HopeWest Celebrates the Retirement of Teri Kinkade, HopeWest Kids Bereavement Counselor

After nearly nine years of walking alongside more than 800 children and teens in Montrose and Ouray counties, Teri Kinkade, Youth Services Coordinator at HopeWest Kids, has retired. Throughout her time with HopeWest, Teri supported kids by navigating some of life’s most difficult moments, a work she says she was called to do.

As part of the HopeWest Kids team, Teri helped children understand grief, normalize their experiences, and build coping and emotional regulation skills by showing them they are not alone and that there is nothing “wrong” with how they feel.

Serving children and teens experiencing loss, whether connected to hospice care or within the broader community, counselors like Teri use creative therapeutic approaches to help kids explore their grief in ways that feel safe and supportive. This includes expressive arts, such as sand tray therapy, music, play, and even equine therapy. Beyond individual counseling sessions, kids also have opportunities to participate in school grief groups, and summer grief camps.

Reflecting on her first Camp Good Grief experience, Teri shared how memorable it was, not just for the children, but for her as a facilitator. “It was life-changing for me,” she said. “There are very few places where you can connect with others on such a deep emotional level and then ten minutes later go have a water balloon fight.”

For Teri, one of the greatest rewards has been witnessing children apply the skills they have been taught to cope with their grief.

“Grief bursts are going to come, especially for kids,” she said. “Maybe they graduate from high school and their mom isn’t there. We help them prepare for those moments, how to feel it, express it, and still find joy. They can live happy, fulfilling lives and honor the person who died at the same time.”

Teri’s work underscores the impact grief support can have on young lives. Beyond the many success stories, Teri has also seen a measurable impact. Through pre- and post-assessments, HopeWest Kids consistently reports progress in the children it serves, from improved concentration in school to increased comfort talking about death and loss. Many participants say they would recommend the program to a friend facing a similar experience.

“Most of us who become therapists or counselors want to make a difference. We want to help,” Teri said. “In this role, we absolutely do that.”