Recognition for Heart Strings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
When I found Brent’s services, I had accumulated quite a heavy load of grief to work through. He worked with me on it through a variety of formats, from private coaching and grief support groups put on through Northern Arizona Hospice’s programs, to the bereavement support class he designs and runs through Yavapai College. It is clear it his passion. His knowledge, diversity, wisdom, and resourcefulness in the subject of bereavement is vast, thorough, ever-growing, and deeply unique. It is quite remarkable, quite extraordinary. His kindness and professionalism provided such a safe environment for me to heal. I felt as though I had a friend and mentor walking me through my grief in a way I had struggled to do on my own. I wish every person had an opportunity to work with him and experience his guidance. It has been a great gift and honor. His insight and genuine sincerity helped me trust the process, and helped me to trust him. I will never be able to thank him enough for the gifts he has given me—in healing, in finding myself, and in having trust in life again. I continue to be impressed with the understanding, consistency, and patience he brings to his work and to his clients. He is truly as exceptional coach and healer. It is not something he does; it is something he is.
Taylor
I am writing to recommend Brent Birkhoff for as a Grief Coach and Speaker. I have known Brent Birkhoff for 3 years and have nothing but positive things to say. We first became acquainted when he was working at Northern Arizona Hospice in Cottonwood, Arizona. I attended several of his Bereavement Support Groups as well as The Death Café that he held and ran, the only one offered in the state. Because of my struggles, he has continued contact with me through several more life events. There is no doubt in my mind that Brent will be an excellent addition to any grief work you offer. Brent has total control of any group of which he teaches. He is extremely organized. Brent is also well learned in any topic he teaches. He is well educated but also listens well, keeps strict confidences and is empathetic.
Jo
Brent was the local Bereavement Coordinator/Hospice representative to my partner of fifty-seven years during the months before his death, and then his last six days at the Verde Valley Medical Center where Brent visited us daily. I just realized that those final visits were probably for my benefit since my partner was receiving more and more morphine to ease the cancerous pain – a kinder, gentler person than any I had ever met in my entire life, and that is no exaggeration.
A few weeks later, Brent encouraged me to attend a weekly one and a half hour grief support group with eight or nine others. I was truly skeptical at first, but that bit of fear vanished when Brent asked everyone to share as much or as little or even nothing in the group setting. I felt at home with all the others. I felt friendship and acceptance with each member of the group. Brent assigned homework which was to be completed within the following week. I dreaded it but found it easy and even pleasurable to accomplish. I learned a lot about myself in so doing.
Before, during and after the grief groups, Brent visited me at home, once a week for an entire year to continue coaching sessions on a personal, private level. Looking back, I did most of the talking, sharing parts of my life I had never told anyone else about, including the hatred I had toward my mother, and being brutally raped by three black men, one after the other. Brent suggested that I write letters to and from my mother, forgiving her for not being there for me, and letters to and from my loved one. I didn’t think there would be any benefit, but in so doing, the suggestion worked wonders for me.
One last note: whether at the grief support groups or at home, Brent always removes his shoes, showing his brightly multi-colored socks. No matter what mood I’m in, those socks always brought a smile to my face. That’s just how he is. And alongside his continued help and guidance, I consider him a friend.
If my partner had not died, I would probably not have met this wonderful man. I love him dearly. He has literally been a lifesaver for me. God surely works in mysterious ways.
Chris
I met Brent Birkhoff through Northern Arizona Hospice after my husband passed away in November 2019 and then my mother passed away one month later. Brent was the bereavement coach at the time. He came to my home one hour per week for our coaching sessions. I appreciated that he did not have an agenda. He simply listened to whatever I needed to talk about that week. He was a very good listener, taking notes and following up to ask how my journey was going through all aspects of the grieving process. I looked forward to my appointments with him, trusting his guidance, kindness and understanding. As the COVID epidemic progressed, we simply moved our sessions outdoors. He was a reliable constant in my life and I appreciated his loyalty to his clients. If we were ever unable to meet in person, he offered to have our session over the phone. We continued our appointments for close to a year until he moved out of Arizona. With the tools that Brent provided, I was able to get through one of the hardest times of my life.
