The Mindfulness & Grief Podcast

Is My Deceased Loved One OK?

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 18:53:00 GMT

If you wonder what happens to your loved one after they die, you are in good company. Wanting to know they are OK, that they are not suffering, that they may even be happy, is a universal feeling rooted in the love that is the root of our grief.

In her book Becoming Starlight, Surviving Grief and Mending The Wounds of Loss, Dr. Sharon Prentice shines a light on where your loved one goes after they die. She has visited the other side - not through a near death experience - but a shared death experience. In this episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, Dr. Prentice reveals her “peek into foreverness” that occurred at the precise moment of her husband’s death. She describes how this experienced impacted her grief over time, and how it informs her work with people who are dying in her role as a psychotherapist and spiritual counselor.

The question of life after death is one of the first questions I asked when my uncle died by suicide when I was just 7 years old. In my teens I found a book called Life After Life by Dr. Raymond Moody, which detailed the phenomenon of the near-death experience.

This is a very special interview. It dives into the mysteries of life while leaving space for us to still grief, still mourn, still question. If you are wanting to know if your loved one is OK, this podcast may just provide you with some answers – and even hope.

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Surviving The Death Of Our Beloved Cats & Dogs

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 16:50:19 GMT

Pets are not just animals that live in our house, they are our chosen family. When they die it is heartbreaking because we love them so much! The key to surviving the death of our beloved cats and dogs is to first acknowledge that it hurts, and acknowledge that our grief is real and understandable. As with the loss of anyone we love, it is helpful to find ways to honor their memory and the imprint they leave on our heart. In this episode of the Mindfulness & Grief podcast Dave Roberts and I continue the conversation we began in an earlier episode on Pet Loss & Grief. Since then, both Dave and I have both experienced major pet losses, and we discuss the myriad of feelings that pet owners face - from feelings of guilt surrounding euthanasia, wondering how you will survive without your best friend, and even navigating the decision to welcome another furbaby into the house. We also talk about constructive rituals and memorial spaces you can set up to remember your companion animal. For many of us the death of a pet is one of the hardest losses to navigate because of the unconditional love. You are not alone, and I hope this episode will help you like it helped me.

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Guilt, Regret, & Traumatic Loss with Anne Marie-Lockmyer

Mon, 04 May 2020 21:05:22 GMT

If you have been blaming yourself for the death of your loved one, or feeling guilty that you didn't do something you "should" have done, you are not alone. Whether your special person died by suicide, an overdose, long-term illness or suddenly, self-blame often appears. Guilt and shame are heavy burdens to bear, and add more suffering on top of our broken heart. In the 31st episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, award-winning author of When Their World Stops, Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and founder of the Grief & Trauma Healing Network shares her insights into working with guilt, regret, and self-blame in the face of traumatic grief, mental health struggles, addiction, suicide, and other types of loss. She also offers valuable insights into how friends can help their grieving friends, which will give you insight into getting what you need from those around you. Anne-Marie is a compassionate healer, and I hope you will get as much from this podcast as I did interviewing her! Be sure to check out the downloads below, including an excerpt from her book.

Downloads From Anne-Marie Lockmyer

About Anne-Marie Lockmyer

Anne-Marie Lockmyer was far removed from pain until she got the call no one ever wants to get - her beloved husband of 26 years had suddenly died while she was out of the country. Everything changed for her at that moment and the emotional pain crushed her. Nothing prepared Anne-Marie or those around her for this life-shattering experience. As Anne-Marie struggled to understand herself and what she needed, she also had to help her friends understand.

Out of necessity, she became a student of grief and during this process, her only child was struggling with mental health issues, another excruciating loss as she watched him suffer. She went on a journey to find meaning in her grief, to meet with it, embrace it, heal and find purpose. And it was transformational!

Her experience, research, education and training in grief, loss and trauma has equipped her to work with grieving people in a powerful way. She wrote an award-winning book called When Their World Stops: The Essential Guide to Truly Helping Anyone in Grief. Anne-Marie is an Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist, Certified in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, a Certified Trauma Integrative Practitioner, a Grief and Mental Health Advocate and Founder of the Grief and Trauma Healing Network.

