Alderwood of Davidson County Announces Annual Conference on Grief and Loss
Alderwood of Davidson County, alongside presenting sponsor J.C. Green and Sons Funeral Home, has announced its 14th Annual Professional Conference on Grief and Loss, “Loss in the Margins,” scheduled for Thursday, October 22, 2026, at Davidson-Davie Community College.
The full-day educational event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and provide continuing education for mental health professionals, healthcare providers and end-of-life care practitioners across the region.
This year’s conference will focus on loss among underserved populations and practical clinical applications for individuals experiencing disenfranchised and marginalized grief. These types of loss can be unacknowledged, invalidated or overlooked by broader societal structures.
“Our annual conference continues to serve as an essential gathering place for professionals dedicated to supporting individuals through life's most complex transitions,” said Cole Warner, Director of Counseling and Support Services for Alderwood of Davidson County. “By focusing on ‘Loss in the Margins,’ we aim to equip clinicians, chaplains and care directors with the specialized insight needed to support disenfranchised individuals with dignity, empathy and evidence-based care.”
The keynote address will be delivered by Laura S. Wheat, PhD, LPC/MHSP, NCC, an adjunct instructor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a scholar and practitioner in counselor education and grief counseling.
Wheat will share evidence-informed strategies to help practitioners better identify and serve clients whose experiences of loss fall outside traditional paradigms.
The conference is designed for counselors, social workers, funeral directors, hospice staff, chaplains and caregiving professionals. Qualifying participants can earn five Continuing Education Units through the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service and the National Board for Certified Counselors.
Registration is $50 per person and includes full program access, morning coffee and a catered lunch.
Attendees can register online at alderwoodhealth.org/news-events or by calling 336-475-5444. Space is limited and early registration is encouraged.