I attended two 6-week grief groups that were facilitated by Brent. We were able to attend in person but followed the strict COVID protocol. In the courses, we had group discussions, homework, sharing, and personal presentations. Each week offered us different techniques and tools to help us through our grief. One thing I noticed during these groups was how empathetic Brent was towards each of us. Everyone was in a different stage of their grieving process and sometimes it was very painful or sad to speak of our loved ones. We felt comfortable to cry or not speak or to do whatever we needed to do. His calming demeanor provided us comfort. Whatever we said was always ok. We had the freedom to speak about or say whatever we needed to.
Lastly, I attended an 8-week course at Yavapai Community College called Before You Go: Opening the Conversation to Death and Dying instructed by Brent. This class was held via Zoom once a week for two hours. The more I learned about death and dying, the more comfortable I felt accepting my husband and mother's deaths. It even helped me to feel differently about those lost previously throughout my life.
I attribute all these activities and discussions to my successful grief journey. Brent gave me the tools and I had to do the work, but with his gentle guidance I felt strong enough to get through it. I wish everyone could be so fortunate to have a person like Brent in their lives when going through a loss and grieving.
Rita
Brent came into my life at the right time. I have been in a very dark and hard place as I watch my father slip away with a very horrible disease that has caused myself and my family much stress and sadness. He is so kind and never makes me feel judged. We talk through where the feelings are coming from and what the outcomes could be with these feelings. Grief is something you think you will get over quickly and I have learned that this is not an easy and fast process. It takes a lot of work and reflection. I will be in a much different place if it were not for Brent. I am thankful for the steps we take every week and for always being there. It is so lonely and frustrating seeing someone you love slip away. I am learning how to take care of myself and make the smart choices needed to move forward. I still have a very long way to go but I have come so far thanks to Brent. I will be forever grateful for his time and kind words.
Courtney
It is my pleasure to strongly recommend Brent Birkhoff for a position as a Grief presenter and a facilitator of a grief group. I am a practicing Internal Medicine physician and have been so for 46 years. Currently I am employed by the Veterans Administration with a primary care practice. As such, I have seen grief manifested in its many ways. I have known Brent for several years as a personal friend and have also taken his grief class at the local junior college. I only wish that I would have been exposed to his teachings while I was in medical school as I would have been much better at dealing with all aspects of grief. I am also aware through personal discussions with him the amount of grief that is part of our society. He is able to work with diverse client populations in one-on-one and group settings and is comfortable doing so. He has helped people of all ages to deal with loss through individual, family and group sessions as well as memorial services. He is driven to help others overcome their personal obstacles. I would not hesitate in recommending him as a presenter or facilitator.
Roger
I have known Brent since 2015 and throughout my experience, he has been an exemplary role model for the field of thanatology (death, dying, grief, and bereavement). Most recently, he has taken on the role of Treasurer for ADEC and has brought the finances to a position that has a long future.
Brent has been invited to the International Work Group three times but unable to attend due to his commitments with hospice and in 2023, his commitment to doing a Grief Cruise, taking 50 grieving individuals from hopelessness to hope through his psycho-educational presentations and grief support groups.
Brent is a strong thanatologist that works 70 hours a week with emergency room physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, assisting with their death, dying, and non-death loss experiences. In addition, he conducts two grief support groups weekly, and privately coaches grievers over the telephone, on Zoom, and in-person five days a week.
Brent’s passion for thanatology continues to grow as does his commitment and dedication to the field. It is with my utmost respect that I recommend him.
Rebecca
In his role as a bereavement and volunteer coordinator for LHC Group and their 88 hospices nationally, Brent improved their bereavement and volunteer programs; created open grief group opportunities; created a specialized 6-week closed grief group; composed 4 individualized letters that are used by LHC Group nationally with families; created quarterly training programs for volunteers on a 2-year cycle; increased volunteer hours by 460% in 3 months; and increased volunteer-to-patient ratio by 39% in 3 months; and created an approach to grief support called Grief Speak, a program that addresses 8 dimensions of grief and implemented nationally.
