Northeast Regional Military Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp

Getting Connected to the Seminar

The TAPS app allows you to stay organized at seminars and find pertinent workshop information with the click of a button. You will be able to receive real-time notifications from TAPS and save any sessions that you want to attend to your own calendar. While the app is Seminar-focused, most TAPS services are available through the TAPS app, as well.

Download and install the TAPS App on your device using the button links or QR code below. If you have any questions or need further assistance, contact appsupport@taps.org.

SCHEDULE AND SESSIONS

7:00 p.m. — Pre-event What to Expect, Your Seminar Questions Answered
Attending in person? Please join us for a pre-event Zoom meeting to talk about what to expect at a regional seminar. We will also review safety and health standards that will be in place for our Regional Seminar. We will discuss hotel check-in, registration, meals, mask requirements and many other details that have been taken care of for us to gather safely in-person.

• 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Peer Mentor Training

• 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Family Registrationn

• 5:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. - Family Dinner

• 5:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Good Grief Camp Zone (Grades K - 12)

• 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - First Time Attendee and Peer Mentor Gatherings

• 7:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

  Dessert Sharing Group Sessions for
  Accident Loss
  Illness Loss
  Suicide Loss
  Combat Loss
  Homicide Loss
  (designated areas will have signage indicating type of loss)

• 8:30 p.m.

  Young Adult and Legacy Mentor Gathering

• 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Family Breakfast
  There will be areas reserved for a Men's Only and Young Adults socials.

• 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. - Family Registration

• 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. - Good Grief Camp

• 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. - Opening Session with Bonnie Carroll

• 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Workshops and Sessions

  Difficult Conversations About Your Loss - Who, What, How Much, What Do I Say? – Lisa Zucker
  Have I said too much? In this workshop, we will explore conversations about loss, from sharing about the way our loved one died to knowing when it feels right to hold back. The goal is to learn more about setting your own boundaries so you can share in a way that is most comfortable to you. In addition to direct conversations with people, we will also discuss conversations about loss on social media and other large group settings.

  Helping Grieving Children and Teens - Dr. Pamela Gabbay
  Teenagers struggle with many emotions after the death of someone in their lives. Parents and caregivers want to do everything they can to help, but are not always sure about the best ways to support their teens. This presentation will cover practical ways that you can support your teen after the death of someone close. Topics that will be included in this workshop are: how to discuss grief and loss with teenagers, common grief reactions, coping with grief and loss, and helpful ways to engage grieving teens.

  Managing Difficult Emotions After Loss – Andy McNiel
  It is common for many of us to struggle with many difficult emotions after a person in our life dies, including, but not limited to anger, guilt, and regret. We may feel a sense of responsibility for the circumstances leading up to a person’s death. We might regret missed opportunities as we think back on our relationship with our person. We may have intense anger associated with aspects of their death or issues related to our relationship with them. Whatever it is that might influence these feelings, difficult emotions can be challenging to navigate. This interactive session will take a closer look at some of these emotions and offer ideas for managing the impact they have on our lives after loss.

• 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

  Lunch Buffet and Peer Group Sessions for
  Spouses and Significant Others
  Siblings and Adult Children
  Battle Buddies, Friends and Extended Family
  Parents and Grandparents
  (designated areas will have signage indicating type of relationship)

• 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Workshops and Sessions

  Grief and the Preservation of Self – Lisa Zucker
  Self preservation is an instinct to keep ourselves from harm, or to survive. In grief, there are times where life only feels like survival. But the preservation of the self extends further as we navigate grief and understand the new world in which we find ourselves. During this workshop we will explore survival and self preservation as well as talk about what self care, mindfulness, and post-traumatic growth are and how you can practically apply them in your life.

  Creating Meaning from Loss - Audri Beugelsdijk
  Dr. Bob Neimeyer says that loss “requires us to reconstruct a world that again ‘makes sense,’ that restores a semblance of meaning, direction, and interpretability to a life that is forever transformed.” We will discuss what it means to flourish in spite of and through our grief. Participants will have opportunities to share personal observations about how meaning making has played a role in their grief journey. 
  

  When Things Get Real; Shifting Dynamics After a Loss  - Dr. Heidi Horsley
  Following the death of a loved one, survivors are often surprised by the fact that family dynamics change dramatically. We will explore what happens when the casseroles stop coming and the neighbors go home and how we can come together and find common ground in the face of struggle.

• 3:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. - Workshops and Sessions

  Grieving Like a Man (Men Only) – Jon Ganues
  In this interactive workshop, we will discuss the ways men may reveal their grief and share our experiences. Our goal will be understanding and insight, not changing the way others grieve. This is an ideal workshop for men in attendance who may be dating a survivor, as well as for men who are actively grieving the loss of a loved one.

  Parenting While Grieving - Dr. Pamela Gabbay
  As a parent, how do you navigate the challenges of parenting your grieving children while also taking care of yourself and your own grief? How do you make time for and fully acknowledge your loss while also helping your children cope with theirs? Often, parents put their needs on hold. While caring for your children is your primary role and concern, it is also important to think about yourself and what you need for support. In this interactive workshop, we'll discuss coping and caring for yourself while also caring for your children and other family members. Plenty of time will be given for discussion and questions.

