TAPS Institute for Hope and Healing®
The TAPS Institute for Hope and Healing® is positioned to be the national and worldwide leader in training and education for bereavement professionals, bereaved individuals, and grieving military and civilian families.
Through an alliance with the Hospice Foundation of America, the foremost leader in professional grief and loss education, the Institute serves as a resource and training center, providing a hub for high-quality collaboration between professionals working in the field of grief and loss.
At the Institute, practical information on coping with loss is accessible to all who seek current strategies, the most effective tools, and best practices for supporting those who are grieving and those who serve the grieving.
TAPS has teamed with the Hospice Foundation of America to educate caregivers, mental health professionals, clergy, funeral directors, casualty officers, the bereaved themselves, and many others on the best ways to travel the grief journey. Together at the Institute, the two organizations provide workshops, seminars, panel discussions, and more to train professionals and help individuals and families thrive after loss.
Jon Stewart speaks at the launch of the TAPS Institute for Hope and Healing® on March 5, 2018.
† Program in partnership with Hospice Foundation of America
Additional events will be added to the Institute calendar. Dates and times subject to change.
Contact Information
TAPS Institute for Hope and Healing® is located at TAPS National Headquarters, 3033 Wilson Blvd., Third Floor, Arlington, VA 22201. Email us at Institute@taps.org or give us a call at 800-959-8277 (TAPS) with any questions.
Event Calendar
February 9 — Wellness Techniques for Reducing Stress and Anxiety
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Neil Goodman, disabled Vietnam Veteran, Certified Meditation Instructor
February 23 — Understanding the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Colonel Hunt Kerrigan, USA (Ret.), Military Outreach Advisor, FedPoint
- Lisa J. Roussel, CLTC, LTCP, Senior Account Manager, FedPoint
January 12 — "Be Strong" and Other Myths of Grief
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Kelvin Chin, MA, JD, Grief Recovery Expert and Author
January 28 — Mindfulness as Your Superpower
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Jill A. Harrington, DSW, LCSW, TAPS Volunteer
- Heather Stang, MA, C-IATY, TAPS Advisory Board
December 1 — Five Things Kids Bereaved by Suicide Want Adults to Know
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Andy McNiel, MA, TAPS Youth Program Senior Advisor
- Carla Stumpf-Patton, EDD, LMHC, NCC, FT, CCTP, TAPS Suicide Prevention & Postvention Initiatives
December 8 — Grief in the Holidays: Finding Meaning and Hope as a Family
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Andy McNiel, MA, TAPS Youth Program Senior Advisor
December 15 — Healing Trauma and Finding Hope in the Outdoors
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Christine Lynn Norton, PhD, LCSW, Professor of Social Work at Texas State University
November 5 — How Hospice and Palliative Care Can Support Military Families
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Carlos Graveran, Executive Director, Hospice of Frederick County
- Ryan Weller, National Program Manager of Palliative & Hospice Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs
November 19 — Creating New Holiday Traditions while Honoring the Past
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Maria Georgopoulos, LMHC, FT, Director of the Bereavement Services Department, Calvary Hospital
October 13 — A Time to Mourn, A Time to Dance: Finding Balance in the Midst of Grief
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv, TAPS Advisory Board Member
October 22 — Is it Depression or is it Grief?
