Grief doesn’t just happen in response to death; in relationships we may feel grief again and again. In any kind of relationship there is grief with break ups, discovering a partner has broken an agreement (or other acts of infidelity), the loss of a beloved animal, the loss of a child, disappointment upon discovering an incompatibility.
In the arc of a romantic relationship, grief comes alongside differentiation, that phase where, having been besotted with New Relationship Energy (which helps us see all the ways in which we are compatible with our partner and build a fantasy to aspire to) we slowly come to reclaim our self identity and begin to experience all the ways in which we are different and seek out the grounded reality of the relationship potential.
Sometimes that process is gentle, sometimes it is sudden. But, with the shattering of a fantasy there is also the grief of its loss.
There is a fundamental grief that comes with the territory of exploring non-monogamy.
It is a mourning of the promises that Patriarchal Monogamy had made to us, and the dreams we had built on those promises.
In this workshop you will explore the different kinds of grief you might encounter through your non-monogamous relationships and be guided through somatic exercises for connecting with grief in an empowering and embodied way. Through this workshop, you’ll be able to connect with diverse and creative ways to move through your own grief process.
This workshop is for anyone who has gone through big relationship changes, relationship and friendship breakups, or the loss of a partner or member of chosen family during these pandemic times.
Participants will NOT be asked to divulge any personal details about their grief; breakout sessions will focus on peer support for witnessing the impact of grief, rather than the origin of it.
This workshop is designed as an exploration of somatic processes that may support a grief process. This workshop is NOT intended to be a substitute for therapy, nor is this workshop intended to address trauma, PTSD, or C-PTSD.
💫 Sliding scale rates available (prices in CAD$)
💌 Got questions? send me a dm.
This workshop will be held online, and will be interactive, featuring breakout discussions and a 15 min break.
THIS WORKSHOP IS OFFERED LIVE ONLY AND WILL NOT BE RECORDED.
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Accessibility Information:
Accessibility is important, and it matters a LOT to me.
Closed captioning will be made available for this workshop.
If you require ASL interpretation, or have other specific accessibility needs, please email me at melina@radicalrelationshipcoaching.ca so that I can make the necessary arrangements.
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Mel Cassidy is a relationship coach and sex-positive nerd who guides social misfits and cultural rebels to experiences of joyful, embodied, authentic open relationships. Mel is certified in Counselling for Intimacy and Relationships, Holistic Peer Counselling, and is a ZEGG Forum facilitator. They are a student of Somatics and pursue studies focused on trauma-informed approaches to the mind-body relationship. Creator of The Monogamy Detox online program, they are dedicated to creating trauma-sensitive spaces where all beings can flourish.
With over two decades of experience teaching and facilitating in groups small and large, Mel has a reputation for innovation, novelty, and both thinking and living outside the box.
Mel is queer, and lives, loves, and dances on the traditional and unceded territories of the K'ómoks Nation in British Columbia, Canada.
Follow Mel on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter @radicalrelating
www.radicalrelationshipcoaching.ca
www.monogamydetox.com