  Ten Things You Can Do to Decrease Anxiety After a Loss – Dr. Heidi Horsley
  Are you feeling anxious after a loss? The journey of grief after experiencing a death is both personal and profound. It is common to experience intense emotions, including anxiety, as you navigate the process of mourning. In this workshop you will learn 10 practical tools and self-care techniques that will help decrease anxiety while on the path to healing and eventually finding hope again.

• 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - Family Dinner

• 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Young Adults and Legacy Mentors Care Group (Ages 18 to 30)
  Please join us as we gather and have a time of sharing and support. This facilitated care group provides an opportunity to share about your grief in a safe space with others going through similar situations.

• 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Family Breakfast
  There will be areas reserved for a Men's Only social.

• 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Good Grief Camp

• 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. - Workshops and Sessions

  God Winks  – Bonnie Carroll
  Some people call them “God Winks,” some call them signs, messages or after-death communication. No matter what we call them, signs from our loved ones can be very present in our lives. Stories and experiences of the presence of our loved ones will be discussed in this open-minded and intimate sharing session.
  

  More Than the Way They Died – Lisa Zucker
  Their legacy is in their stories - that’s how we keep them here with us. Through memories and moments, we get to know who your loved one really was, because their life is not defined solely by how they died. We invite you to bring a story, picture, or anecdote about your loved one that you would like to share. Please keep in mind that while we have a constraint on time during the workshop and would like to hold space for all who wish to speak to do so, we hope this inspires stories to be shared throughout the remainder of the day

  Understanding Sibling Loss  – Dr. Heidi Horsley
  In this interactive workshop, Heidi will discuss what helped her, after the death of her 17 yr. old brother, and what has helped the hundreds of bereaved siblings she has interviewed and worked with. Losing her brother was the worst thing that ever happened to her; it turned her world upside down. Often siblings wonder how they will survive after a sibling loss. They question who they are without their sibling, and worry about their parents. Heidi will also address the unique aspects and challenges of sibling death, and get feedback from participants about issues they are struggling with, and how they have found hope without their brother or sister.

• 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. - Workshops and Sessions

  God Winks (repeat session)  – Bonnie Carroll
  Some people call them “God Winks,” some call them signs, messages or after-death communication. No matter what we call them, signs from our loved ones can be very present in our lives. Stories and experiences of the presence of our loved ones will be discussed in this open-minded and intimate sharing session.
  

  Family Projects and Activities to Help Cope with Grief – Dr. Pamela Gabbay
  Doing activities together can be very beneficial when families are grieving. Within a family, members often cope with and process grief differently. Spending time with your children on their terms and doing activities that are important to them can open the door for deeper conversations and meaningful discussions. Creating hands-on projects together is a helpful way to bring family members together in their grief and during times of sadness and stress. Having fun, creating art projects, and sharing stories are all important ways to spend time together. Examples of activities will be shown and there will be plenty of time for questions and discussions.

  Spirituality and Grief: A Conversation About Faith and Belief After Los – Andy McNiel
  Faith, belief, and spirituality play a vital role in the lives of many of us after someone in our life dies. Many of us find strength through our faith as we journey through grief. While others of us may find faith to be difficult in the aftermath of loss. Spirituality can have complicated ebbs and flows as we navigate the many challenges that grief brings to our lives. Join us for this interactive session on spirituality and grief. We will discuss how our faith has brought us strength, how our faith may have been challenged by loss, and ways our grief may have impacted deeply held beliefs.

• 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Closing Session with Bonnie Carroll

• 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Family Lunch

SEMINAR FEES

There are no registration fees for our regional seminars. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, TAPS provides lodging, all meals, materials, activities and T-shirts at no cost to you.

LODGING AND TRANSPORTATION

Lodging is provided at the Hyatt Regency for those traveling more than 30 minutes to the event. Please request your lodging in your registration form and specify how many nights you’ll be staying. TAPS covers the cost of the lodging for Friday and Saturday nights and will book your hotel room for you.

You'll need to cover the cost of your transportation to and from the seminar. 

If you have questions about lodging, please email lodging@taps.org or call 800-959-TAPS (8277).

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Registration to attend in-person (there is no virtual option) is open until August 26, 2023 (look for the blue button at the top of the page).  You'll receive a confirmation email once you have submitted your registration. Please email seminarregistrations@taps.org if you do not receive a confirmation email after registering.

Health Guideline and Animals

Health Guidelines for the Seminar: TAPS will make every effort to ensure safe and healthy gatherings. We will continue to monitor COVID variants and may require testing onsite and/or other protocols based on local regulations and CDC guidance. At this time, we do not require proof of full vaccination and masks are optional. Should we have to make any changes you will be notified right away.

Animals: We love animals, but we do not allow them to attend many of our events, which are private events that are not open to the general public. We do this for the health and safety of our members. If you have any questions please contact seminarregistrations@taps.org.