Marie Ricks

06/07/2025

Learning to balance the heaviness of grief with counterpoint activities can bring momentary relief. Exploring your creative side, especially through the arts, can be useful during your grief journey. The goal is expression, not perfection.

11/13/2024

To help with mission needs, I have set up Macari Art and am offering digital copies of my original watercolors and ink drawings on Etsy. Download and frame my latest intuitive watercolor for your favorite person or any upcoming remembering event.

08/10/2020

EVERY Dollar Counts Campaign Our most vulnerable clients are alone in their emotional distress and financial hardship. Your donation provides scholarships for critically needed services for children, teens, adults, individuals, couples, teens and more. Most recipients have unexpectedly experienced j...

06/06/2017

This week brings the next FREE Grief and Loss Recovery Workshop. We will be meeting from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at 1745 South Alma School Rd., #230, Mesa, AZ.

Our focus will be on Grief's Process: Understanding the how grief processes work and learning coping skills to manage overwhelming grief symptoms. We will also work on recovery skills for increased functionality and return to regular routines.

Please feel free to register at: http://www.familystrategies.org/Grief-Loss-Adult-Registration.html

I look forward to sharing the evening with you.

Hope you can join us.

Grief & Loss Registration First Name : Last Name : Date of Birth : Email Address : Phone Number : Gender : MaleFemale Street Address : City, State, Zip Code : ...

05/03/2017

Want to understand the steps for healing and peace after grief and sorrow?

The next FREE Grief and Loss Workshop is tonight, May 3, 2017 from 6-8 p.m at 1745 S. Alma School Rd., #230, Mesa, AZ. Hope you can join us for greater healing and wellness. Looking forward to seeing you. Call 480-668-8301 for any questions.

03/13/2017

I have completed a traumatic grief and loss certification course and am now a Compassionate Bereavement Care Certified Provider at Family Strategies, specifically for those who have lost children. If you would like to share your own loss experiences and/or any written resources that you have found useful, I'll pass these on to future clients.

02/06/2017

I am attending the MISS Foundation compassionate bereavement care certification in Sedona, AZ in early March 2017. Are any of my fellow ASU graduates also going and want to coordinate rides?

02/03/2017

February’s Grief and Loss workshop focused on the specific losses that come in the aftermath of divorce, including the loss of a spouse and sometimes the loss of step-children. We discussed the challenge of multiple emotions that jumble in the mind and heart and effective ways to sort through and make sense of how we feel. We worked through how to separate present emotions from the past interpersonal challenges to increase self-esteem. We also explored how to maintain civility and appropriate emotional distance to allow for healing. Finally, we talked of coping skills to move forward in life without the constant presence of the former spouse and extended family.

11/05/2016

This week's Grief and Loss Workshop (Section 2--Grief Repose) discussion centered around the unique emotional responses to the agony of loss. Specifically we worked through the symptoms of acute grief (initial response), integrated grief (when the grief begins to subside and emotions stabilize a bit), and complicated grief (when prolonged grief destabilizes emotions and interferes with daily functioning).

Also talked about coping skills to maintain outward functioning, even while dealing with continued private emotional upheaval. Finally, validated that grief can last for a very long time, can return in surges from time to time, and can be triggered by smell, sounds, and sights that are reminiscent of the lost loved one.

Marie's next Grief and Loss Workshop is Wed., Dec. 7, 2016, 6-8 p.m. Discussion will center on physical and mental symptoms of grief and how to respond to these additional, secondary losses.

11/01/2016

Next FREE Grief and Loss Workshop is tomorrow, November 2, 2016, at 6-8 p.m. at 1745 S. Alma School Rd., #230, Mesa, AZ 85204. Would really enjoy having you join us! We'll be discussing a healthier response to grief. If you can't make it, plan to come Wednesday, December 7! Call 480.668.8301 for more information.