The holidays can be a difficult time for people grieving the loss of a loved one. St. Francis Hospice and the Hawaii Donor Family Council will offer tips on how to cope at a one-day “Holiday Grief Workshop,” 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Koolau Golf Club, 45-550 Kionaole Road in Kaneohe.

Early registration deadline is Oct. 2.

Felicia Marquez-Wong, the bereavement services manager at St. Francis Hospice, will introduce the day. Kaiser Hospital chaplain Rev. J.P. Sabbithi will give the opening blessing.

Topics will include thought field therapy by Caroline Sakai, a psychologist of the Thought Field Therapy Center; and body and mind integration by Shellie Fielden, a certified educational kinesiologist and owner of Edu-K/Brain Gym. Holiday grief activities and the release of rainbow pigeons round out the day.

“The workshop is designed to give grieving persons, their family and friends comfort, support and practical tips for dealing with grief during the holidays. But the most important thing is to take care of yourself,” said Marquez-Wong. “Thought field therapy and brain gym are two techniques that have been used to enhance well-being and help in the healing process.”

Collaborating partners of the grief workshop are Hawaii Donor Family Council (National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii) and St. Francis Hospice (St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii). Sponsors include Friends of Michele Higa, Aneurysm Foundation, Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center, Koolaupoko Unit, and When is Now Foundation.

The cost is $55 per person if registering by Oct. 2 and $65 after that. Lunch, refreshments and workshop materials are included in the fee. Please make checks payable to the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii, and send payment to: Grief Workshop, c/o Louis Pohl Gallery, 1111 Nuuanu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96817.

For more information, call Sandy Pohl at 521-1812 or Felicia Marquez-Wong at 547-8145.