Presented By

Joanna Bridger, LICSW

In our work, we often sit with students for whom hope feels distant. Their grief—whether from personal loss, systemic injustice, or the weight of the world—can be a quiet, invisible force that manifests in ways that are loud and alarming: self-harm, substance use, extreme withdrawal, or aggression. These high-risk coping behaviors are not a cry for attention, but the language of an unbearable grief. How do we, as helpers, learn to hear what is truly being said? In this essential Learning Institute, master clinician and guide Joanna Bridger will lead us on a compassionate exploration of this tender and challenging terrain. We will journey beyond behavior modification and crisis management to the heart of the matter: accompanying students through the process of grieving. Drawing on a rich, trauma-informed framework, Joanna will provide practical, relationship-based strategies to:

• Build the profound trust required to create a safe harbor for students.
• Understand the neurobiology of grief and its connection to high-risk coping.
• Implement healing-centered interventions that foster connection and restore a sense of agency.

This is more than a training; it is a day of profound learning and deep restoration for the professionals dedicated to being an anchor for students in the storm.