October 6th & October 7th, 2025

FREE

2nd Annual Grief Summit


Cathedral of Christ the King
2699 Peachtree Road, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
Telephone: (404) 233-2145

Register Here for Free

Join us in Atlanta for our
2nd Annual Grief Summit

 
Hosted by Cathedral of Christ the King
Sponsored by the Baltz Family in honor of Raymond Baltz III
Featuring Grief Expert, David Kessler

 

The Grief Summit is a two-day gathering with David Kessler designed to offer comfort, understanding, and practical support to those navigating grief.

Whether you’re early in your grief or years into it, whether your loss is widely recognized or quietly held, this summit is a place to feel less alone — and to explore what healing can look like, without pressure or platitudes.

"Life Ends, But Love is Eternal"

- David Kessler

Monday, October 6

5:30–8:30 PM

"Grief Through Faith"
An Evening of Healing and Hope 

Join us for a meaningful evening of shared reflection as we explore grief through the lens of faith. This special gathering will provide practical tools for healing while addressing topics that include the loss of parents, spouses, children, and anticipatory grief.

The evening begins with a panel discussion featuring faith-based pastoral and grief professionals, followed by a keynote presentation by renowned grief expert David Kessler, plus time for Q&A to help you navigate the emotional and spiritual journey of grief with compassion and understanding.

We'll discuss:

  • Learn strategies to navigate guilt, the what-ifs, and if-onlies in grief.

  • How does grief show up differently when the loss is a spouse or a parent

  • What happens when the person we lose is a child or sibling, and how does that reshape who we are?

  • Understand the timeline of grief.

  • Releasing judgment in grief - Why do we so often ask ourselves if we are grieving the “right” way?

  • What does grief truly need to soften over time?

  • How does being in community with others who carry loss change the way we carry our own?

 

Tuesday, October 7

5:30–8:30 PM

"Your loss Matters"
A Focused Discussion on Complex Grief

Our Tuesday gathering will feature expert panel discussions addressing the unique challenges of complicated grief, including loss due to addiction and suicide. David Kessler will also offer special insights on the death of a sibling loss, providing additional reflections and guidance. These focused conversations allow participants to explore their grief experiences with insight and support from David Kessler

Join us to explore:

  • What makes some griefs especially complex — and how do we live with those layers?

  • How do we face deaths that feel unbearably “too soon”?

  • What are the hidden weights of suicide and addiction losses, and how do stigma and silence shape our grief

  • The power of language - how the words we choose can honor our loved one’s story?

  • What’s the difference between prevention and postvention, and why does it matter for survivors?

  • What role does anger play in grief — and how can we honor it without letting it consume us?

  • How do we continue loving someone after their death without staying stuck in suffering?

 

For event and registration questions, email Linda Dyson at [email protected].

Click Here to Join the Summit
“It’s a profound experience that will bring a better understanding of navigating grief and loss. I would highly recommend the Grief Summit with David Kessler. He is a gifted grief expert and provides helpful,
practical support. David Kessler understands grief better than most people I know. Grief literacy is very important in our society and needs to be promoted.”
"Thanks for having the Grief Summit at the Cathedral! It is so comforting to be reminded of this: There is only love after death."
"What I loved most about the Grief Summit at the Cathedral was that I now recognize that grief has to be lived through and cannot be rushed, nor can people who have suffered a loss ever be the same person they were before. Also, it is important not to judge others, since we all grieve differently. Being with another person who is grieving and letting them be sad without trying to "fix" them is enormously helpful."
"David is AMAZING! These lessons were enlightening, clear, and so interesting, helpful + supportive. Please continue with these programs!"
“Thank you so much. This was an amazing experience both personally & professionally. I am also so impressed & grateful for your hospitality. Everyone was so kind & welcoming. The materials were beautiful & unexpected. I really felt taken care of.”
"I found great peace in the community of grievers as we all strive to heal from the pain of our loss, and felt hope for the future"

David Kessler

David Kessler is one of the world's foremost experts on grief and loss. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life, even after life's tragedies. He is the author of seven books, including the bestselling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief, as well as a new Finding Meaning Companion Workbook. His first book, The Needs of The Dying received praise from many including Saint Mother Teresa.

David's personal experience as a child witnessing a mass shooting while his mother was dying in a hospital helped him begin his journey. For most of his life, David has taught physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about the end of life, trauma, and grief. David's volunteer work includes being a founding member of Project Angel Food, a non-profit organization that prepares and delivers healthy meals to feed people impacted by serious illness. He currently serves on the board of The Farrah Fawcett Foundation which provides cancer research, patient assistance, and prevention efforts.

His new online model of grief support, Tender Hearts, offers over twenty-five groups. Additionally, David leads one of the most respected Grief Educator Certification programs. He is the founder of Grief.com.

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Register FREE for the 2nd Annual Grief
Summit

Join us for Free on October 6th and 7th, 2025

Day One Panel Speakers

Dr. Sherry Blake, Licensed Clinical Psychologist/ Media Personality

"Mental Health is Your Health"

On the Web: www.askdrsherry.com


Dr. Sherry Blake is a nationally recognized clinical psychologist, author, and media expert who integrates faith and psychology to promote grief support and emotional wellness. With over 30 years of experience, she is the creator of The Healing Journey, a soul-centered grief and renewal program designed for faith communities.

Dr. Peter Attridge, PhD, LMFT

Clinical Director, Holy Family Counseling Center


With a heart for those who are grieving, Dr. Peter Attridge offers compassionate care to individuals, couples, and families in times of loss, rooted in faith and professional expertise. Peter’s clinical work includes working with loss and trauma utilizing EMDR, Experiential therapies, and addiction work. His research focuses on attachment during parent-child interactions and the roles of fathers in their children’s emotional development.

Rev. Father Mark White

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta

 

Rev. Father Mark White was ordained to the priesthood on June 1, 2019, at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta at age 48. An Atlanta native who converted to Catholicism in 2012, Father White brings deep personal understanding to his ministry, having grown up in a family that experienced heartbreaking losses, including a stillborn child and infant death. This profound experience with grief shaped his compassionate approach to pastoral care. 

Day Two Panel Speakers

Irene Rowland MS, NCC, LPC

 

Irene is a nationally certified counselor and licensed professional counselor who serves clients through Holy Family Counseling Center at the main office in Suwanee, Georgia, and also at Church of the Good Shepherd in Cumming, Georgia. She earned her Master's Degree from the University of North Georgia. She understands real-life grief personally, not just from textbooks. As a result of her experiences, she has authored two books, Bruised, But Not Broken: A Grief Journey After Suicide Loss and Relationship Status (with Life): “It’s Complicated”  How to Counsel Those who Grieve a Suicide Loss. Many who have suffered other kinds of losses have expressed gratitude to her for putting into words what they have felt. Others have reported that the reading provided great benefit in dealing with even everyday types of disappointments and circumstances. 

Diederik Wolsak, RPC, MPCP

Founder, Choose Again Attitudinal Healing Centre

Diederik Wolsak is a grief, loss, and trauma specialist whose journey began with early childhood trauma in Japanese concentration camps in Java, Indonesia. He experienced family separation, foster care, and decades of personal struggles with self-hatred and substance abuse. At age 50, Diederik reached a critical fork in the road where something had to change. Following this pivotal moment, he entered upon a spiritual path of deep healing that transformed his life completely. He developed the innovative Six Step healing process, founded Choose Again Mental Wellness, and now travels to different continents to speak and facilitate workshops, sharing his healing methodology with people worldwide. He is the author of "Choose Again: The Six Steps to Freedom," demonstrating that profound healing is possible even from the deepest suffering and trauma.