Wayfinder Family Co.
Supporting children, families, and organizations navigating change, grief, and loss through consulting and grief education
Grief education & consulting for children, families, & you…
Welcome to Wayfinder Family Co., a compassionate space of support and education for caregivers and parents navigating the intricate path of raising grieving children. Recognizing the unique challenges and emotional landscapes entwined with guiding children through grief, Wayfinder Family Co. is your trusted resource. Our mission is to empower caregivers with essential knowledge, resources, and a supportive community, fostering resilience and hope in the hearts of young-ones. Dive into our educational services, gain support from our compassionate specialists, and join a community to assist you through this transformative chapter in your parenting journey. Let's create a foundation of understanding, strength, and hope for both caregivers and grieving children alike.
The goal isn’t to fix or heal grief, but to support, acknowledge, and integrate it into life. Equipping children, teens, and parents with language, tools, and resources allows your family to navigate your journey in a way that honors each of your individual needs (littles included). Grief education is integral to how you support your family and community in grief. The first step in breaking the unhealthy understanding of grief is to elevate your awareness of how it shows up in life. No adult, teen, or child should grieve alone.
Increase your grief literacy and dismantle beliefs that are unsupportive to you and your child’s grief.
Access resources appropriate for you and your child
Develop supportive practices and strategies
Positively influence your family, community, work environment, and culture
Understand grief support as preventative care for your children and family
For Organization & Educators
If your school or organization works with children, teens, or families, Wayfinder Family Co. can support your mission by providing program development, training, crisis response, and workshops on best practices through a grief-informed lens. We develop training ranging from Childhood Bereavement 101 to specialized support based on needs, from grief-informed care to adaptive leadership.
For Parents & Caregivers
The most powerful factor in your child’s ability to cope is a consistent, caring, and safe adult … aka YOU. Through a 3-month education program, you will be able to debunk the myths that make you feel “dysfunctional” in loss and understand how adult and childhood grief differ. This program will give you tools to support your family, develop strategies to promote resilience and provide a safe container for your grief.
Family & Community Services
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Me.You.We. Family-centered Education Program
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Brick by Brick
Family & School Groups using Lego® Serious Play®
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Consulting
I am a Consultant and Grief Educator of Wayfinder Family Co. I hold a BA in Psychology with a Master of Arts in Leadership from Azusa Pacific University. With over 13 years of experience working in nonprofit, I support families navigating challenges related to grief, substance use disorders, foster care, and other losses that impact communities. I am blessed to have worked alongside over 30 school districts in the Southern California area, as well as community members, bereavement camps, and professionals to lean into the hard conversations. Utilizing science-based and applicable strategies, I am passionate about developing the tools, resources, and language to to support children, families, and communities through the many impacts of loss. As a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator, I incorporate the power of play into the leadership process to implement real-time time strategy, organizational commitment, and unlock new solutions. I have presented nationally and locally in the scope of family support, addiction, leadership, and grief-informed care. Through the National Alliance for Children’s Grief, an alliance for grief professionals to provide resources and education, I collaborate with other grief professionals, developing toolkits and resources such as Supporting a friend who is grieving and Creating space for Children’s in funeral homes.
My name is Jessica…
“Jessica is a safety net you hope you never need, but will be so grateful you have it when you need it most. Jessica responded to my message about the unexpected news of our loved one with a comforting landing space. Not only did Jessica give me support, she quickly and easily used metaphors to teach me how to support my children. In just 15 minutes, she equipped me with skills that empowered me to handle the conversations with my children at a level that was appropriate for them. A situation I was scared to tell them about turned into a 'normal' experience for them because I had the skills. Seeing their grandma sick turned into a race with my son vs. his grandma's "chair car," and my daughter saying, "let's decorate your new chair like a parade, grandma." Jessica - thank you for giving me the skills that empowered me to provide my family with a safe space that allowed us the ability to navigate difficult times. "
- Jennifer Hintzsche, PhD, Founder of PherDal
Grit by definition, are the particles that create traction and movement. Think of the exterior of a road or mountain and how those crevices are your leverages moving forward, and sometimes, they cause you to fall back.
This metaphor in life is a dynamic experience and GRIT is part of what helps us grow and it can be wildly uncomfortable… sometimes painful.
GetGritty is where we explore the many challenges in life and how grit makes us adaptable and more resilient humans. Hear the stories that build strategies and perspectives that help the parent, friend, professional, and friend.