We all will grieve if we have had people in our lives,
friendships or love.
It's one of the toughest parts of living.
You found the First 52 for your own number of reasons. You may be looking for some self-help tools. On the other hand, you may not have resources in your area OR you may not want to participate in groups or workshops due to the private nature of your situation. You are welcome here.
The First 52 provides useful information and tools to help you now. I share my experiences from a personal and professional perspective...
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I frequently asked "How do I get through this?"
The tough answer is that it's moment to moment some days and it's certainly acknowledging and getting to know your grief better.
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The First 52 is the closest to a step by step guide to the first year of grief that I've seen. I've given you the best tools to help you understand YOUR grief proven by my work with own clients since 2009. You don't have to try to figure it out all on your own. I have had my own personal experience with grief. Sudden death due to asthma, suicide, death due to cancer, loss after long term illness and unexpected accidental death. I know each of my relationships were unique and each grief was equally different.
I decided to make a necessary and rewarding change to counseling and art therapy after caregiving for my own mother-in-law. So, Art Therapy and Counseling are a second career for me that began In 2009. I am licenced for counseling in both Illinois and Indiana and nationally certified as a Nationally Certified Counselor and a Registered Art Therapist. I have presented throughout Illinois and have traveled in the US to present regarding art therapy, grief, and coping. Learn more about my experience and professional memberships.
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Life may seem uncertain right now. After significant deaths, my life was different. After caregiving, my life was different. Now, in my understanding of my grief, I am still different. I have and will continue to grow and deepen my relationship with my spirit through these experiences. I'm here to tell you, there is hope in living with grief.
❤︎ Weekly emails sent directly to your inbox with a link to take you to the course.
Various topics that include different ways of grieving, coping strategies, remembering, and preparing for anniversaries and special days, just to name a few.
❤︎ Useful website links, videos, handouts, and activities to guide you in your grief.
Friendly videos delivered in bite-size bits of information that is easy to understand and apply to your life. Tailored to how we think when newly grieving. Reduce the internet overwhelm with direct links to helpful information.
❤︎ Focus on learning, growing your personal understanding, connectedness to Loved Ones and adjusting to everyday life.
I set out to create a comprehensive grief program... and I did just that for you. Your grief is just too important.
You can expect:
❤︎ Weekly emails sent directly to your inbox with a link to take you to the course. ***Be sure to accept emails and marketing information when you enroll to insure you receive the emails.
❤︎ Useful tools like website links, videos, handouts, and activities to guide you in your grief.
❤︎ Bite size information that is easy to understand and apply to your new way of living. Each week is tailored to how our grieving minds can take in information.
❤︎ Focus on better understanding your personal grief experience through learning, explore all sorts of aspects of grief, regain connectedness to Loved Ones and adjust to everyday life.
❤︎ Various topics that include different ways of grieving, breaking down all the tasks that need to be done in the weeks, months and year after a death, coping strategies, remembering, and preparing for anniversaries and special days, just to name a few.
❤︎ Access beyond the first year of grief - Grief doesn't just stop after one year. You can go back and revisit topics as you need.
I set out to create a thorough grief program... and I did just that for you.
***Note: This program is not intended to replace mental health counseling. This is a self-guided program. The facilitator's role is that of a guide, coach and supportive companion.
Hi, I’m Julie Blackburn
Let me introduce myself... I created these artful courses for YOU! I know the importance of quality information when you are searching for understanding with your grief. Unfortunately, the internet is full of discussion groups that give partial information, are a collection of personal experiences, or simply opinion that may distract you from your own growth and empowerment.
I became a grief counselor back in 2009 after living with the loss of a number of important people in my life. By 2011, I started looking for a course like this... I was hearing from folks that they had all these barriers to getting the support they were seeking... time, location, work schedules, family obligations.... They were looking for something like this too... something flexible, something that would easily fit into their life at a time they were hurting so much.
Fast forward to now... I created this program to be a friend in grief for the first year after a death of someone in your life.
Course Curriculum
You may have some questions... let me help you out.
When do I start the First 52?
You start the program whenever you choose. The program does follow a year... Week 1 is within the first month after a loss and will go through the anniversary of your Loved One's death. There are only a few points when time is noted within the program.
How long do I have access to the First 52?
After you receive all the emails, you have lifetime access. Emails come for a full year. During that time you have access up to your current week in the program... this also means that if you take a break, you can always pick back up within the program when you are ready. Because each loss we experience is different, you can always go back through the program if you need.
What if I'm unhappy with the program?
I would never want you to be unhappy with the First 52. Within the first 30 days you will receive tools you can use right away as well as info to help you understand your grief. If you are dissatisfied, I offer a 30 day money back guarantee. Just shoot me an email at [email protected] for a full refund within 30 days.
Hello there,
You have found this program because of a profound loss in your life. There is nothing I can say that will change your current situation. However, I do have information that will help you at this time.
No two people grieve in the same way. There are things we can expect in grief and ways our life changes after the death of someone special. Even if you have experienced grief before, this grief will be different. There is no relationship like the one with your loved one. Even people in the same family will experience this loss in their own way.
It may seem that you will never feel better... I can tell you that I see people in severe despair that do eventually feel better. It takes time, a dedication to yourself, a commitment to your loved one that has died, and a trust in the process. I will share tools that work and you can use right away. I will not rush you in your grief. I will guide you through all sorts of topics to help you grow in your grief. I'm a new friend that you can count on.
Thank you for allowing me to walk beside you. By the end of the program, you will have a greater relationship with yourself. Your life is forever changed, YOU are now different too. Parts of you will always be within you... And it's important to get back in touch with those parts. There are parts that are hurting, maybe overwhelmed, maybe even wondering what's next for you. It takes time to work through these parts and the key is to go at a manageable pace. So, pay attention to yourself... go at your own pace. I'll give you bite size pieces of information - if it's too fast, go slower. This is your grief. I'm here beside you.
You can do this, my friend. My heart is with you.
Your Friend in Grief,
Julie
Remember...when you enroll...
Please be sure to accept notifications and marketing emails from the course. I promise to be kind to your inbox... This is important since you will want the emails to come to you each week...
Interested in adding the First 52 to your organization?
❤︎ Start the discussion and complete this form to further explore options for your business, EAP, community or government organizations.
I'll see you soon in the First 52.