Her greatest joy is to take people on the same healing journey she experienced - to allow them to remember their loved one well but without suffering the excruciating pain. She creates a safe place to heal any unresolved grief with a six-session private or 2-day intensive program. She provides crisis support for businesses and training to therapists and counselors on grief and loss. She presents church workshops on Creating a Culture of Hope and Healing to equip churches to support the grieving in their congregation and community. She loves what she does and welcomes opportunities to help others understand grief and the grieving.

Anne-Marie is living proof that you can go from barely surviving to thriving. Her message is one of hope and healing after a heartbreaking loss. You may have changed. Your life may be changed, but life can still be good - and so can you.

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Dreams & Your Emotional Wellbeing During The Pandemic With Dr. Joshua Black

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 17:50:37 GMT

Dreams and sleep are understandably impacted as we all try to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Those of us who are already grieving carry an extra load of anxiety in addition to an already aching heart. In this episode, returning guest Dr. Joshua Black shares helpful insights that will empower us to take care of our emotional needs during the waking hours so we can find peace at night, and explores how our dreams give us insights into how we are really doing. A timely follow up to our first interview in Episode 15 Grief Dreams: Continuing Bonds & Awakening Insights, Joshua and I have a candid conversation about how we are coping personally and professionally. We discuss a range of topics - from Joshua's own grief dream that involves his father and childhood home, to what is in our pantry to eat during the pandemic. This interview left me feeling calm and hopeful. I hope it does the same for you!

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Permission To Grieve with Shelby Forsythia

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 14:47:54 GMT

Grief is hard at any age. As a queer young adult in the south, Shelby faced the worst four years of her life as both of her parents were diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses. When her mother died "the stuff really hit the fan," as she put it. At first she resisted her pain, but it was in the giving in to her grief that real wisdom was found. Shelby has evolved into a compassionate young woman that helps people of all ages learn how to face their grief with radical self-compassion. In this candid interview, the author of Permission to Grieve shares her experience and the wisdom gained from navigating the death of her mother from breast cancer. Tending to your own pain is a radical act of self-compassion. Shelby offers inspiring guidance that will help you grieve authentically no matter where you are on your life’s journey.

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Victorious Heart with Kim Peacock

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 13:00:00 GMT

"Hope is not fragile; just hard to find when the lights go out." This quote from bereaved mother Kim Peacock's book, Victorious Heart resonates with so many people who have suffered and survived a traumatic loss.

Kim knows this intimately, as her beloved daughter Nicole died in an ATV accident just a few days after Christmas in 1998. In episode 28 of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, Kim shares how she pulled herself out of the void that was left in her world so she can grieve and still live life fully.

She shares how she and her husband navigated their different styles of grieving, her relationship to God and faith, and self-care practices that you can use to care for yourself when your world feels like it has fallen apart. She also offers wise guidance to anyone who is not sure what to say or do when someone they care about has suffered a devastating loss.

This inspirational and generous interview offers an overview of what grief can look like over twenty years after the loss, and is a guiding light that will help you through the darkness. While Kim's experience is rooted in child loss, this is a good listen for anyone who is grieving a loss.

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Coping With Overdose Grief with Dave Roberts, LMSW

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 15:06:14 GMT

Coping with grief after a loved one has died from an overdose has a unique set of challenges. All too often the focus is on the circumstances of the death, not the life, of a very special person who loved, lived, and most likely tried to overcome their addiction. Often exhausted by the worry, caregiving and anticipatory type of grief that precedes this type of loss, friends and family members of someone who died by overdose need compassion, self-care, and each other. In the 27th episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, grief counselor Dave Roberts shares ways that you can cope with overdose grief and refocus the lens through which this loss is viewed on the person, not the addiction.

