and education department at Davis Behavioral health, where I lived. I knew/felt immediately that there was truth in its teaching and practice and that I needed it to survive. I have since taken it 3 separate times.
This led me down a path to complete a 200hr YTT and begin to use mindful movement to work with how grief shows up physically.
I began to facilitate a suicide loss support group through DBH.
During this time my MBSR teacher/mentor/friend and also head of the prevention department for DBH, opened up the first mindfulness center in our area. I began to hold the support groups there.
At the center I was trained and have been teaching the Learning to Breath curriculum and also took the self compassion course.
I believe these tools, if learned and practiced, can save lives. How I wish we had known sooner.
Having lost a son to suicide, I know the huge amount of guilt and shame surrounding this type of loss and the intense grief that comes with it. I am hoping to learn on a deeper level how applying self-compassion can help those navigating this type of grief journey.

Grief is a full body experience. I am currently working on developing a program using mindfulness, self compassion, movement, and journaling in a group setting for those trying to work with their suicide loss grief journey.

Thank you so much for sharing these tools and skills with the world. 🙏