GRIEF DEBRIEFS

We receive multiple requests from organizations and companies throughout Alberta to debrief with their teams following the death of an employee, the death of an employee’s family member, or the death of a client they served. 

During these debriefs we thoughtfully create a space that is safe for teams to talk about the individual who died, how the loss has impacted them, and the unique concerns or struggles they may be facing. Not only do we hold space for teams to share their experiences in a way that they feel heard and validated, we also provide important psychoeducation and tangible tools to support them on their journey forward. 

Generally speaking, we explore what grief is, the various losses they are experiencing, the normal and natural reactions of grief, what misinformation to be aware of, healthy coping and grounding tools, and what tangible steps they can take in the weeks and months to come.

We believe that every loss is unique and individual, thus we aim to accommodate the grief debrief to the team’s unique needs and requests.

WORKSHOPS, TALKS, AND TRAINING

We are proud to facilitate keynote talks, professional workshops, and corporate and community training events for small businesses, startups, large corporations, government agencies, professional associations, and non-profit organizations on the topics of grief and loss.

We are passionate about supporting business owners, entrepreneurs, leaders, managers, executives, and employees at all levels in deepening their understanding of grief and loss, how to best support employees and clients who are grieving, and how to cultivate a workplace environment that feels safe and equipped to address grief from a place of compassion and non-judgment.

Our talks, workshops, and training events are tailored to the unique needs and desires of the organization, including the time, focus, and location of the presentation, and the number of attending participants.

INVESTMENT

Your investment begins at $330/hour and would be determined based on the unique needs of your organization.

PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION

Our team offers consultation to other mental health professionals in the community on the topics of grief- and trauma-informed practice, The Grief Recovery Method®, the practice of psychology, child therapy, growing a private practice, and other requested topics.

“After receiving some very tragic news about an employee and their family, we reached out to Ashley Mielke for some guidance through a couple of grief sessions with some of our employees.  Ashley was able to come in to our facility and help us learn how to deal with the loss that had occurred and how to welcome our employee back to work when they were ready to return.  The tools that we learned absolutely put some minds at ease on how to approach and interact with our colleague.  I would highly recommend Ashley and The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre if ever you find yourselves in a difficult situation.  Having a professional come in and shed some much needed light on simple things like how we all have our rights to our feelings and being your authentic self with grieving friends or colleagues is of so much help to those on the other side of grief.  As an HR professional, it is also important to know your limits of the situations that occur and know when it is not just OK but paramount to reach out to those properly trained to add insight and tools for all to use, even myself.  We thank Ashley for giving us the tools to move forward with our colleague and friend.”

Liane L., HR Business Partner, General Body & Equipment, August 2021

“Ashley provided our school with a wonderfully facilitated conversation regarding grief and loss in relation to the pandemic during our Mental Health Week initiative. She demonstrated expertise, compassion, and empathy as she led our students and staff through the session. We appreciated her calm, welcoming demeanor, and her ability to connect with people, even through a virtual platform. The workshop was of great value to our community , and we are thankful for the opportunity to have participated. Thank you to Ashley, and the team at The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre!”

Jason S., Department Head of Student Services, Lillian Osborne High School, May 2021

“The Rotary Club of Edmonton was pleased to have Ashley be our Keynote Speaker. The rapt attention provided by our club members and the most interactive Question & Answer session was indicative of what a great job Ashley did in her presentation.   Even with the audience comprising a wide range of ages and backgrounds Ashley was able to make her message relevant to everyone. We have had many excellent speakers and without a doubt Ashley’s presentation was one of, if not the, best in providing valuable take-home information. Personally, having to deal with some very recent losses, I found Ashley as an empathetic, caring and compassionate individual with a knowledge repertoire that made for easy conversation. I strongly recommend Ashley as your go-to person be it for personal support or as a valued presenter to larger audiences.”

John W., Club Trainer, Rotary Club of Edmonton, January 2020

“Ashley’s presence on our recent Elevate: Mental Health panel was an absolute gift.  She brought the perfect combination of clinical perspective coupled with her own experiences.  Ashley speaks and shares from the heart and with this is able to create an instant and authentic connection with the audience.  The connection she creates allows for a safe space for others to share and really open themselves up to receive all of the information available.  Ashley, thank you for bringing love, grace, and heart to our event!”

Jocelyn D., Founder, The Virtual Effect, January 2020

“Ashley has amazing facilitation skills and effortlessly lead our group through thoughtful discussions; taking the time to listen, while absorbing the experiences shared by group members and acknowledging their journey. Ashley made the environment “safe” for genuine discussion and I hope that we can work together again in the future.”