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Coping With Sibling Loss with Heidi Horsley

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 13:08:22 GMT

The death of a brother or sister can be devastating, but all too often it goes unacknowledged or at least minimized. Social cues direct bereaved siblings to "be strong for your parents," but how can you be strong when your world is shattered by loss? Heidi Horsley is no stranger to this kind of pain. Her brother, Scott, died in an automobile accident, alongside her cousin. This life changing experience inspired her to be a champion for grieving siblings and earn a doctorate in psychology. In this episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, Heidi shares her story of love and loss and hope, and shares tips and insights to help you cope with sibling loss. She explores the strained parent/child dynamic that often occurs after this type of loss, and why parents might think their surviving children are "over" their grief when they are anything but. Dr. Heidi closes the show with an invitation for grieving siblings to join her in the crusade to shine a light on this disenfranchised grief.

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Valentine's Day Grief with Claudia Coenen

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 18:53:51 GMT

Widows, widowers, and anyone who has lost a partner knows just how hard it is to cope with grief on Valentine's Day. Claudia Coenen, widow and creative grief counselor, shares creative ways to cope with grief and heartache on Valentine's Day, as well as activities and practices to honor and celebrate you love that undeniably very much present. She also shares tips from her upcoming book release, The Creative Toolkit for Working with Grief and Bereavement: A Practitioner’s Guide. Heather Stang's guided meditation, a Journey To Your Heart Center, follows the interview. Both Heather and Claudia hope this special Valentine's Day edition of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast will bring you some peace.

Warriors of Life with Richard Pryor

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 21:12:51 GMT

Richie Pryor's son and namesake, Richard, sadly died in his sleep a few weeks after a family vacation to Hawaii. Naturally, Richie felt great heartache after the loss of his son, but has found a way not only to live again, but to live fully and in honor of his son while helping others find their path through grief and life.

In the 24th episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, Richie shares his story along with valuable insights about compassion and communication for partners who have lost a child. He reflects on what worked - and what didn't - for himself and his family, and recommends valuable books and community resources for the grieving family.

Richie models how you can develop mental toughness while maintaining a kind heart, and offers ways to refocus your attention and cultivate new meaning in life. He really inspires hope for all of us who are grieving.

Coping With Grief During The Holidays

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 17:34:40 GMT

Let’s face it, the winter holidays can be particularly tough on us when we are grieving. What is supposed to be the happiest time of the year is anything but, as we are constantly reminded that someone is missing. During this episode author and thanatologist Heather Stang shares her favorite tips for coping with grief during the holidays to help you reduce your suffering, weave in the memory of your loved one, and approach this holiday season mindfully.

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Healthy Lifestyles After Loss with Jason Wendroff-Rawnicki

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 19:43:00 GMT

Grief is a natural and healthy reaction, but if you are like most people, healthy is not a word you would use to describe how you eat or sleep when in the throes of loss. The stress of grief disrupts our sleep cycle, incites cravings for comfort food, and does not usually inspire physical activity. While this is normal behavior in the early period of loss, the sooner we can start taking care of our physical body, the sooner it will become our ally in our mental and emotional health.

In this episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, yoga teacher and wellness expert Jason Wendroff-Rawnicki shares how the death of his sister, Lauren, inspired him to live more fully and honor his lifelong mission of helping others. He offers helpful tips on how to get more sleep, work wholesome foods into your diet, movement into your day, and how smelling something good via aromatherapy can radically shift your mood. We even discuss how media - social and otherwise - can help or hurt your ability to regain emotional balance after loss.

Don't let all this talk of health and wellness scare you off - both Jason and I know grief is hard! But if you pick just one or two things to try from this episode (which is chocked full of health tips for grief), you will be taking the first and most important step to helping yourself reengage with life after loss. There is no one-sized-fits-all solution for health and well-being, but there are some time-tested tips and tricks that work.

Jason closes by sharing a little about being a bereaved sibling, as well as some insights he gained from presenting with his wife at the Compassionate Friends Conference. If you have questions or comments, or would like to connect with Jason, use the links below!

Reach out to Jason Wendroff-Rawnicki:

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Widowed Parents with Justin Yopp, PhD

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 19:17:43 GMT

Coping with your own grief when a spouse dies is hard enough. But what do you do when on top of that you need to raise a grieving family, get everyone to school on time, pay all the bills, and run the household all on your own? These are just some of the challenges widowed parents face. While grief professionals may offer helpful insights, our guest and psychologist Dr. Justin Yopp explains why peer support groups for widowed parents may be one of the most helpful resources for bereaved fathers and mothers.

