Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm at Story Parlor
11/11, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16 (No class 11/25)
Early bird $250 | Register by October 11 (discount applied at checkout)
Regular Price $275 | Effective October 12
Space is LIMITED to ensure an intimate experience. We recommend signing up early!
Refund and other policies can be found here.
*
Longfellow says "there is no grief like the grief that does not speak." In this five-week workshop, we will lean into and explore the unavoidable human experience of grief. We’re told “there are no words,” but perhaps grief is speaking, and we can dispel its darkness by listening. This hands-on course is designed for those ready and eager to face, explore, and integrate their grief — this might be grief from the loss of a beloved one, the loss of a dream, or the loss of innocence.
Grief comes in waves and phases; you will know you're ready for this workshop if you are at a stage in your grief when you are feeling less inundated by your grief on most days. In this class, we use creative writing activities to write to our grief and ask what lessons it is teaching us. We will journal to embody our loss: our Ghost. We will combine a variety of readings, discussions, brainstorming and prewriting activities, freewriting, and feedback to explore how grief has helped (forced!) us to grow, integrating the beauty of who or what we've lost as well as the strength and compassion we've gained into our creative selves.
-
Any human who has experienced loss and the grief that follows, and who feels ready to explore this terrain with curiosity.
Note, we will focus more on writing about grief than on our specific losses.
-
“I believe that everyone has a unique story, a story that demands to be told, a story that the universe needs to hear. I believe that the power of creativity is in its dual nature as both an outward means for connection and understanding and an inward pathway for self discovery, authenticity, and growth. I believe that each creative act has the potential to heal the storyteller, and that our stories have the potential to heal the world.
I have found that expressing and exploring my own traumas and triumphs has enabled me to process my deepest griefs and losses, as well as life’s mysteries and marvels, providing the movement necessary for finding solace and meaning.
My facilitation approach is rooted in my experience teaching writing with adolescents for nearly two decades, witnessing the power of creativity to build confidence, integrity, and compassion both within the individual and among members of a community. It is also informed by my adventures with profound loss and the darkness and fragmentation that followed. Writing has been my beacon and has enabled me to face and embrace heartbreak, allowing the regeneration that comes after the wreckage.
My mission is to use my skills as a writing teacher and personal experience as a writer to be your wholehearted champion as you navigate the storm of grief. With writing as a lifeline, together we will embody the brutal and awesome strength that mourning demands.” -
"Death feels terrifying, especially when you’ve already lost someone you love. Katherine’s course was an both playful and deeply cathartic journey that helped me engage with my past loved one in a celebratory and real way. She gave me new perspective on my sister’s passing that brought us closer." - Talya R.
'Katherine’s workshop led me into the heart of grieving a loss and recognizing parts of that loss I hadn’t before understood. Sharing photos and stories of lost loved ones with the group felt like a ritual of calling those loved ones into the room — a welcome and joyful experience. Katherine’s worksheet guided me through various ways and angles to reconnect with and honor my grandmother while also remembering her as a whole and flawed person." - Alli M.
"Katherine is an experienced educator with a big heart, who knows exactly how to hold space for the the way creative expression can help us move through difficult emotions like grief. In her workshop, I felt safe to explore where I wanted to go, and inspired to open new pathways I may have been hesitant to write about on my own. I was challenged to expand my understanding of grief, and encouraged to tend to ways I can embody the legacies of the ones I've lost. I highly recommend her workshop to anyone looking for a creative and compassionate way to connect with what and they've lost." - Faye D.
"Katherine offers a distinctive approach to navigating grief, guiding participants through creative exercises that help them nurture an ongoing connection with their loved ones who have passed. Through her methods, individuals discover practical ways to continue processing their grief independently." - Heather B.
"Katherine’s workshop is for anyone who has lost a loved one (hint: everyone!) and is looking for the opportunity, tools, and guidance to process and explore grief and loss in a creative and different way. Every piece of her offering comes from a genuine and authentic knowing of her own journey through “writing our ghosts” and that allows for a shared vulnerability and open space to explore new ideas and questions surrounding this topic. Katherine lets the participant choose the journey they want to take by offering many different prompts and directions for you to explore, taking care to honor where each person is at in their grief journey and meet them where they are. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone who wants to break free from the societal norm of ignoring death, loss and grief and learn how to celebrate this part of life with exploration and embodiment!" - TRE
"Katherine's offering allows us to lean into our grief and explore it in unique and meaningful ways. In a culture that shies away from such conversations, Katherine, provides a safe and thoughtful space to connect with another through the stories of grief we all carry." - Ramin G.