Carers are always navigating tricky, emotionally charged, situations. They often struggle with the dynamics of strained relationships because of the difficulties associated with the caring role. It can be difficult to hold onto peace when your environment is outside your control, you are feeling challenged by your experiences and there are so many unknowns around the future and what is possible.

Many carers report feeling like they are experiencing 'Ground Hog Day', that there is no relief and that no-one sees them in the process.

In Finding Peace in the Process, we explore how we can come to terms with our situation, recognise what is within our power to change and create peace in the midst of chaos and ambiguity using the tools of mindfulness, boundaries, and self-management. We will also create a comfort list to support self-soothing and stress reduction and explore the role of spirituality in promoting peace.

Objectives:

To explore the ambiguity and chaos created through impaired function or capacity
To explore the concept of peace and how it is created.
To identify key tools to support stress reduction in the midst of chaos.
To explore the role of spirituality in creating inner peace.
To create a comfort list for self-soothing in stressful situations.

Who is this workshop for?

All Carers - Family, Friends, Supporters who provide unpaid care to a person living with a medical condition or incapacitation.
Carers who feel disconnected, frustrated and isolated, who may or may not have experienced or be aware of their own loss and grief.
Workers who want to better understand the carer experience.
Carers who want to build a better future for themselves and the person they care for.

What to expect:

This will be an interactive session, in a conversational style.
A safe space for sharing will be created and maintained.
Support after the session is available via our support groups and counselling team.
A light morning tea will be provided at 11:00am. Dietary requirements should be stated in registration.
To walk away with tools for creating inner peace and an awareness of grief literacy and emotional intelligence.
A renewed sense of hope for the future.

About the Facilitator:

Facilitated by Hayley Solich, a multi-award-winning systemic carer advocate and carer engagement training specialist, who has a lived experience of caring for family members living with mental and physical health challenges. Awarded the WA Mental Health Consumer Impact Inspiration Award and the City of Stirling Community Citizen of the Year Award in 2019, Hayley is a leading voice on carer engagement, having presented to 15 public mental health facilities, and at several state, national and international conferences on the topic of Carer Engagement and Peer Work.

In her past role as the Carer Co-Chair of the National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum, Hayley was the initiator of the Mental Health Family/Carer Experiences of COVID Research Project, which recently attracted the prestigious ANZSWWER Conference Achievement in Research about Community Education, Community Development and/or Social Action by Individuals or Teams Award.

As an educator with two decades of experience, Hayley is passionate about sharing wisdom to create abundance and brings to the course her lived experience of caring and her broad knowledge of the caring sector in Australia.

She is the host of The Gold Digger Podcast with Hayley Solich, a writer for HoneyBee Lifestyle Magazine and past editor of Finally at 40 Life Begins Magazine and Golden Pen Magazine.

Hayley has a lived experience of grief and loss, having lost family members to miscarriage, road trauma, heart disease, brain cancer, and Alzheimer's, with friends dying by suicide. Hayley currently works as the Business Development Manager at The Grief Centre of Western Australia and is engaged in systemic advocacy within the mental health space.

This training is delivered as a partnership between The Grief Centre of WA and the Mental Illness Fellowship of WA (MIFWA).

Contact the host of The Grief Box for Carers - Session 5: Finding Peace in the Midst of Chaos