Michelle Halm, MA, M.Ed, FT
Breakout Session: Hiding in Plain Sight: Grief in the Pandemic and Beyond
Sometimes things hide in plain sight. During the pandemic, grief was often one of the things we likely felt but could not see, and we are still feeling grief today.
Many see grief as something we experience and then get over. However, we know grief is a lifelong experience that we do not get over; we work through. During our time together we will identify the many different types of grief and explore how they may have shown up during the pandemic through today. We will also discuss how grief may present in different people. We will be able to identify our grief experiences, how we grieve, and incorporate our losses into who we are today and in the future.
Michelle Halm is the founder of Grief Connection Space, LLC., where she engages in supportive partnerships and provides community education with a focus on grief and is a staff therapist at Bridgepoint Psychology Center. Previously, she spent over 9 years at Pillars Community Health as the Director of Buddy’s Place, a children’s bereavement program supporting children ages 4-18 and their families, and several years as the Director of School-Based Partnerships. Prior to joining Pillars Community Health, Michelle was a high school teacher. In addition to working directly in schools, Michelle has extensive experience coordinating with school and district personnel in the advocacy of students.
Michelle holds the designation of Fellow in Thanatology from the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) and is a certified grief support specialist and holds her Professional Educators License (PEL) in school counseling from the State of Illinois. She is also a certified instructor for Youth and Teen Mental Health First Aid along with having undergone specific training for suicide bereavement, school crisis, culturally informed responses to grief and loss and more. Michelle has contributed to multiple publications including those published by the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG) and has been a speaker at conferences and symposiums.
Michelle earned a Master of Education in Community Counseling from Loyola University Chicago and a Master of Arts in Education from Truman State University. Michelle resides in the western suburbs with her family.
Get in touch with Grief Connection Space here.