This episode is for widowed parents who are looking for inspiration and practical advice on parenting after loss. Based on insights gained by facilitating widowed parenting groups and academic research, Dr. Yopp offers compassionate guidance that respects each individual's journey.

His book, The Group: Seven Widowed Fathers Reimagine Life, is based on the “Single Fathers Due to Cancer” project, a group facilitated by Dr. Yopp and his colleague Donald L. Rosenstein at the University of North Carolina. They now collaborate with other colleagues at UNC to run The Widowed Parent project, which is committed to supporting widowed mothers and fathers with children in the home. Proceeds from The Group are all donated back into the project in order to benefit the families.

Learn More about Justin Yopp and the Widowed Parent Project:

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Chakras in Grief & Trauma with Karla Helbert

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 21:18:11 GMT

Learn how the yogic chakras can help you navigate grief and trauma, whether you believe in them or not! In the 20th episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, Karla Helbert explains how the chakra system can act as a model (or metaphor) to help us understand the energetic response to grief and trauma. She also shares tips to find balance during this chaotic time, and even closes the podcast with a guided meditation you can try at home (but not if you are driving please!).

Just like having a map or GPS can help you when you are lost in the woods, a system to help you cope with grief can help you feel less overwhelmed and frightened when the tsunami hits. Going beyond the outdated prescribed stages of grief, the Chakras in Grief and Trauma can help you learn to grow through, rather than heal from, your loss.

Rooted in her own experience of being a bereaved mother, as well as her yoga training and years of helping others through loss as a licensed professional counselor, Karla Helbert is the author of the Chakras In Grief and Trauma, Yoga for Grief and Loss, and Finding Your Way To Grieve: A Creative Workbook for Kids and Teens on the Autism Spectrum.

Learn More about Karla Helbert:

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Grief In The Workplace with R. Glenn Kelly

Thu, 30 May 2019 17:14:58 GMT

In the 19th episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, R. Glenn Kelly (Ron) shares on the job self-care tips, as well insights into how business leaders and colleagues alike can cultivate a grief-literate work environment. A bereaved father and business leader, Ron is the author several books, including Grief in the Workplace and Sometimes I Cry In The Shower.

For some, work can feel like a safe haven, a normal experience in the midst of the worst time in your life. But for most of us, the two or five days of bereavement leave just isn't enough. The reality is that most of us have to earn a paycheck whether we feel like it or not. After a major loss, work may feel like the last place any of us wants to be. There are many challenges that were not present before, including debilitating brain fog, uncontrollable emotional swells, preoccupation with our loved one and the business of grief, not to mention the unskillful platitudes offered by well-meaning but ill informed colleagues.

Over 4 Million active U.S. employees experience the death of a spouse, life-partner, or child every year. Research indicates that in addition to the pain the employee feels, companies are losing an estimated $100 billion in direct and indirect costs due to staff bereavement. But this statistic does mean there has to be a battle between employee and employer. In fact, with Ron's help, organizations like Delta Airlines have found ways to support their bereaved employees that benefit both company, employee, and the people they serve, and cultivating compassion and care along the way.

Learn More about R. Glenn Kelly:

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PauseFirst Project with Kim Colegrove

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 21:42:07 GMT

Kim Colegrove is the founder of the PauseFirst Project, which offers Mindfulness for First Responders, and was founded in honor of her husband, Special Agent David M. Colegrove, who died by suicide in 2014. Kim learned the practice of transcendental meditation at the age of ten. After her husband's death, Kim used her practice to cope with her own grief and loss. Now, with more than 40 years of practice under her belt, she is helping police, firefighters, EMS, paramedics, dispatchers, corrections officers, and other first responders cope with the daily stress and trauma of the job.

Whether you are a first responder or not, we all experience personal and public tragedies that can leave our assumptive world shaken if not completely destroyed. This conversation explores how mindfulness can help us all build resilience and take one step closer to a more peaceful society. Thank you Kim for doing this true Warrior Work!

