Elisabeth Tiesinga
Professional Certifications and Licenses
Training & Certifications
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Certified Grief Educator — trained directly by David Kessler (grief.com, 2021)
Completed the 12-month Grief Educator Certification Program, focused on grief education, meaning-making, and compassionate support for people navigating bereavement. -
Certified Mindfulness Trainer — See True Mindfulness Institute (since 2012)
More than a decade of professional training and teaching experience in mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT-L), inquiry, and contemplative practices. -
Birth Doula — trained through MaterLua, Portugal
Comprehensive doula training supporting pregnancy, birth and postpartum with a strong foundation in presence, listening, and emotional support. -
Additional grief-related training through The Centre for the Study of Birth, Breath and Death (founded by Amy Wright Glenn), including:
– Grief Work Training
– Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss
These trainings deepened my capacity to accompany people through loss, liminality, and profound life transitions. -
Further grief and trauma-informed study, including Writing Through Loss & Trauma (David Kessler & Andrea Cagan).
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Extensive experience facilitating grief workshops, and retreats integrating mindful presence, grief work and nourishment.
My approach is relational, trauma-aware, and deeply respectful of the uniqueness of each grief journey. I work primarily with people who have lost someone dear, while also acknowledging how grief can touch many layers of life, identity, and belonging.
Services Offered
About Me
I am a Certified Grief Educator, trained directly by David Kessler (grief.com, 2021).
My work centers on supporting people who have lost someone dear – a partner, parent, child, sibling, or close friend.
I offer a warm, grounded space where grief can be spoken, honored, and gently tended to, without pressure to fix or move on.
With over a decade of experience as a mindfulness teacher, and a background as a birth doula, I bring compassionate presence, careful listening, and steady guidance.
Living in the wild nature of southwest Portugal has deeply shaped my understanding of grief, cycles of loss, and renewal and forms the heart of my work today.
How I Support You
1:1 Grief Companionship (Online & In Person)
A safe, attentive space to share your story and be met with full presence.
I support people through the emotional, relational, and practical layers of grieving, using mindful presence, reflection, gentle practices, ritual, and grief education.
Pathways through Grief – Retreat (Portugal)
A 6-day nature-based grief retreat, created specifically for people who have lost someone dear.
Held in southwest Portugal, with retreats in June and November 2026, this intimate experience offers time, space, and care to honour our loss and open to renewal. We tend to grief with mindful presence, gentle practices, and nature-based rituals, allowing what we carry to be acknowledged and expressed. We tend to ourselves with Yin Yoga, Qi Gong, sound journeys, nourishing meals and a rejuvenating massage. To give ourselves the well deserved rest and nourishment we need so that we can return home changed, holding ourselves and our grief in a different way.
Elements include:
- mindfulness practice
- guided griefwork
- gentle movement, e.g. Yin Yoga & Qi Gong
- grief rituals & nature-based ceremonies
- sharing circles
- sound journeys
- massages
- restorative rest & reflection
Pregnancy, Birth & Loss Doula Support
Compassionate care around pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and pregnancy loss.
My Approach
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Presence over fixing
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Warm, calm, attentive guidance
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Mindfulness-based and deeply human
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Trauma-aware
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Rooted in nature, ritual, and meaningful reflection
People often describe my presence as grounding, soft, steady, and deeply supportive.
DISCLAIMER
Grief.com does not pre-screen clients or grief support providers. Each person is encouraged to do their own information gathering on therapists and/or grief educators to make sure they are a good fit. Each grief support provider must also screen each potential client to make sure they will also be a good fit. A Certified Grief Educator means that they have completed the Grief Educator program, but does not verify their competence. Grief.com in no way is responsible for the actions of clients or providers. This Directory is designed for informational purposes only.
Nothing contained herein is to be construed as a vehicle to provide medical or psychological advice, diagnosis, opinion, or treatment, nor as a substitute for medical or professional care. Grief.com is not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment or any other information or services anyone provides or obtains through this site or the practitioners listed, and does not recommend or endorse any individual practitioner, provider or business. Reliance on the information contained on this website is solely at your own risk.