Suicide Bereavement Support Group Facilitator Training

Are you seeking to create and facilitate community support groups for adult suicide loss survivors in the aftermath of a suicide?

For All Seasons’ Center for Learning is pleased to partner with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Maryland to offer this Facilitator training program. This two-day training includes lecture, interactive discussion, and role-playing.

Participating clinicians will receive 14 Category I CEUs, issued by For All Seasons, Inc., an approved continuing education provider for Maryland Social Workers and Professional Counselors.

Location:

Anchor Church, Easton, MD (in-person)

Date and Time:

June 6-7, 2025, 8am-5pm each day

$175 Registration Fee Includes:

2-Day Training, Daily Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks

All Needed Materials

ABOUT THE TRAINERS

Pamela Gabbay, EdD, FT

Wendy M. Resnick, R.N., M.S., C.S.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, participants will:

Understand the Unique Needs of Suicide Loss Survivors
Participants will identify the emotional, psychological, and social challenges experienced by individuals grieving a suicide loss, recognizing the complexities of suicide bereavement.
Develop Skills to Facilitate a Safe and Supportive Group Environment
Participants will learn best practices for creating a trauma-informed, inclusive, and empathetic space that fosters open discussion and healing for group members.
Apply Effective Communication and Active Listening Techniques
Participants will practice skills such as reflective listening, validating emotions, and guiding discussions in a way that promotes constructive dialogue and emotional support.
Recognize and Respond to Crisis Situations Within a Support Group Setting
Participants will learn to identify signs of acute distress, suicidal ideation, or emotional crisis in group members and apply appropriate intervention strategies, including referrals to professional resources.
Utilize AFSP Resources and Best Practices for Group Facilitation
Participants will gain familiarity with AFSP’s guidelines, tools, and ongoing support opportunities to enhance their effectiveness as facilitators and sustain long-term peer support groups.

PROGRAM LOGISTICS

This training is for...

Mental health professionals and survivors of suicide loss who want to start a support group
Current group facilitators who want to strengthen their skills, stay up to date on the latest practices, and explore issues they have encountered while facilitating
Survivors of suicide loss who have waited at least two years after experiencing a suicide loss
Non-clinicians who have at least one year of experience participating in a support group

Location

This in-person program will take place over two consecutive days at Anchor Church

620 Goldsborough Street, Easton, MD 21601

Dates and Times

June 6-7, 2025, 8am-5pm each day

Meals

Breakfast, lunch, beverages, and snacks will be provided to participants each day of the training program.

Dinners are not included in the program participation fee.

Registration Fee

To secure the participant’s spot, the registration fee of $175 is due at time of enrollment.

Scholarships

- There are limited scholarships available for those who may otherwise be unable to

participate due to financial hardship. If you would like to request financial assistance through a partial

scholarship for this program, indicate your interest on your enrollment form

(scholarships are first come, first serve).

REGISTRATION & TIMELINE

Registration is open until the training is full. All registrations are due no later than May 26, 2025.
Additional information will be sent to participants following registration.
In-person training days to take place June 6-7, 2025
For questions, contact Kelsey Trumbull-Meyers at CenterForLearning@forallseasonsinc.org.

Note: Because this training is grant-funded, For All Seasons is required to report program outcomes. Participants will be asked to complete multiple choice surveys before the training begins and following the training’s completion.

Enroll Today