PauseFirst Links

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Liberate Your Grief with Claire Hoffman

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 21:41:47 GMT

At the age of 38, Claire Hoffman became a widow when her husband experienced a drug overdose. A mother of one, Claire describes this event as having a butterfly effect over her entire world. In an effort to cope with the loss and gain wisdom and insight, Claire has gathered together grief experts from around the world for the Liberate Your Grief Spotcast, a 5 day event offering hope and healing to anyone who has experienced a major loss. Learn more about Claire at http://liberateyourgrief.com.

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Pet Loss & Grief with David Roberts, LMSW

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 00:43:32 GMT

Pet loss is often a grief dismissed by people who have not formed a deep bond with an animal, but those of us who have non-human best friend know the love and heartache that comes when a special pet dies. In the sixteenth episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast we explore our deep love for our pets, why we mourn them, and how they can help us feel connected to our deceased loved ones when they are alive. Guest Dave Roberts, LMSW, shares how two cats, Bootsy & Angel, helped him cope with the death of his daughter, and the impact their deaths had on him.

About Dave Roberts, LMSW

Dave Roberts, LMSW, is an author and founder of Bootsy & Angel Books, LLC, and most importantly, the father of Jeannine, who died of a rare form of cancer when she was 18. Dave supports other grieving parents through his work with The Compassionate Friends, in his private practice, and through writing, speaking, and teaching in the psychology department at Utica College. Learn more about Dave at Bootsy & Angel Books, LLC., where you can also purchase his book on pet loss and holiday grief.

Read David's Article, 3 Reasons Why Pet Owners Repeatedly Visit the World of Grief, and find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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Grief Dreams with Joshua Black, Ph.D.

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 19:47:53 GMT

In the fifteenth episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, we dive deep into the world of grief and dreams with author and grief dream researcher Joshua Black, Ph.D. If you have ever wanted to know more about your grief dreams, or have wondered why you have not had one yet, this episode is for you. Dr. Black shares the three different types of dreams that occur after loss, plus the different themes that have emerged in his studies of spouse/partner loss, pet loss, and prenatal loss related dreams. You will also learn tips and techniques that can help both children and adults use their grief dreams - or desired grief dreams - to do very important grief work. Learn more about Grief Dreams at http://griefdreams.ca, and be sure to listen to the Grief Dreams Podcast, hosted by this week's guest, Joshua Black, Ph.D.

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Grief Day by Day Author Interview with Jan Warner

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 14:18:59 GMT

In the fourteenth episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, I interview Jan Warner, author of Grief Day by Day: Simple Practices and Daily Guidance for Living With Loss. During this episode, Jan shares how her deep love for her husband Artie lives on, how to deal with people who just don't understand, and how Grief Day by Day can help you become your own "grief whisperer." What I love about this interview with Jan is her honest and unfiltered view of life after loss that balances the reality of the pain of loss with the love and levity that helps you continue to live on - with their memory right by your side. The book itself is a fantastic resource - easy to read and offered in small, daily bites that will help you take the next best step for you.

About Jan Warner

When my husband died I thought I would sadly miss him. Instead I was devastated. After the first chaotic year I began to rebuild my life by honoring him. I became available to grieving people the way he, as a recovering alcoholic, was available to alcoholics and addicts. I wrote a blog. Five years ago, I started a FB page, Grief Speaks Out at www.Facebook.com/GriefSpeaksOut. It is a loving, supportive international community of 2.4 million people. My book, Grief Day By Day: Simple Practices and Daily Guidance for Living With Loss has been called a soothing balm for a wound and an outstretched hand in friendship. I have a Master's in Counseling Degree and have studied NLP, and hypnotherapy. In becoming fully alive with grief I have produced documentary films and an off-Broadway play. I’m a vagabond who has been to all seven continents. I love being a grandmother.

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Songs That Heal with Molly G. Hicks, MMT, MT-BC

Fri, 04 Jan 2019 02:52:22 GMT

In the thirteenth episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, I interview Molly Hicks, music therapist and bereavement counselor with Penn Wissahickon Hospice in the Philadelphia, PA area, where she serves adult bereavement clients through individual counseling and support groups. During this episode, Molly shares the principles of music therapy, and how music can help you cope with grief and express how you really feel. 13:22 minutes in, you will also get to hear Molly's original recording of Call in the Light, a song, in Molly's words that is "about darkness and light, which is very common in a lot of music and a lot of songs....the person who is grieving can call in a source of light from themselves and also from the memories that they share with their loved one and the bonds that they still have with that loved one." The lyrics are available below!

