The Cedar Tree Institute in cooperation with Trillium House, Great Lakes Recovery Centers, Lake Superior Life Care & Hospice, and UP Home Health and Hospice presents:

Janus Project Seminar 2021

August 26-28, 2021

The Dynamics of Grief & Loss

Perspectives on care-giving at the End of Life for Hospice staff, Health Care Professionals, Clergy, and Addiction Counselors.

Thursday, August 26th 6 p.m. – Saturday, August 28th 8:30 p.m.
Thunder Bay Inn, Big Bay, Michigan

In acknowledgement of COVID-19 and recommendations of the CDC, this training experience will be limited to ten persons. Social distance will be utilized, face masks will be used as appropriate. Vaccinations for COVID-19 are required by participants.

Includes: Two nights lodging and seven meals.
Optional: Kayak training and paddle down the Iron River and along the shores of Lake Superior. All equipment provided.

THURSDAY: August 26th

4-6 p.m. – Registration: Thunder Bay Inn, Big Bay
6-7:15 p.m. – Dinner
7:30-9 p.m. – Presentation #1 Darkness Falls: Loss and Grief: Denial, Projection, Competing narratives of meaning, hope, and despair. Our personal stories. – Magnuson

FRIDAY: August 27th

7-7:30 a.m. – (Optional) Meditation Practice & Tai Chi Chuan – Magnuson
7:30-8:30 a.m. – Breakfast
9-10:30 a.m. – Presentation #2 Bereavement and Grief: Definitions and Practices. – Mattila and Jarvis
11:00-12 a.m. – Presentation #3 Sitting Shiva – Guest presenter with perspectives on the mourning process from the Jewish tradition.
12-3 p.m. – Picnic Lunch included. Optional training on Lake Independence with kayaks.
4:30 p.m. – Travel to private cabin on Lake Independence for social hour and sauna.
5:30 p.m. – Dinner at cabin.
7-8:30 p.m. – Presentation #4 A Physician’s Perspective on Loss and Grief with Discussion and Reflection. – Skendzel

SATURDAY: August 28th

7-7:30 a.m. – (Optional) Meditation Practice & Tai Chi Chuan
7:30-8:15 a.m. – Breakfast
8:30-10 a.m. – Presentation #5 Perspectives on Loss and Grief in Addiction (case study) – Grossman
Lunch, kayaking and Free Time for hiking.
4 p.m. – Arrive at Granite Point Cabin for sauna and social hour.
5:30 p.m. – Dinner
6:30-8:30 p.m. – Presentation #6 Guest Presenter (case study) followed by Group Reflections

Seminar Focus:

Identifying skills to assist patients in finding meaning in navigating experiences of Grief and Loss.
Understanding and appreciating the challenges facing individuals suffering loss of identity in the dying process.
Psychological, emotional and spiritual dimensions for those facing recovery from addiction, long term illness, and the impending finality of their own death.

Facilitators and Presenters:

- Dr. Michael Grossman, MD – Hospice Medical Director, UPHH, Attending Physician, MAT, Great Lakes Recovery Centers
- Larry Skendzel, MD – Hospice Medical Director, Gunderson Health System, LaCrosse, WI
- Lisa Mattila – Bereavement Coordinator, Lake Superior Life Care & Hospice
- Leon Jarvis – Bereavement Coordinator, UP Home Health and Hospice
- Jon Magnuson, MSW, ACSW – The Cedar Tree Institute

Registration:

Workshop Cost: 475

Covers cost of two nights lodging and the historic Thunder Bay Inn (single rooms), meals, kayak training & equipment. Plus ten hours of Continuing Education.

JANUS PROJECT

In 1999-2000 a group of physicians, medical specialists, clergy and social workers met together for a training program sharing their experiences providing medical care for end-of-life patients.

Initially funded by a grant from the Blue Cross-Blue Shield Foundation and coordinated by the Cedar Tree Institute, this project set into motion a framework for 17 ensuing summer seminars and 15 winter symposiums. More than 250 physicians, nurses and hospice workers from across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan have participated.

These training programs are intentionally shaped by Mind/Body experiences of hiking, Taiji, kayaking, cross-country skiing, and small-group dialogue.

Guest presenters have joined us from Wisconsin, Virginia, Texas, Colorado, Washington and Massachusetts.

Drs. Mike Grossman and Larry Skendzel, medical directors for Marquette County’s two hospices, work alongside Jon Magnuson, a social worker and clergyman, shaping the Janus Project’s unfolding vision.

Janus refers to the Greek god of thresholds, gates & doorways.