The holidays can be especially challenging for people who are grieving. Whether your loss came through death or something else like a divorce, other relationship, job, career, or home, the grief that accompanies such losses can feel especially devastating during the winter holidays. As the year winds down and the (supposed and expected) holiday thrill winds up, we become acutely aware of what we have to be thankful for and what causes us sorrow.
At this retreat, we will talk about grief and its most common expressions at this time of the year, using two exercises with stones. In addition, we will construct a self-agreement and a holiday calendar that uniquely works for how we feel about the holiday season at this point in December. We will also practice an acupressure exercise to promote self-calming. Participants will have time to talk in small groups during and outside of lunch and to wander about the grounds in contemplation of what might bring them peace for this season. Granting ourselves peace means having self-awareness to avoid holiday havoc and to spread peace to people who are meaningful in our lives. A final exercise will be to decorate a candle in honor of our deceased loved ones or the things we have lost that cause the most sorrow. Given the opportunity, we will light these candles one by one in the retreat center Chapel as part of a group memorial ceremony. Lunch is included. Guided by Beth Hewett.
Beth Hewett, PhD, CT, GC-C, CCISM, CEOLS is an expert in grief, trauma, and communication, bringing a compassionate and insightful approach to these sensitive areas. With a PhD in Rhetoric and Writing Studies and specialized training in traumatic bereavement, Dr. Hewett focuses on how language and thoughtful communication can support individuals coping with loss and traumatic experiences. She is an ICISF Faculty member and the developer and instructor of the one-day course “Foundations of Grief for First Responders” and the two-day course “Advanced Practices for Healing First Responder Grief.” An accomplished author, speaker, and adult educator whose work explores the profound intersections of grief, trauma, and expressive writing, Dr. Hewett is also a grief coach, spiritual companion, grief support group facilitator, and facilitator trainer. Her contributions have empowered professionals and individuals alike, equipping them with tools for healing and resilience through thoughtful grief-focused communication practices. Her work is widely valued for its depth of empathy and for offering practical, transformative strategies for those navigating challenging times. Her credentials include being a Certified Thanatologist (CT) with the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), a Certified Grief Counselor with the American Academy of Grief Counseling (AAGC), and a Certified Compassionate Bereavement Care™ Provider with the MISS Foundation. Dr. Hewett is a trained Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) provider with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). She also has earned a certificate in Death and Grief Studies from the Center for Loss and Life Transition. She is the author of Duty, Honor, Hope: Strategies for Understanding and Unpacking First Responder Grief (which is currently available but also revised for March 2026), and her upcoming book is Being Human, Being Strong: Foundations of Grief for First Responders (also available in March 2026). Dr. Hewett’s other grief-focused books include Grief on the Road to Emmaus: A Monastic Approach to Journeying with the Bereaved (ICISF Press, 2023), Good Words: Memorializing through a Eulogy, More Good Words: Practical Activities for Mourning, and Supporting a Grieving Workforce with Dr. Richard Ottenstein (ICISF Press, 2021). Some of her other publications can be found on her website GoodWordsForGrieving.com.