Along with music therapy interventions, Molly also uses her background as a yoga teacher to incorporate gentle poses and mindfulness techniques into her sessions. Additionally, she supports bereaved children and teens each year at Camp Erin Philadelphia, through the visual and performing arts. Molly holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music therapy from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She earned her Hospice & Palliative Care Music Therapy (HPMT) certificate in 2011. Molly has presented at regional and national conferences of the American Music Therapy Association, on such varied topics as clinical songwriting, cultivating therapeutic presence, and addressing compassion fatigue. Since 2012, Molly has been a member of the Allied Therapies Steering Committee of the National Coalition of Hospice and Palliative Professionals (NCHPP).

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A Father's Journey with Dave Roberts

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 12:30:00 GMT

So often we refer to grief as a journey. It is a path no one chooses, but many people learn a lot about themselves along the way. Dave Roberts is bereaved father, and someone I consider to be a Grief Sherpa. From the early childhood loss of his father abandoning him and his mother, through his daughter' Jeannine's death decades later, Dave has walked his own path of loss with his mind, heart and spirit wide open. Learn more about his personal and professional journey in this episode.

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Walking With Our Loved Ones With Laurie Cameron of Purpose Blue

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 03:25:37 GMT

In the eleventh episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, I interview Laurie Cameron, author of The Mindful Day, founder of Purpose Blue, and certified meditation teacher. She shares mindful ways we can navigate the emotions that accompany grief, reconnect with ourselves, and continue to relate to the people in our lives that we mourn. Learn more about Laurie Cameron and join her community at at http://www.lauriejcameron.com.

Show Notes from Heather

Grief can make us feel like our loved ones have been ripped from our life. It can also make us feel like we are no longer even sure of who we are now that this great loss has occurred. And while it is true that our loved ones are no longer physically present in the same way they were before, and we often yearn for them to be back by our side, the relationship continues. Just in a very different way. How often to we think of the imprint someone we loved has left on our heart? Or imagine what they would have thought, done or said as we gaze at a new child, get our first acceptance letter, or learn how to drive a car.

One of the things we can to do help ourselves navigate grief is to relearn how to connect with our self and our departed ancestors and loved ones. It is important for us to find a way to continue our story, even though the plot-line has changed dramatically. Mindfulness can help with that, and Laurie Cameron has some compassionate insights and practices that can help us do both.

I first found out about Laurie Cameron when my Local Book Store, Curious Iguana, asked me to introduce her at a book signing event for her new release, The Mindful Day. The book itself is designed to help you weave mindfulness into your normal, everyday life, even as you commute, go to work, and interact with friends and family. A lovely premise in and of itself, and the book is well written and a fun read. But what really drew me to the book is her story of love and loss, that is offered right up front in the introduction. And what draws me to her is the way she relates to her losses, and to her life.

Laurie is no stranger to loss. She witnessed her father’s death by heart attack when she was a junior in high school. About fifteen years later, she became a student of Thich Nhat Hahn, the beloved Vietnamese Monk.

I started going on retreats and deepening my practice and when I was nine months pregnant with my only child, Ava Grace, my brother Johnny suddenly died. Within the space of three weeks, I lost Johnny and experienced the most searing grief I'd ever known. And then at the same time, the most exquisite joy I've ever experienced. So I had the depth of the love both ends of the continuum mixed together.

Later, her other brother died, followed by her mother just seven years ago. Laurie uses her mindfulness practice, as well as practices to help her stay connected to her loved ones to cope with an overwhelming amount of personal loss. She uses what we often call embodied mindfulness to pay attention to the physical signs that a wave of grief is about to arises:

So by practicing over time tuning into my body, just really having a sense of the sematic signals or the body signals I can feel the grief coming or the sadness coming and then I, and then I can do something about it. So often what I would do is just simply breathe or take a walk. I love being in nature really grounds me and almost nourishes me like a mother Earth Hug. So really what I've experienced is that a step one is accessing an inner calm. That doesn't mean that I'm pushing away the emotion or denying it or avoiding it. It's just almost like an oxygen mask on myself. Just feeling the breath tuning into my body and just allowing myself, meeting myself with kindness in that moment and just generating calm. And then mindfulness helped me to relate to my experience with kind of a wider perspective.