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Robert A. Niemeyer, PhD, TAPS Advisory Board Member
September 8 — PREVENTS - A Whole Nation Approach to Suicide Prevention
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Barbara Van Dahlen, PhD, Executive Director of the PREVENTS Task Force
- Carolyn Colley, military veteran, TAPS Peer Mentor and member of the PREVENTS Task Force
September 15 — Grief and Young Adults in Military-Connected Families
Live webinar, 12 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern
1.5 hours continuing education credits available
- Heather L. Servaty-Seib, PhD, HSPP
- Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, PhD
August 6 — Creating a New Future with Your In-laws After Loss
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Rachel Kodanaz, Consultant, Author and Speaker
July 1 — A Conversation on Loss & Resilience in a Life of Adventure
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Vern Tejas, Mountain Climber, Alpine Ascents International Guide
- Will Gadd, Ice Climber, Outdoor Adventurer
- Gabriel Rao, Manager, TAPS Men's Program
- Rachel Hunsell, Coordinator, TAPS Expeditions
July 28 — "I'm Losing Him Before He's Gone" Coping with Anticipatory Grief
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv, TAPS Advisory Board Member
June 4 — Save A Warrior Meditation
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Major Brad Gallup, USMC, USAF (Ret.), , Facilitator/Elder, Save A Warrior™
June 12 — Adult Siblings as Disenfranchised Grievers
Live webinar, 12 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern
1.5 continuing education hours available
- Christina Zampitella, PsyD, FT
June 23 — Mystical Experiences of the Dying and Bereaved, An Interfaith, Multi-cultural Perspective
Live webinar, 12 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern
1.5 continuing education hours available
- Terri Daniel, CT, CCTP
May 5 — Self-Care Tools
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Tara Woodruff-Dukes, Manager, TAPS Care Groups Program
May 7 — Helping Grievers Cope with Guilt, Anger, and Other Difficult Emotions
Live webinar, 12 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern
1.5 continuing education hours available
- Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv, TAPS Advisory Board Member
- Dale Larson, PhD, Professor of Counseling Psychology at Santa Clara University
May 7 — Am I Supposed to Feel This Way? Acknowledging Uncomfortable Emotions In Grief
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv, TAPS Advisory Board Member
May 12 — Objects & Heirlooms: Clearing Clutter and Staying Connected
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Allison Gilbert, Emmy award-winning journalist, TAPS Advisory Board member
May 14 — Mourning Your Loss When the Whole World is Grieving
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Patti Anewalt, PhD, LPC, FT, Director of the Pathways Center for Grief & Loss with Hospice & Community Care
April 1 — Grieving as a Grandparent
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv, TAPS Advisory Board Member
- Dana and Linda O’Brien, TAPS Peer Mentors
April 2 — Helping Kids Feel More Secure in Uncertain Times
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Pamela Gabbay, EdD, FT, co-founder of the Satori Group
April 3 — Go Outdoors! The Healing Power of Nature
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Tony Paz, TAPS Director of Outdoor Engagement
- Rachel Hunsell, TAPS Expeditions Coordinator
- Gabriel Rao, Manager, TAPS Men's Programs
April 6 — Who am I now?
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Erin Jacobson, TAPS Senior Advisor, Outreach and Engagement
April 7 — Why Won’t You Talk to Me About This? Managing Different Coping and Grieving Styles Under the Same Roof
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv, TAPS Advisory Board Member
April 8 — Frightened AND Enlightened: The Stress Response and Your Window of Tolerance
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Emily Muñoz, TAPS Health and Wellness Director
April 9 — Meditation for Uncertain Times
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Heather Stang, MA, C-IATY, TAPS Advisory Board
- Moderated by Tara Woodruff, TAPS Care Groups Manager
April 10 — TAPS is Here for You
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder
- Audri Beugelsdijk, Vice President, TAPS Survivor Services
- Brittany Bonin-Bruder, Director, TAPS Casework and Education Support Services
April 13 — 8 Reasons Your Grief Might Feel Worse and Tips for Coping
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C, co-founder of What’s Your Grief website
April 14 — Reducing Stress and Restoring Hope
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- James S. Gordon, MD, Founder and Executive Director, The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, TAPS Advisory Board Member
April 15 — A Conversation with the VA about Managing Benefits During this Challenging Time
