Sara Bowater, M.Ed, B.Ed

I am Sara and I have been a Grief Recovery Specialist since October 2018. As a secondary teacher, and pastoral lead, I was looking for skills and knowledge to help me support the children in my care. 2018 had been a very difficult year for us and, as a school, we felt at a loss on how best to support our young people. The Grief Recovery Method and it's Helping Children with Loss course was a godsend for us. It was not long before I realised that I was at the start of my own Grief Recovery Journey and became a certified specialist. Whilst I was passionate to support my young people, I realised that I could not successful support them without dealing with my own grief. Before the age of 23, my father, granddad, nan, great uncle and great aunt had died in the space of fours years and my beloved godmother completed suicide. I muddled through my 20s (and 30s) as best I could but I carried so much pain, hurt and confusion . So many people told me I was doing well but I needed to be strong for my mother; I felt I had no one to turn to and talk to about my feelings. Whilst it seemed I was coping well on the surface, I was a mess emotionally and could not create long-lasting meaningful relationships because I was scared I would lose more people I loved. The Grief Recovery Method allowed me to deal with my trapped emotions, to deliver the communication I wish I had had chance to say and to heal from the pain I was carrying. The Method is something I use time and time again in my life and I am a huge advocate of the continual use of the method to deal with losses we face throughout our lives. I've worked on my failed relationships and seen where I was holding myself back and sabotaging my own happiness. Within months of completing this work I met my partner. I was able to enter that relationship not carrying baggage from previous relationships and not being scared of the feelings I will have when something happens to him. Working through the emotional baggage at the end of relationships is something I wish I had done, and knew how to do, when I was younger. I offer Helping Children with Loss group programmes to parents and professionals alike and I am passionate about changing how our young people are supported through the loss events they will face. I was delighted in 2020 to be asked to work on developing an updated version of this programme for other Grief Recovery specialists to use. The new UK PSHE curriculum asks for pupils to talk about grief and loss but no real guidance is given on what to teach or how to support pupils. I feel the Grief Recovery Method's Helping Children with Loss course plugs the gap and provides teachers. parents, family members and other professionals with the skills needed to teach children that grief is normal and natural whilst teaching them resilience and skills to support themselves. I also offer Grief Support groups and specialise in 1-1 online delivery of the Grief Recovery Method Programme. Many of my clients have dealt with grief events based around bereavement, ends of romantic relationships, abuse and life events that have dramatically changed and impacted on their lives. I am based in Shifnal, Shropshire, UK, but tend to work and deliver sessions online. My business practice is split between Grief Recovery Method clients and Life Coaching clients. My clients have come from all four corners of the United Kingdom as well as America and Europe. Please drop me a message as I would love to chat things through with you and working together to support you. I hope you find the Grief Recovery Method is as life-changing and life-saving as I have done.