WORKSHOPS & TRAINING

OPINIONS

“A friend who recommended Anja’s workshops on accompanying a dying person said, “You’ll see how she will turn death into something normal.” And that’s what really happened. I gained knowledge, and above all, peace and the courage to talk about death with respect and treat it as something natural. It enriched me greatly as a person and as a psychotherapist, and gave me great freedom in conversation with my clients.”

Małgorzata Wincenciak
Psychotherapist

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“The training with Anja made me approach the subject of death in a completely different way. More calmly and consciously. And the most beautiful thing about it is that I can share this knowledge with other people. And I already know that other people, when they encounter death, will have a completely different approach to it. And if I add that I work in a nursing home – where we encounter death often, then this knowledge takes on another dimension. Caregivers, nurses, families – they come to me and thank me. And then they ask what they can do to learn more – then I tell them about Anja and the Institute of Good Death. Anja – thank you for what you do.”

Marta Szulc
Centrum opieki wytchnieniowej – Fundacja Hospicyjna w Gdańsku

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“For all of us at BWA Wrocław, working on this project has been a turning point. Anja Franczak is an artist, death doula, founder of the Institute of Good Death, which revolutionises the topic of death in Polish public space. She proposes a performative format that has enormous social potential and has helped us build new relationships with the audience. It was also an event that helped us build ourselves again as a team.”

Katarzyna Roj
Galeria BWA Dizajn Wrocław

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“I can wholeheartedly recommend working with Anja. In her pioneering work, she combines creativity and a compelling vision with structure and good organization, as well as warmth and clear communication. Her workshops are a valuable addition to our program, and working with her is a pure pleasure.”

Grzegorz Laszuk
Teatr Komuna Warszawa

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“We invited Anja Franczak to give a lecture during the Summer School of Psychotherapy, which the Laboratory for Psychoeducation organized at the end of August 2024. Her presentation – on the importance of companionship in dying and funeral rituals – brought an important, humanistic and rarely discussed perspective to the program. It was remembered by the participants as valuable.”

Marta Scattergood
Laboratorium Psychoedukacji

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“We worked together – however, it wasn’t really work, but a unique experience, just like every meeting with Anja. The power of her calmness makes the world slow down and only the here and now counts. The warmth and sensitivity that she generously gives to everyone around her allow you to comfortably settle in the present moment. This is definitely more important than knowledge, which she also has and which she willingly shares. Anja is an extraordinary person, whom you immediately trust subconsciously and whose words make you think and allow you to look at many things with fresh eyes, while at the same time bringing relief. It’s hard to describe – you have to meet her to find out!”

Bartosz Wróblewski
Director of the documentary series „Migranci” / Polsat Box Go

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“I worked with Anja on the cross-cultural science project “Imaginaries of Immortality in the Age of AI”, run by the University of Cambridge. Anja joined our team as a co-creator and moderator of the series of performance and research events “(Im)mortality over Dinner” that took place in Poznań, New Delhi and Beijing.

Anja is a creative person, open to new formats of action and ready for interdisciplinary cooperation. Thanks to her commitment, art, science, ceremony and ritual could merge into a new, unique whole. In addition, Anja has a rare ability to listen carefully to participants, genuinely follow their needs and build a beautiful, intimate atmosphere during meetings – full of openness and respect.”

Katarzyna Nowaczyk-Basinska
Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence / University of Cambridge

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“I worked with Anja Franczak on the Polish edition of the book “Grief Councelling and Grief Therapy” by William Worden. Anja reviewed the book before the decision to publish it, and also prepared the scientific editing of the Polish edition. It is hard to imagine a collaboratio with a person more competent, and at the same time empathetic and sensitive to the needs of people struggling with grief. Anja showed extraordinary care for every detail of the book she was preparing, for the correct communication of an alternative concept to the commonly known models of grief. As a publisher, I value this cooperation very much!”

Aleksandra Małek
Wydawnictwo PWN

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“Taking part in Anja Franczak’s workshop on death was an incredibly transformative experience for me, which I highly recommend to anyone. Anja, with her extraordinary calm disposition, immense empathy and true gift, created a space that allowed me to dive deeply into the topic of death – perceived as the last, integral stage of life. The workshop not only equipped me with practical tools on how to accompany people in their final stages, but also taught me tenderness towards myself and others in the face of loss. This unique approach makes the knowledge and sensitivity gained during the workshop invaluable both in professional work and in everyday life, opening me to a new perception of the world, death and other people.”