Brent has also developed courses he has taught at Yavapai College on death and dying, grief support, and love – all taught online. In his spare time, he works full time as an executive with a company that provides healthcare providers to emergency rooms throughout Wisconsin and co-facilitates grief support Caribbean cruises! In his other spare time, he serves the Association for Death Education and Counseling's Treasurer – an incredibly important role during these times of change for ADEC.
There are few individuals as qualified as is he.
Janet
Taylor
I am writing to recommend Brent Birkhoff for as a Grief Coach and Speaker. I have known Brent Birkhoff for 3 years and have nothing but positive things to say. We first became acquainted when he was working at Northern Arizona Hospice in Cottonwood, Arizona. I attended several of his Bereavement Support Groups as well as The Death Café that he held and ran, the only one offered in the state. Because of my struggles, he has continued contact with me through several more life events. There is no doubt in my mind that Brent will be an excellent addition to any grief work you offer. Brent has total control of any group of which he teaches. He is extremely organized. Brent is also well learned in any topic he teaches. He is well educated but also listens well, keeps strict confidences and is empathetic.
Jo
Brent was the local Bereavement Coordinator/Hospice representative to my partner of fifty-seven years during the months before his death, and then his last six days at the Verde Valley Medical Center where Brent visited us daily. I just realized that those final visits were probably for my benefit since my partner was receiving more and more morphine to ease the cancerous pain – a kinder, gentler person than any I had ever met in my entire life, and that is no exaggeration.
A few weeks later, Brent encouraged me to attend a weekly one and a half hour grief support group with eight or nine others. I was truly skeptical at first, but that bit of fear vanished when Brent asked everyone to share as much or as little or even nothing in the group setting. I felt at home with all the others. I felt friendship and acceptance with each member of the group. Brent assigned homework which was to be completed within the following week. I dreaded it but found it easy and even pleasurable to accomplish. I learned a lot about myself in so doing.
Before, during and after the grief groups, Brent visited me at home, once a week for an entire year to continue coaching sessions on a personal, private level. Looking back, I did most of the talking, sharing parts of my life I had never told anyone else about, including the hatred I had toward my mother, and being brutally raped by three black men, one after the other. Brent suggested that I write letters to and from my mother, forgiving her for not being there for me, and letters to and from my loved one. I didn’t think there would be any benefit, but in so doing, the suggestion worked wonders for me.
One last note: whether at the grief support groups or at home, Brent always removes his shoes, showing his brightly multi-colored socks. No matter what mood I’m in, those socks always brought a smile to my face. That’s just how he is. And alongside his continued help and guidance, I consider him a friend.
If my partner had not died, I would probably not have met this wonderful man. I love him dearly. He has literally been a lifesaver for me. God surely works in mysterious ways.
Chris
I met Brent Birkhoff through Northern Arizona Hospice after my husband passed away in November 2019 and then my mother passed away one month later. Brent was the bereavement coach at the time. He came to my home one hour per week for our coaching sessions. I appreciated that he did not have an agenda. He simply listened to whatever I needed to talk about that week. He was a very good listener, taking notes and following up to ask how my journey was going through all aspects of the grieving process. I looked forward to my appointments with him, trusting his guidance, kindness and understanding. As the COVID epidemic progressed, we simply moved our sessions outdoors. He was a reliable constant in my life and I appreciated his loyalty to his clients. If we were ever unable to meet in person, he offered to have our session over the phone. We continued our appointments for close to a year until he moved out of Arizona. With the tools that Brent provided, I was able to get through one of the hardest times of my life.
I attended two 6-week grief groups that were facilitated by Brent. We were able to attend in person but followed the strict COVID protocol. In the courses, we had group discussions, homework, sharing, and personal presentations. Each week offered us different techniques and tools to help us through our grief. One thing I noticed during these groups was how empathetic Brent was towards each of us. Everyone was in a different stage of their grieving process and sometimes it was very painful or sad to speak of our loved ones. We felt comfortable to cry or not speak or to do whatever we needed to do. His calming demeanor provided us comfort. Whatever we said was always ok. We had the freedom to speak about or say whatever we needed to.
