Speakers
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Joseph Colletti M.Div, S.T. M., M.Ed., CFTJoe Colletti is a certified focusing trainer and a Board Member of the BioSpiritual Institute. He is a spiritual director associated with the Spiritual Life Center of West Hartford, CT. His writings on spiritual direction have been published in Presence Magazine, a journal of Spiritual Directors International (SDI). He has made presentations on BioSpiritual Focusing at the SDI International Conference as well as offering the first BioSpiritual Focusing webinar sponsored by SDI. He is also directly involved with the strategic planning efforts of the Focusing Institute.
Joe has offered inservices and published on the topics of grief and loss as well as a guidebook on leaving a spiritual legacy. In addition he is the creator and webmaster for an interfaith website developed under the auspices of the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations and Hartford Seminary -
Louise Colletti, MALouise Colletti has been a spiritual director for more than 15 years and was a member of the Spiritual Direction Internship instructional team at the Spiritual Life Center of West Hartford, Connecticut for eight years. She is also a certified spiritual direction supervisor.
Louise began her career as an educator on the elementary and secondary levels. She then became a Marriage and Family therapist who worked in a variety of therapeutic settings, including mental health centers and group homes. In addition, she worked as the Program Director for Mary’s Place: A Center for Grieving Children and Families for eighteen years. During this time she also taught collegiate level courses on Family Life and Psychology. She is an advocate of BioSpirituality as a spiritual practice and currently is co-teaching a BioSpiritual education program for local clergy in Harwich, Massachusetts.
Companioning Through Grief and Loss
This program is designed to provide participants with an overview of the grief and loss journey and the dynamics of companioning those who have experienced a loss. The focus of the day will be based on a contemporary approach to the grieving experience and its implications relative to companioning interactions.
A combination of individual inquiry and reflection, an in-depth review of fundamental differences between grief and mourning, sharing of personal experiences and challenges, and an overview of the techniques and invitations will be utilized to companion others through their journey of grief and loss.
Whether you’re a spiritual director, chaplain, pastor, social worker, professional caregiver, healthcare worker or volunteer, this program will empower you to companion others through their journey of grief with empathy and understanding.
