Workshops and Professional Speaking

Book Dr. Katie Atkins and Dr. Sonya Lorelle for a Speaking Engagement. Contact for more information.

Meet Our Speakers

Dr. Katherine Atkins & Dr. Sonya Lorelle

Founders, Reconceptualizing Grief: Developmental Considerations for Counseling Clients Experiencing Loss

As pioneers in grief counseling and counselor education, Dr. Katherine Atkins and Dr. Sonya Lorelle bring decades of clinical, educational, and personal experience to every speaking engagement. Their work challenges traditional views of grief, offering a developmental and holistic framework that empowers individuals and organizations to navigate loss with resilience and compassion.

Expertise and Experience: With extensive backgrounds in both academic research and clinical practice, our speakers provide insights grounded in real-world experience.
Engaging and Empathetic: Our presentations are designed to be interactive, inspiring, and tailored to the unique needs of diverse audiences.

Grief and Loss Topics

Transforming the way we understand and navigate grief through the Transcending Model of Loss (TMGL). Our presentations combine research, personal stories, and practical tools to help individuals, professionals, and organizations support themselves and others through loss. Below are examples of topics:

Rethinking Grief for Today’s World
For too long, grief has been framed as a process with a clear ending—but what if we’re thinking about it all wrong? We introduce the Transcending Model of Loss (TMGL), an innovative framework that helps individuals and clinicians understand grief as an evolving, lifelong experience. Through research-backed insights and personal stories, we’ll explore the four spaces of loss—Uncharted Territory, Initial Reaction, Lost Space, and Transcendence—and how to navigate them with greater clarity and compassion.

Cultivating Resilience Through Self-Reflection
After a profound loss, many people feel lost themselves—adrift in a space where they no longer recognize who they are. We call this the lost and adrift space, where grief dismantles identity before something new can emerge. Drawing from personal experience, client stories, and the TMGL model, this presentation helps participants make sense of this disorienting space, offering hope and guidance for finding a new sense of self without feeling pressured to “move on.”

Grief-Informed Practices in the Workplace
Discover effective solutions for organizations to recognize and mitigate the impact of grief on productivity. Topics include flexible work policies, supportive return-to-work programs, manager training in grief awareness, and the creation of empathetic workplace cultures.

Why Book Us?

Most people—whether individuals, professionals, or organizations—struggle to understand grief as an ongoing, identity-shifting process rather than something to "get over." Traditional grief models, like the five stages of grief, have created harmful misconceptions that leave people feeling broken, stuck, or unsupported.

For Individuals: They often feel lost when grief doesn’t follow a “normal” trajectory, leading to isolation, self-doubt, and the belief that they are grieving “wrong.”
For Counselors & Mental Health Professionals: Many are trained in outdated grief models that don’t account for the complexities of ongoing loss, leaving them without the tools to truly help their clients.
For Organizations & Workplaces: Companies struggle with how to support grieving employees beyond basic bereavement leave, leading to burnout, disengagement, and high turnover.

TMGL redefines grief as a lifelong, non-linear experience that shapes identity over time. Instead of focusing on “closure,” we guide people through the four spaces of grief giving them the tools to navigate grief in a way that fosters resilience, connection, and transformation.

We are available for conferences, corporate events, workshops, and webinars. For inquiries and to receive our full speaker kit with detailed presentation outlines, please contact us for more details.

Past Appearances

Media mentions:

Yahoo Entertainment: 'The Bear' Season 3 shows grief in many forms. Fans share how the show makes them feel seen.

Podcast:

Invited guests for: The ICA podcast with Christine, Carmel and Kyle Podcast

Presentations:

Lorelle, S., & Atkins, K. M. (2025, March).Transforming Grief Counseling: Conceptualization and New Therapeutic Approaches to Loss. [3-hour Workshop]. Illinois Mental Health Counseling Association Conference, Orland Park, IL

Atkins, K. M., & Lorelle, S. (2024). Reconceptualizing Grief: Working with Clients Experiencing Loss. ]. The Family Institute., Evanston, IL,

Lorelle, S., Atkins, K. M. (2024, October). Reconceptualizing Grief: Working with Clients Experiencing Loss. [3-hour Workshop]. Louisiana Counseling Association Pre-Conference. Virtual.

Atkins, K. & Lorelle, S. (2024, October). A Call to Action: Infusing Grief and Loss Throughout the Curriculum. Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Tuscon, AZ

Lorelle, S. & Atkins, K. (2024, October). Preparing Counselors to Navigate Grief and Loss: Engaging in Self Exploration to Inform Practice. Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Tuscon, AZ

Byrd, R., Lorelle, S., & Atkins, K. (2024, January). Ethical considerations for child and adolescent grief

counseling. Annual Law and Ethics in Counseling Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Byrd, R. & Lorelle, S. (2023, October). Befriending Grief/Loss in the Playroom: Concepts, Interventions, & Cultural Considerations. Association for Play Therapy Conference, Palm Springs, CA.

Atkins, K. & Lorelle, S. (2023). Working with Clients Experiencing Grief. Three hour recorded webinar through Illinois Counseling Association

Atkins, K. M., & Lorelle, S. (2023, October). Recognize, Individualize, and Conceptualize: Introducing a

Developmental Framework that Acknowledges the Impact of Grief and Loss in Supervision. Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors Conference, Denver, CO.

Lorelle, S., & Atkins, K. M. (2023, October). Preparing Counselors-in-Training for Grief and Loss Counseling

through a Developmental Lens.. Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors Conference, Denver, CO.

Kristin C.

ICA Office Manager

Katie Atkins and Sonya Lorelle consistently deliver presentations that captivate and educate our ICA Conference attendees. Their deep understanding of the subject matter, coupled with their dynamic presentation styles, creates a truly memorable experience. Year after year, they draw large crowds, proving their status as leading experts and highly sought-after speakers. We value their continued participation immensely

Sarah M.,

Licensed Professional Counselor

Dr. Lorelle and Dr. Atkins' TMGL training completely transformed the way I understand grief. Their developmental model provided me with a deeper, more holistic approach to helping my clients process loss. I left with not only practical tools but also a renewed confidence in my ability to hold space for those navigating grief.

Michael P.

Clinical Supervisor

The TMGL framework helped me recognize the hidden grief patterns in my clients that I had previously overlooked. Understanding grief and its developmental aspects has allowed me to intervene more effectively. This training provided both knowledge and empowerment.