Alicja Straszyńska
Stowarzyszenie Pomocna dłoń

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“Anja Franczak is a truly wonderful facilitator and expert in her field. For several years now, we have repeatedly invited her to take our hospice volunteers into the “world of grief.” Sensitive and creative, full of joy and dedication, she shares her knowledge with us, touching everyone who attends. Thank you so much, dear Anja!!”

Claudia Ose
Hospizdienst Horizont / Berlin

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“Anja Franczak led an incredibly moving and profound workshop called “Love Beyond Death” during the New Epiphanies Festival, dedicated to the experience of grief and finding hope after loss. Her mindfulness, empathy and wisdom created a safe space for talking about difficult but fundamental topics. Participants emphasized that this meeting was an important step towards understanding their own emotions and finding light in the shadow of loss.”

Paweł Dobrowolski
Festiwal Nowe Epifanie

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“I attended the workshop with Anja because of my volunteer work with senior citizens. Quite a bold move for someone with anxiety disorders related to death. It was a brilliant decision! A mega dose of knowledge provided in a great atmosphere. I definitely recommend it to everyone.”

Barbara
Volunteer at Stowarzyszenia mali bracia Ubogich

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“The workshops offered by the Institute of Good Death were one of the best I have ever participated in. It was a very delicate, sensitive, accompanying and at the same time practical, substantial and tangible experience of what death is, how to prepare for it, how to help yourself and others come to terms with it.

As a person of faith, I do not think that death is the end, but the concept of death as something absolutely natural – to be accepted and experienced – was groundbreaking and important for me.

I will remember these workshops for a long time. I am a huge fan of the Institute and the activities aimed at eliminating the taboo around dying and restoring the process of dying, transition and mourning as natural, expected events, for which – like nothing else! – it is worth being prepared, because no one will be spared! It is wonderful that someone teaches accompanying the dying and makes the living aware of death/departure.

A few months have passed and I am still impressed. Anja is a truly sensitive guide on this topic.”

Anna
Volunteer at Stowarzyszenia mali bracia Ubogich

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“Before the training, I had no idea what the dying process looks like and that it could
begin even a few years before death. Now I know that it is a process and how
to react. I am currently in contact with a senior who has started the dying phase. I can see that she is experiencing the symptoms discussed during the training and thanks to that I am not stressed or afraid. There is acceptance that this is a normal process and that it can be passed with dignity and peace.”

Katarzyna
Volunteer at Stowarzyszenia mali bracia Ubogich

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“The workshops with Anja were – despite the difficult topic – an incredible and beautiful
experience for me. They tamed a lot of fear and allowed me to see that “others are like that, too.” In addition to a spiritual experience, they also gave me a lot of substantial knowledge. I am very glad that I took part in the workshops because now I can look at the subject of death with greater peace and gentleness.”

Małgorzata
Volunteer at Stowarzyszenia mali bracia Ubogich

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“I am impressed with the way Anja facilitated the training. I am very grateful for the calmness with which she discussed the issues and kept the attention of the group (it was over 60 people!). I think it was the first time in my life that I have been to a training that did not need any slides. I really liked the way Anja presented complex topics in simple drawings and diagrams on flipchart. After the training, many volunteers came up and simply thanked me for the time, talked about the topics raised, discussed with each other. I am really grateful for this meeting and very much hope for a continuation.”

Sylwia Rapacz
Project A Paulo

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“Thanks to the workshops conducted with empathy and mindfulness by Anja Franczak from the Institute of the Good Death, our volunteers felt better prepared to accompany people in the last stages of life. Anja created a safe, respectful space for talking about topics that are often difficult – death, dying, accompanying people in the last moments of life. Thanks to the way the workshops were conducted and the broad understanding of the subject, our volunteers could not only expand their knowledge, but also felt emotionally and spiritually strengthened.”

Marta Tomys
Hospicjum im. Piotra Króla

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“The training is conducted by Anja in an extremely professional manner and in a friendly atmosphere. All participants are treated with attention, every question asked is important, deserves an answer and consideration. We work in the funeral industry, dealing with animal cremation and support for people experiencing pet loss. Anja’s approach to the topic of death and work in the funeral industry – full of warmth, openness and knowledge based on contemporary research – allowed people participating in the training to look at our work in a fresh way, but also to strengthen themselves in our philosophy of building awareness of non-human mourning. Anja talks about death and mourning in a sensitive, caring way – she teaches how important it is to talk about these topics in public, and how important the work we do is.”

Magdalena Siwecka
Esthima Polska