Despite the great losses she has faced, Laurie herself is still very much fully alive and awake to this one precious life:

These losses continue to remind me of the beauty and the fragility of life. And I also really deeply appreciate my mindfulness practice in helping me navigate that.

I am grateful for the wisdom Laurie shares with us in this podcast. I hope you find her words as helpful as I do!

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Feeding Our Grief with Maria Mora of Integrated Eating

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 05:20:22 GMT

In the tenth episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, I interview Maria Mora, a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian. She shares ways we can help our body help itself by giving it the proper nutrition, and how we can use self-compassion to work with an eating disorder or disordered eating during grief.

When we have had a major loss, nourishing our body can feel like a struggle. Many of us will feel nauseous just at the thought of food, while others will use food to distract from difficult emotions, or swing back and forth between the two. If you are dealing with an eating disorder or disordered eating, it can be critical that you give your body the food and self-compassion you need to create a solid foundation for healing. Learn more about Maria Mora at http://www.integratedeating.com/.

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Children & Grief with Jana DeCristofaro of The Dougy Center

Tue, 23 Oct 2018 16:19:49 GMT

In the ninth episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, we learn helpful and compassionate ways we can help children cope with grief. More importantly, we learn how to help them help themselves, so they can build coping skills that will last a lifetime. Jana DeCristofaro, LCSW and Community Response Program Coordinator of The Dougy Center shares her wisdom on Children & Grief, including how peer support can empower children, and the many ways we can help at home and at school. Find resources for Children & Grief at The Dougy Center's Web Site , and be sure to listen to their Grief Out Loud Podcast, hosted by this week's guest, Jana DeCristofaro.

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The HOPE Process with Hope Zvara

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 21:23:00 GMT

Hope Zvara has turned her suffering into a mission: Help Others Purposefully Excel by using the three Bs: Breathe, Body, and Belief. In this episode, you will learn how Hope turned to yoga and mindfulness to help her overcome her struggle with bulimia as a young woman, and manage the pain after her first born daughter Faith died only twenty minutes after her birth. Listen and then learn more about Hope & her work at http://hopezvara.com.

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Mindfulness & Grief with Heather Stang

Sat, 08 Sep 2018 03:30:02 GMT

Meditation for grief can help you cope with the pain and overwhelming emotions of loss, provide much needed self-care, as well as find new footing in your very changed world. It may even lead to posttraumatic growth. Author Heather Stang discusses the second edition of her book, Mindfulness & Grief, with guest host Karla Helbert. Learn more about Heather & her work at http://mindfulnessandgrief.com.

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Compassion & Creativity for Grief with Claudia Coenen of The Karuna Project

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:29:10 GMT

When her husband died unexpectedly while on vacation together, Claudia Coenen felt as though she was hovering above herself, thinking "Your life has radically changed, now what?" She used every resource - journaling, poetry, crafts, dancing and moving meditation - and eventually studied grief theory and counseling. In the sixth episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, Claudia, offers creative and compassionate practices from her new book, Shattered by Grief: Picking Up the Pieces to Become WHOLE Again, and the Karuna Cards deck, which contains 52 exercises and prompts to help you cope with grief and difficult life transitions. Claudia is a Fellow in Thanatology, Certified Grief Counselor, and offers private sessions online and in Hudson, NY. Learn more about her at https://www.thekarunaproject.com.

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Passed & Present: Keeping Memories of Loved Ones Alive with Allison Gilbert

Wed, 08 Aug 2018 15:31:43 GMT

Learn inspiring ways to celebrate family & friends and the importance of actively engaging in your grief-work from Allison Gilbert, author of Passed & Present: Keeping Memories of Loved Ones Alive and Emmy Award Winning Journalist. Learn more about Allison and subscribe to her newsletter at http://allisongilbert.com.