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Kevin Friel, Deputy Director, Pension and Fiduciary Service in Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA)
- Jason Hoge, Director of Operations for the Debt Management Center
- Julie Lawrence, Chief, Treasury Education External Relations Division
- James Ruhlman, Deputy Director for Program Management within the Veterans Benefits Administration's Education Service
April 16 — Extraordinary Hope
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Kim Burditt, Manager, Programs & Logistics, Suicide Prevention & Postvention
- Reverend Laura Biddle, Interim Minister, Brookside Congregational Church, Manchester, New Hampshire
April 17 — Finding Your Magic Wand: Four Questions to Help You and Your Kids Work Through Tough Times
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Stephanie Heitkemper, MA, MFT, LPC, RPT, owner of Resilient Minds Counseling, PLLC
April 20 — Empowered Coping
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Erin Jacobson, TAPS Senior Advisor, Outreach and Engagement
- Emily Muñoz, TAPS Health and Wellness Director
April 21 — The Power of Hope
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Tessy Ojo, Chief Executive of the Diana Award
- Diana Hosford, Vice President, TAPS Sports and Entertainment
April 23 — Going through Crisis: Survive and Thrive
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Eric Hipple, Former Detroit Lions quarterback and mental health advocate
April 28 — The Power of Peer Mentoring
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Kellie Hazlett, Senior Manager of TAPS Peer Mentor and Online Community Programs
April 30 — Building Connections in Grief with your Children
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Vicki Jay, CEO, National Alliance for Grieving Children
March 5 — Love After Loss (for women)
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Carla Stumpf-Patton, EdD, LMHC, NCC, FT, CCTP, TAPS Suicide Prevention & Postvention Initiatives
- Susan Starnes, LCSW-C
March 7 — Introduction to Mind-Body Skills
In-person workshop at TAPS Headquarters, Arlington, Virginia, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Eastern
- Hosted in partnership with the American Red Cross
March 10 — Love After Loss (for men)
Live webinar, 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern
- Justin M. Yopp, PhD, Psychologist and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill
- Warren G. Pellegrin, United States Marine Corps veteran and TAPS Peer Mentor
March 18 — Coping with Grief in Uncertain Times
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Ken Doka, PhD, MDIV
- Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder
March 19 — Meditation and Self-Care for Stressful Times
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Heather Stang, MA, C-IATY, TAPS Advisory Board
March 20 — Finding Hope in the Midst of Loss
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- William G. Hoy, DMIN, FT, TAPS Advisory Board
March 21 — Living the Lessons of Grief in Uncertain Times
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Emily Muñoz, TAPS Health and Wellness Director
March 22 — The Smart thing and the Right thing are usually the Same thing ...strategies for navigating today's world
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Robert J. Delany, National Basketball Association, TAPS Advisory Board
March 23 — Strategies for Healthy Eating
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Kristen McGill, RD, CSOWM, In-Store Nutritionist at Giant Food
March 24 — Too Close for Comfort: Mental Health and Wellness During Changing Family Dynamics
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Kim Ruocco, MSW, Vice President of TAPS Suicide Prevention and Postvention
- Carla Stumpf-Patton, EdD, LMHC, NCC, FT, CCTP, TAPS Suicide Prevention & Postvention Initiatives
March 25 — The Power of Perspective: Choosing Gratitude
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Erin Jacobson, TAPS Senior Advisor, Outreach and Engagement
March 26 — Catching some Zzz’s – Finding Rest when Stressed
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Heather Stang, MA, C-IATY, TAPS Advisory Board
March 27 — Strategies for Coping When you are Feeling Isolated
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Dale Larson, PhD, Professor of Counseling Psychology at Santa Clara University
March 28 — Managing Work and Family Under the Same Roof
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Rachel Kodanaz, Consultant, Author and Speaker
March 29 — Managing Substance Use during this Challenging Time
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Franklin Cook, MA, CPC, Consultant, Speaker and Trainer in Suicide Prevention and Postvention
March 30 — Trust and Laughter During a Crisis
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Frank Campbell, PhD, LCSW, CT, Senior Consultant for Campbell and Associates Consulting
March 31 — Coping with Hurtful Comments
TAPS Talk live connection, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern
- Rev. Paul A. Metzler, DMin, clergy member, therapist, and grief counselor
