"If you can't say it, sing it" is not only Sophie Garner's mantra, it's the title of her new book, a journal going deeper into supporting children in navigating their emotions through creative expression.

Having started her professional career with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (1991-1992 Maggie May and Amphibias Spangulatos), a determination to succeed and share her passions emerged, leading Sophie to become the first artist to play the London O2 Arena, setting a standard to beat by artists who followed in her footsteps. And others soon noticed Sophie’s talents, giving her opportunities to travel across Europe and the Middle East with her four studio albums, and allowing her to support artists including Mcfly, Sugababes and Will Young.

A strong leader, inspired and trusted, Sophie fronts and manages several professional bands, writing, coproducing and sharing her expertise with as many students as she can, strengthening the talent, confidence, writing and vocal technique of the artists of our future.

A natural educator and full of energy, Sophie’s passions and goals stem from believing in the true, holistic and deep effects of music, and sharing the gift of music, as a therapy and a life skill, to help others learn to comfortably express themselves, allowing her students to grow in confidence and develop socially.

Sophie is a great communicator and easy to follow, which allows students to excel creatively, and this is what Sophie thrives on. She opens up her musical log during our magical conversation.

About Sophie

Sophie began her career as a professional singer straight after leaving school 30 years ago.  She was the very first artist to play London's iconic O2 Arena! 

She is a vocal coach, choir leader, and expert music specialist working with schools, adults with brain injury and dementia. Sophie has a master's degree in her specialist area of the benefits of singing on wellbeing and mental health. 

During lockdown, she became the published author of 'The Creative Songwriting Journal' and 'If you can't say it sing it!' Sophie is a public speaker and facilitator and is now working with schools and businesses throughout UK, providing her powerful and unique songwriting workshops, teacher training and presentations.

Connect with Sophie

www.sophiegarner.com

Twitter:  @sophiegarner1

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Connect with Amanda Seyderhelm

Visit my website to download my free eBook 10 Simple Play Therapy Techniques You Can Use To Help Your Child With Grief, Loss and Change

If you are supporting a bereaved child, or know someone who is, you can purchase my books - Isaac and the Red Jumper (for 4-10 yr olds) and Helping Children Cope with Loss and Change

@TheKidDecoder on Twitter
@amandaseyderhelm on Instagram and LinkedIn

Help shape the content of my podcast - Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"The Heping Children Smile Again podcast has been massively beneficial in helping me unlock how to open discussions with a child going through bereavement – thank you Amanda!."  <-- If that sounds like you, please do rate, review, follow and share my podcast. Your feedback helps shape the content and allows me to support more people battling grief. 

After his wife died in 2016, Justin Bowen wanted to create a resource for Schools based on the caring support his young children received from their local School in Worcestershire. Be The Rainbow is that resource.

His young daughter painted the rainbow on the book's front cover during lockdown, which Justin says gave both his children the chance to play at home - water fights in the garden, climbing trees - and not be defined by their grief. The rainbow represents the hope after the storm of grief. What a stunning metaphor!

We often hear the phrase, 'time is a great healer', but Justin believes that healing comes through engaging with our grief, not just by allowing time to pass by. As adults, this means being emotionally agile enough to hold our children when they are engaged in their grief puddles.

For busy Schools, Justin has translated this into a practical and accessible 3 step formula:

1/ Take a systematic approach to bereavement in School settings.
2/ Make a simple plan.
3/ Deliver the plan.

Remember that grief isn't linear, so keep the plan under review. A child's needs will change as they develop and grow. What a 5 year old child needs will be different when they are 8 or 9. What remains constant for children are the important anniversaries. Remembering those is key to helping children feel their grief is being respected and their loved ones remembered.

About Justin

Since becoming a widowed parent in 2019, Justin has written two books. The first, 'Fighting for this Life', tells the story of his family's journey with cancer as told through the Facebook posts his late wife wrote during her illness. His most recent book, 'Be The Rainbow', is a practical guide for professionals supporting bereaved children in primary schools.

Prior to becoming a writer, Justin had a 20-year career working in public services, including leading a Youth Offending Team and managing a residential home for children who had experienced abuse. He also ran his own business for over 5 years.

Justin has two children, aged 8 and 9 years old.

Connect with Justin

https://betherainbow.co.uk/

Twitter: @justinbowen71
Facebook: @betherainbowbook

Connect with Amanda Seyderhelm

Visit my website to download my free eBook 10 Simple Play Therapy Techniques You Can Use To Help Your Child With Grief, Loss and Change

If you are supporting a bereaved child, or know someone who is, you can purchase my books - Isaac and the Red Jumper (for 4-10 yr olds) and Helping Children Cope with Loss and Change

@TheKidDecoder on Twitter
@amandaseyderhelm on Instagram and LinkedIn

Help shape the content of my podcast - Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"The Heping Children Smile Again podcast has been massively beneficial in helping me unlock how to open discussions with a child going through bereavement – thank you Amanda!." <-- If that sounds like you, please do rate, review, follow and share my podcast. Your feedback helps shape the content and allows me to support more people battling grief.

Can there be anything called ‘good’ grief especially when it follows from the death of a child?

Surely grief is that most abject of conditions in which you are thrown into an endless darkness, where despair overcomes hope, and longing for the loved one lost is a pain beyond endurance? How can this be good?

Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds have created THE GOOD GRIEF PROJECT in order to share their experience of grief and to help others to find an active and creative response to the expression of their grief.

Their son Josh died in a road accident in Vietnam in 2011 while he was on a six month tour of the Far East. He was 22.

Some see grief as a passing phase – a moment in which the trauma of loss recedes into time and that the emptiness of one’s heart gradually heals. New events and new memories will, they say, overwrite those of the one we loved and the history that s/he inhabited.

Is that normal?

Is that what we call a good grief?

Or is grief, especially the grief for a child, something more akin to a state of being, changing over time, but a new condition, a new narrative if you like, that we will live with for the rest of our lives.

THE GOOD GRIEF PROJECT is their way of addressing this.

My conversation with Jane Harris explores the project which is based on ideas that flow from the concept of ‘continuing bonds’, of not wanting to cut off from the deceased, but of building a new kind of relationship with your child. 

About Jane and Jimmy

Jane is a psychotherapist, bereavement specialist and supervisor with special interest in family relations.

She is responsible for film production, public speaking and delivery of mindfulness and arts based workshops and courses.

Jimmy is a documentary film editor with over 100 credits on various TV productions including BAFTA winning ‘Chosen’ for Channel 4 and his own personal film ‘Breaking the Silence’ for BBC 1.

He’s responsible for film and website production and delivery of photography based courses.

Connect with The Good Grief Project

https://thegoodgriefproject.co.uk/

Facebook: @thegoodgriefproject
Twitter: @goodgriefproj
Instagram: @thegoodgriefproject


Connect with Amanda Seyderhelm

Visit my website to download my free eBook 10 Simple Play Therapy Techniques You Can Use To Help Your Child With Grief, Loss and Change

If you are supporting a bereaved child, or know someone who is, you can purchase my books - Isaac and the Red Jumper (for 4-10 yr olds) and Helping Children Cope with Loss and Change

@TheKidDecoder on Twitter
@amandaseyderhelm on Instagram and LinkedIn

Help shape the content of my podcast - Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"The Heping Children Smile Again podcast has been massively beneficial in helping me unlock how to open discussions with a child going through bereavement – thank you Amanda!."  <-- If that sounds like you, please do rate, review, follow and share my podcast. Your feedback helps shape the content and allows me to support more people battling grief.