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Always My Hero: Reflections on Sibling Loss From a Gold Star Sister with Renee Nickell

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 01:03:21 GMT

Renee Nickell, Author of Always My Hero, shares how equine therapy & evening devotions help her find hope & healing following her brother's death in Afghanistan. Learn more about her at http://reneenickell.com.

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Ahimsa: The Yogic Path to Self-Care During Grief with Karla Helbert

Wed, 11 Jul 2018 13:00:00 GMT

Yoga for Grief & Loss author Karla Helbert, LPC, shares how the yogic practice of non-violence, called "ahimsa," can help us be our own best friend during the difficult days, months and years after a major loss. Drawing from her own experience as a bereaved mother, a yoga therapist, and specialist in traumatic grief, Karla shares how she applies the principle of "ahimsa" to her own waves of grief over a decade after her loss, and how you can start your own practice in just minutes a day. Learn more about Karla at http://karlahelbert.com.

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Find Your Inner Wisdom Through Grief With The Kindness Rocks Project featuring Megan Murphy

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 13:00:00 GMT

Heather Stang interviews Megan Murphy of The Kindness Rocks Project, and explores how painting rocks and spreading kindness can help us maintain a connection with our departed loved ones and tap into our own inner wisdom as we navigate life after loss. Hear how one woman's grief experience unexpectedly launched a worldwide movement, and how you can be a part of the mission to offer "one message of kindness at just the right moment" to yourself and your community.

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Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness with David A. Treleaven, Ph.D.

Tue, 22 May 2018 16:15:57 GMT

Heather Stang interviews David A. Treleaven, Ph.D., author of "Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness," for an closer look at the intersection of grief, trauma, and mindfulness, so you can understand the benefits and pitfalls before you practice. Mindfulness meditation is highly praised for helping people reduce physical, emotional, and psychological suffering. But when trauma is involved, mindfulness needs to be handled with care, modified, or outright avoided.

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The Mindfulness & Grief Podcast

Is My Deceased Loved One OK?

Surviving The Death Of Our Beloved Cats & Dogs

Guilt, Regret, & Traumatic Loss with Anne Marie-Lockmyer

Dreams & Your Emotional Wellbeing During The Pandemic With Dr. Joshua Black

Permission To Grieve with Shelby Forsythia

​Victorious Heart with Kim Peacock

​​Coping With ​Overdose Grief with Dave Roberts, LMSW

​​Coping With Sibling Loss with Heidi Horsley

Valentine's Day Grief with Claudia Coenen

Warriors of Life with Richard Pryor

Coping With Grief During The Holidays

Healthy Lifestyles After Loss with Jason Wendroff-Rawnicki

Widowed Parents with Justin Yopp, PhD

Chakras in Grief & Trauma with Karla Helbert

Grief In The Workplace with R. Glenn Kelly

PauseFirst Project with Kim Colegrove

Liberate Your Grief with Claire Hoffman

Pet Loss & Grief with David Roberts, LMSW

Grief Dreams with Joshua Black, Ph.D.

Grief Day by Day Author Interview with Jan Warner

Songs That Heal with Molly G. Hicks, MMT, MT-BC

A Father's Journey with Dave Roberts

Walking With Our Loved Ones With Laurie Cameron of Purpose Blue

Feeding Our Grief with Maria Mora of Integrated Eating

Children & Grief with Jana DeCristofaro of The Dougy Center

The HOPE Process with Hope Zvara

Mindfulness & Grief with Heather Stang

Compassion & Creativity for Grief with Claudia Coenen of The Karuna Project

Passed & Present: Keeping Memories of Loved Ones Alive with Allison Gilbert

Always My Hero: Reflections on Sibling Loss From a Gold Star Sister with Renee Nickell

Ahimsa: The Yogic Path to Self-Care During Grief with Karla Helbert

Find Your Inner Wisdom Through Grief With The Kindness Rocks Project featuring Megan Murphy

Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness with David A. Treleaven, Ph.D.

Victorious Heart with Kim Peacock

Coping With Overdose Grief with Dave Roberts, LMSW

Coping With Sibling Loss with Heidi Horsley