Description:
OPD Points: 5
This presentation will focus on grief experienced by teens and young adults after someone in their life has died due to suicide, homicide, or substance use. There are many things that impact the experience of grief and how we cope, including how someone died and the relationship to the person who . This presentation will include discussion about the special circumstances and unique challenges that teens and young adults face when grappling with these losses, including the impact on family dynamics, stigmas that exist, and social support. Difficult and intense emotions that accompany these types of losses will also be included.
Key Learning Objectives / Outcomes:
The presenters will share Modes of Support and the best ways to help teens and young adults in their grief after a death due to suicide, homicide, or substance use. There will be ample time for questions and discussion.
Presenter / Provider:
Pamela Gabbay, EdD, FT and Andy McNiel, MA
Presenter Qualifications:
Pamela Gabbay, EdD, FT
Pamela is a nationally recognized trainer and consultant who has served the bereavement field in many capacities during her 25-year career. Dr. Gabbay is part of the training corps of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and travels throughout the country conducting trainings on their behalf. She is also on the Advisory Board for The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). Formerly, she was the Director of Operations and Training for The Compassionate Friends. In California, she was the Director of The Mourning Star Center for Grieving Children and Camp Erin, Palm Springs. Dr. Gabbay is the co-author, along with Andy McNiel, of Understanding and Supporting Bereaved Children: A Practical Guide for Professionals. She is on the executive committee of ADEC’s Credentialing Council and served as the President of the Southern California Chapter of ADEC. She was also an adjunct faculty member in the psychology department at Brandman University. Dr. Gabbay holds a Fellow in Thanatology (FT) from the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) and earned a Master of Arts degree in Cognitive Psychology from Claremont Graduate University. She earned her Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University.
Andy McNiel, MA
Andy is an author, trainer, bereavement support professional, and non-profit leader with three decades of experience providing support to bereaved people of all ages. He is the CEO of The Satori Group, LLC, a national non-profit consulting company. He has served as the Chief Executive Officer for The National Alliance for Grieving Children, the Executive Director for The Amelia Center at Children’s of Alabama, and the Director of Grief Counseling Services and Director of Development for Hospice of Martin and St. Lucie (now Treasure Health) in South Florida. In his current work with The Satori Group, Andy serves as Senior Advisor to Youth Programs and Young Adult Programs for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Advisor to Programs for HealGrief and Actively Moving Forward, and Consultant and Advisor for The Compassionate Friends. He is the author of Understanding and Supporting Bereaved Children: A Practical Guide for Professionals in addition to numerous chapters related to bereavement support. He is a trainer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He is a member of the International Workgroup on Death, Dying, and Bereavement. Andy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and a Master of Arts in Counseling.