Lastly, I attended an 8-week course at Yavapai Community College called Before You Go: Opening the Conversation to Death and Dying instructed by Brent. This class was held via Zoom once a week for two hours. The more I learned about death and dying, the more comfortable I felt accepting my husband and mother's deaths. It even helped me to feel differently about those lost previously throughout my life.
I attribute all these activities and discussions to my successful grief journey. Brent gave me the tools and I had to do the work, but with his gentle guidance I felt strong enough to get through it. I wish everyone could be so fortunate to have a person like Brent in their lives when going through a loss and grieving.
Rita
Brent came into my life at the right time. I have been in a very dark and hard place as I watch my father slip away with a very horrible disease that has caused myself and my family much stress and sadness. He is so kind and never makes me feel judged. We talk through where the feelings are coming from and what the outcomes could be with these feelings. Grief is something you think you will get over quickly and I have learned that this is not an easy and fast process. It takes a lot of work and reflection. I will be in a much different place if it were not for Brent. I am thankful for the steps we take every week and for always being there. It is so lonely and frustrating seeing someone you love slip away. I am learning how to take care of myself and make the smart choices needed to move forward. I still have a very long way to go but I have come so far thanks to Brent. I will be forever grateful for his time and kind words.
Courtney
It is my pleasure to strongly recommend Brent Birkhoff for a position as a Grief presenter and a facilitator of a grief group. I am a practicing Internal Medicine physician and have been so for 46 years. Currently I am employed by the Veterans Administration with a primary care practice. As such, I have seen grief manifested in its many ways. I have known Brent for several years as a personal friend and have also taken his grief class at the local junior college. I only wish that I would have been exposed to his teachings while I was in medical school as I would have been much better at dealing with all aspects of grief. I am also aware through personal discussions with him the amount of grief that is part of our society. He is able to work with diverse client populations in one-on-one and group settings and is comfortable doing so. He has helped people of all ages to deal with loss through individual, family and group sessions as well as memorial services. He is driven to help others overcome their personal obstacles. I would not hesitate in recommending him as a presenter or facilitator.
Roger
I have known Brent since 2015 and throughout my experience, he has been an exemplary role model for the field of thanatology (death, dying, grief, and bereavement). Most recently, he has taken on the role of Treasurer for ADEC and has brought the finances to a position that has a long future.
Brent has been invited to the International Work Group three times but unable to attend due to his commitments with hospice and in 2023, his commitment to doing a Grief Cruise, taking 50 grieving individuals from hopelessness to hope through his psycho-educational presentations and grief support groups.
Brent is a strong thanatologist that works 70 hours a week with emergency room physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, assisting with their death, dying, and non-death loss experiences. In addition, he conducts two grief support groups weekly, and privately coaches grievers over the telephone, on Zoom, and in-person five days a week.
Brent’s passion for thanatology continues to grow as does his commitment and dedication to the field. It is with my utmost respect that I recommend him.
Rebecca
In his role as a bereavement and volunteer coordinator for LHC Group and their 88 hospices nationally, Brent improved their bereavement and volunteer programs; created open grief group opportunities; created a specialized 6-week closed grief group; composed 4 individualized letters that are used by LHC Group nationally with families; created quarterly training programs for volunteers on a 2-year cycle; increased volunteer hours by 460% in 3 months; and increased volunteer-to-patient ratio by 39% in 3 months; and created an approach to grief support called Grief Speak, a program that addresses 8 dimensions of grief and implemented nationally.
Brent has also developed courses he has taught at Yavapai College on death and dying, grief support, and love – all taught online. In his spare time, he works full time as an executive with a company that provides healthcare providers to emergency rooms throughout Wisconsin and co-facilitates grief support Caribbean cruises! In his other spare time, he serves the Association for Death Education and Counseling's Treasurer – an incredibly important role during these times of change for ADEC.
There are few individuals as qualified as is he.
Janet