Rachel Saffer (she/her/hers) earned her Masters of Social Work from Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Starting as an office volunteer at Austin Grief, Rachel quickly grew to be an integral part of our team.
Rachel has experience in providing counseling to adults, teenagers and children who have experienced significant trauma in both group and individual settings. Rachel utilizes various interventions in her practice including therapeutic yoga, EMDR, and traditional play therapy. She believes in providing every client with a welcoming and safe environment so that they can work towards healing on their own terms.
CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
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THE PLAYROOM
'The Playroom' is a virtual space where kids 5-17 (and their parents) can go to engage with staff and supporters of Austin Grief who will be creating fun, often interactive videos with activities such as: song writing, dance, fitness, drawing, painting, musical instrumentation, singing, cooking, art and crafts, creative writing, and more. Our purpose will be to convey and celebrate a message of hope, community, healing, and resilience.
The Virtual Playroom Kids
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The Virtual Playroom Teens
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CAMP RED BIRD
Camp Red Bird is a bereavement summer day camp for children ages 6-12 and for teens 13-17 that have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. It is a safe place where kids and teens can laugh, cry, play, create, remember the person who died, learn that it is okay to grieve, and to understand that they are not alone.
Camp Red Bird engages children and teens in therapeutic activities that incorporate art, crafts, nature-based experiences, yoga, and movement to help process feelings of grief. Children and teens who attend camp learn to develop healthy coping skills in a safe and supportive environment.
RESOURCES
Articles for Children and Families
NACG GriefTalk School Resource Guides
INTEREST LIST NOW FORMING
ANNUAL EVENTS
CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUPS
Children's Bereavement Groups are for children who have experienced the death of a loved one. Children are grouped by Elementary/Early Middle School and Teens. Each group session is facilitated by two trained volunteers and supervised by a licensed clinician. Facilitators come with a theme and supporting activities for each session. However, group members sometimes come with a specific issue or question about which they would like to talk. The group is intended to meet the needs of the group members. So, the planned theme may be set aside to accommodate a specific need or request by a group member. Themes often explored are adapting to changes, feelings associated with the loss, how the loss impacts their sense of self, masks we wear during difficult times, and managing stress in grief. To inquire about a group call 512.472.7878.