An online healing music & reflective space for grief support in community

In online sessions for people grieving a loss, critically acclaimed vibraphonist Chris Dingman plays evocative improvised music that guides an internal journey many have found comforting and healing. Reflective writing specialist Dr. Debbie Bronkema and somatic therapist Dina Percia hold space with prompts designed to meet you where you are. Transformations invites you to be as you are and explore what arises in a compassionate, safe, and supportive setting.

What is Transformations for Grief?

Transformations for Grief takes place on Zoom.

These sessions are for people navigating grief around a loss.

You are welcome to attend with or without video.

Every session is unique and responsive to the people who join.

We open the session with a brief candle-lighting ritual.

Dr. Debbie Bronkema shares an optional reflective writing prompt.

Chris Dingman channels a 45-minute live improvised sound journey.

Somatic therapist Dina Percia facilitates an optional sharing circle.

Transformations is free for participants.

Schedule

First 3 Tuesday evenings of each month
7:00pm - 8:30pm Eastern Time
On Zoom
Sign up here

Transformations general sessions

We also offer general-public sessions, which are not necessarily grief-focused but follow a similar format
General-public sessions take place twice per month, the 2nd Monday and 4th Tuesday
Learn more at connect.faith/transformations or join our email list here

Meet our team

  • Rev. Dr. Debbie Bronkema

    Debbie is the Director of New Worshiping Initiatives for Hudson River Presbytery, and Executive Director of connect.faith. She earned her Doctorate of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary in 2011, with an emphasis in Creative Writing as a Spiritual Practice, and leads programs and retreats on this topic throughout the country. She is the author of three books: Finding Manna, Midweek Meditations, and Writing toward wholeness: exploring creativity and spirituality.

  • Chris Dingman

    NYC-based vibraphonist and composer Chris Dingman is known for his distinctive approach to a unique and beautiful instrument. Chris has worked with legendary artists Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, and many of today’s jazz, creative, and world music luminaries. He brings together this background with a host of influences from around the world, in service of taking listeners on a journey to a transcendent place. In 2018, he had the transformative experience of playing music as an act of care for his father in his final months of life. Since then, Chris has brought this special form of meditative, healing music far and wide.

  • Dina Percia

    Dina holds a Masters of Arts in Holistic Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Somatic Psychology. As a psychotherapist, she has worked with adults, adolescents, and children in community mental health agencies in Oakland, CA and New York, NY focusing on complex trauma. Having trained as a palliative care doula at Mount Sinai Hospital, an end-of-life doula with Peaceful Presence Project, and an abortion doula with Bay Area Doula Project, she is called to support those traversing expanded and liminal states of consciousness; the bardos of life and death.

  • "The Transformations series offered me space. Space to breathe, to feel, and to just be in the moment with my grief. Chris’ music made it easier for me to bring thoughts and feelings to the surface so that I could sit with and reflect on them. I also valued the welcoming and supportive atmosphere in each session, which made me feel genuinely accepted."

    - Pia, Transformations for Grief participant

  • "I have done countless workshops and self-help type sessions, and I found this to be amazing.”

    - Lauressa, Transformations for Grief Participant

  • "I am extremely grateful that I found these sessions just weeks after going through the death of a family member. The guides have created a safe and respectful space. I appreciated that all the elements of the sessions, the music, poetic writing prompts, and optional sharing circle, are non-directive. I felt that I could just show up and be exactly where I was that day. There were times during the sessions that I experienced cathartic sobbing and there were times that I felt deeply comforted, as if I were receiving a blessing through the music."

    - K.M., Transformations for Grief participant

  • "I’m very grateful for the series. It has been very helpful during a time of anticipatory grief."

    - Karen, Transformations for Grief participant

  • "I loved it, I needed it right when it presented itself to me."

    - Erica, Transformations for Grief participant

  • "These sessions truly transport me into another dimension of experience… after the first few minutes I feel as though I’m flying, over water, with the sun shining down and reflecting off of the ripples below me… these sensations have lifted me out of some of the deepest moments of depression I’ve faced. They’ve given me respite and hope that life could return to something more than isolation, pain and despair. I’m so grateful to Chris and his offerings. The fact that they are without cost makes healing accessible to someone in my situation which is the greatest gift one could ask for."

    - DY, Transformations for Grief participant

  • "So grateful for this session to come in a moment when I was newly suffering a personal loss. I found it so helpful to process and release some heaviness I was feeling in a comforting space outside of my everyday interactions. I had a very positive experience. Inclusive, thoughtful and understanding of what I was going through. Chris's sounds are beautiful, transcendent and comforting. Seeming to move along intuitively to what someone listening might be feeling or experiencing within."

    - YJ, Transformations for Grief participant

  • “I lost my 25-year-old son to an accidental drug overdose. Among the therapeutic practices I have engaged in throughout my bereavement, the music of Chris Dingman through Transformations has assisted me in processing and integrating this profound loss. Chris’ rich musical compositions have transported me on inner journeys that are emotionally evocative and alchemical, allowing me to travel through layers of deep sorrow to an experience of healing that is truly transcendent.”

    - Alison, Transformations for Grief participant

  • "My grief was met with soothing embraces of Chris’s music, Debra’s writing prompts, and Dina’s container for sharing. My tears spoke their truth."

    - Yelena, Transformations for Grief participant

  • "Grief comes to almost all of us some day in many different ways, and not always through death. Some of us grieve for our children, our parents, our brothers, sisters, spouses, pets, or our own lost health; for a life that once was and is changed forever by loss and grief. Hearing the beautiful music Chris offers, the spiritual thoughts from Debbie, and the meditation with Dina provide us with a chance to think, feel, and hopefully heal at our individual pace."

    LilliAnn, Transformations for Grief participant

  • "Grief, stress, anxiety, fatigue - things I’ve been feeling for the last several months. I joined the Transformations for Grief because I needed something to calm my mind. By the end of the session, I felt at peace and was so grateful for that. It was truly medicine for the soul.”

    - Stacy, Transformations for Grief participant

  • "It was a very caring community. You could tell a lot of thought was put into the sessions. And Chris’ music was absolutely magical! Thank you so much team Transformation!”

    - AT, Transformations for Grief participant

  • "If you don't login, you'll miss it.....miss what? Just BEING present is ok....login and find out!"

    - MC, Transformations for Grief participant

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