Melissa Angelini, owner of Hartzell House Bed & Breakfast in the Laurel Highlands, has recently completed certification as a grief movement guide.

Grief movement training is rooted in the mission of using movement, breath and sound to release pain and struggle and reconnect people to empowerment and love. This embodied approach honors grief as a physical and emotional experience rather than something to fix. Angelini plans to integrate grief movement into small-group retreats and immersive experiences, offering supportive environments where participants can explore grief gently; reconnect with their bodies; and cultivate presence, care and self-trust.

Following the loss of her son, Angelini sought grief support that acknowledged both the emotional and physical dimensions of loss. Her early grief education was shaped by the work of David Kessler, whose approach emphasizes compassion, meaning and normalization of grief. She later encountered grief movement through Paul Denniston, where embodied practices offered a new way of relating to grief beyond conversation alone. This experience informed her decision to pursue certification as a grief movement guide, expanding her work to include movement-based, body-aware grief support.

For more information, call 814-395-5248, email [email protected] or visit HartzellHouse.com.