New Jersey Adoption Resource Clearing House

Grief in the Body: Understanding the Somatic Impact of Chronic Illness

Grief is not just an emotional experience—it is deeply felt in the body, often intensifying for those living with chronic health conditions. In this educational presentation, we will explore how grief manifests physically, impacts the nervous system, and intertwines with chronic illness.

Designed for therapists and counsellors, this presentation introduces key frameworks such as somatic experiencing, parts work, and polyvagal theory. Attendees will gain practical tools including guided body scans, vagus nerve regulation techniques, pendulation exercises, and compassionate approaches to working with grief-holding parts. You will leave with a deeper understanding of grief’s somatic impact and effective strategies to help clients process and heal.

Save the date for the 2025 conference!

Whether you are a foster or adoptive parent seeking support and guidance, a child welfare professional looking to enhance your knowledge and skills, or someone with firsthand experience with the child welfare system, this conference is designed for you.

Registration will open spring of 2025.

Spence-Chapin’s Birth Parent Support Group is a virtual meet-up for individuals who made an adoption plan (with Spence-Chapin or elsewhere) and are in any stage in their placement journey. This group is a safe place to get support and know that you are not alone. Topics will include coping with feelings of grief and loss, sharing challenges and successes with open and closed adoption, and improving communication with friends and family around your adoption plan.

There is no cost to attend.

This evidence-based, trauma-informed workshop helps parents recognize the signs and symptoms of prenatal substance exposure and trains them on techniques that work best with kids exposed prenatally to alcohol and drugs. Each 90 minute session is held on Zoom and includes facilitated discussion with other caregivers working with these children. We are able to offer this workshop free through the support of the Jockey Being Family®Foundation.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn to recognize the primary symptoms and secondary impacts of prenatal substance exposure.
2. Understand and learn the process and available resources for diagnosis.
3. Understand the five keys to support family success.
4. Learn a 3-step approach with strategies to support your child.
5. Apply knowledge of symptoms and strategies to address issues in children of various age levels.

Workshop Dates:
All Sessions begin at 7 pm Eastern Time Zone. 

Spence-Chapin’s Birth Parent Support Group is a virtual meet-up for individuals who made an adoption plan (with Spence-Chapin or elsewhere) and are in any stage in their placement journey. This group is a safe place to get support and know that you are not alone. Topics will include coping with feelings of grief and loss, sharing challenges and successes with open and closed adoption, and improving communication with friends and family around your adoption plan.

There is no cost to attend.

Spence-Chapin’s Birth Parent Support Group is a virtual meet-up for individuals who made an adoption plan (with Spence-Chapin or elsewhere) and are in any stage in their placement journey. This group is a safe place to get support and know that you are not alone. Topics will include coping with feelings of grief and loss, sharing challenges and successes with open and closed adoption, and improving communication with friends and family around your adoption plan.

There is no cost to attend.

Convened annually by MENTOR during National Mentoring Month, the National Mentoring Summit is an opportunity for mentoring practitioners, researchers, philanthropic investors, youth leaders, government and civic leaders, and Affiliates from across the country to unite under the shared goal of driving positive change for young people. Attendees have the opportunity to learn from one another, form new connections, and explore best practices for strengthening and expanding the youth mentoring movement.