Todd G., Support Services Specialist, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, June 2018 

“When I was looking into finding someone to come in and speak with our Senior Management team on how to deal with loss and understanding the dynamics of grief I wasn’t really sure where to begin. I was so fortunate to have come across the Grief & Trauma Healing Centre’s website and encounter Ashley Mielke’s bio. After a brief discussion with Ashley I had no doubt that she would be able to provide a session for us on exactly what I was looking for. Ashley came in and led a discussion with our team relating to grief and loss and how to help others during their time of need. Her session was fantastic.  She reviewed forms of loss, responses to loss and myths about grief.  She generated a great discussion and really helped us to understand how to help someone through a time of loss and how we could be there during someone’s time of need. Ashley was professional, compassionate and knowledgeable.  I would recommend her to any individual or organization looking for someone to help them through grieving and loss and how to best support someone during their time of need.”

Georgia W., Director, People & Engagement, Maclab Properties Group, April 2018

“I work for a national organization and have held workshops across Canada since 2015. The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre have facilitated workshops for my organization for the past three years. These workshops were both held "in-person" and "virtually" and were presented to individuals who have a chronic health condition as well as their caregivers. Ashley is quite skilled at making quick connections with our audience. The knowledge, passion, and empathy demonstrated during these sessions is why we keep coming back and requesting The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre to facilitate these workshops. Professionally, I also have learned a lot from hearing Ashley speak and I am so thankful to have this amazing working relationship with Ashley and The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre. Thank you for all the great work you do!”

Todd G., Support Services Specialist, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, April 2021

"On behalf of Kirsten, Bryanne and myself, thank you so much for the ‘Let’s Talk about Grief’ session that you facilitated for our Patient and Family Advisors.  Our Advisors are very special to the AHS Organization, and we appreciate that you helped us to offer them an opportunity to come together, and have a meaningful discussion on grief.  During these unusual times we appreciate being able to offer our Advisors information and resources that might help them navigate the multiple emotions they may be experiencing. We have received feedback that our Advisors found the Zoom discussion both timely and of value.  While I am no stranger to your authenticity, I would like to mention that our team appreciates the professionalism, compassion and vulnerability that you brought to the discussion. Thank you." 

Shanda M., Program Assistant, Alberta Health Services, June 2020 

“Thank you for providing our team with such excellent tools. Everyone walked away from your session feeling really positive and full of praise, calling you “exceptional.” You are so warm and inviting but also know how to take charge of the room and facilitate a discussion on topics we may not have felt comfortable discussing otherwise. Your presentation of the information was simple but the insight we gained from it was remarkable. Our biggest takeaway will likely be that people in grief returning to the workplace wish to be heard and have their feelings validated. You reminded us to be ourselves in order to connect on a human level and armed us with compassionate responses.”

Milena J., Counsel, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, March 2019

“Ashley is professional, considerate and compassionate. She creates a forum for open, thoughtful and judgement-free discussions about grief. The team found it both helpful and comforting to share stories, express concerns and understand how displays of grief may vary. Our experience with Ashley has helped us move forward in a meaningful way.”

Chelsey S., Senior Leader, Small Business, September 2018

“Ashley Mielke recently provided a two-day workshop to approximately 20 staff on grief and compassion.  In addition to the psycho-educational and recovery from loss components, she also addressed cultivating compassion as a way of being, which contributed to thoughtful and contemplative discussions (and reflection) of how we are living our lives with the brief time we have on earth. While this information was excellent and very helpful, it was Ashley’s passion, compassion and heartfelt interactions with us as individuals that actually led to true changes in our lives. It left us wanting more. This workshop was inspirational and life altering. Because of it, we have chosen to participate in the Grief Recovery Method Certification Training for further support and knowledge in addressing grief and loss. Thank you Ashley.”

Carol G., Registered Psychologist, Government of Canada, September 2017

“Ashley Mielke came and spoke to a group of Retail Store Leaders and the Human Resources team at Hillberg and Berk. Initially the presentation was geared towards learning on what to say to clients who are handling personal loss. This presentation ended up being that and so much more. Ashley created a warm environment and allowed for everyone to feel extremely comfortable and the team was able to connect with each other on a new personal level.  Ashley truly made an impact on our team at Hillberg and Berk. She allowed for us to get vulnerable with one another which was a great bonding experience. Everyone was able to walk away feeling knowledgeable about self compassion as well as compassion for others.”

Kelsey S., Retail District Manager, Hillberg & Berk, April 2017