Bernie's Buddies helps kids and youth live again after a death loss.
We are hosting a teen's grief peer support special event in Tantallon.
Teens ages 13 to 17 who are navigating big feelings due to the death of an important person in their lives are invited to join us. We will:
- meet a therapy dog,
- move our bodies with yoga exercise,
- create a photo project (if your teen does not have a phone with a camera we will have a digital camera available), and
- complete our session with show n' tell (please have your teen bring along a special item that connects them with their person who died - if there isn't an item available, sharing a favourite memory is an option).
Our focus will be on demystifying the grief experience while creating a sense of community with curiosity and respect.
A resource sheet will also be available for families that includes a list of websites we've found helpful with grief activities and tips that can be used at home or by a caring person in the teen's life.
Parents/caregivers are welcome to stay during our event and connect with each other, or perhaps take this time for themselves in the library or offsite.
Thanks to generous donors and community supporters, this event is available at no cost to participants and families.
Registration is required by Friday November 29 - spaces are limited!
For more information, please contact us at berniesbuddiesnovascotia@gmail.com or call us at 403-467-7923 (if this is a long distance number for you, please email or text that you'd like a call back).
**Please note Bernie's Buddies is intended as peer support only and does not provide or replace therapy or counseling services.**
FAQ
My child's age falls outside 13 to 17 years. Can he/she still participate?
We do our best to ensure our group activities are age and developmentally appropriate for our participants. Please contact us directly if your child is outside of this age range and you feel they'd like to join us.
My child attended a previous Bernie's Buddies session - can he/she participate again?
Absolutely! Grief is experienced over time and although we may cover some of the same topics or activities, these can resonate in different ways during additional sessions, encouraging our kids to discover new skills to express themselves while feeling supported in their grief.
Bernie's Buddies Canadian Charitable Registration #80458 0173 RR0001
