Loss of a Family Member

Bereavement

Hurting and in pain and looking for hope? In times of bereavement watch, read and listen to stories of hope and recovery.

Articles

  • Setting the Intention to Live Again

    Posted on April 28, 2025 - by Dolores Cruz

    Setting the Intention to Live Again That cruel knock on the door was not my first introduction to grief, but it was, by far, the most brutal. My kind, compassionate, and very handsome 24-year-old son, my youngest of four wonderful children, had not come home that night. My mother’s heart was extremely worried. But that loud knock shook me to my core, and something deep inside of me knew what it was. It was 5:30 AM. My daughter, Vanessa, who followed me downstairs to the door, was the only one home as my husband was out of town on business. […]

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  • surgeons journey through loss

    Transform Trauma into Purpose

    Posted on March 17, 2025 - by Gloria Horsley

    Transform Trauma into Purpose Dr. Melissa Red Hoffman, an acute care surgeon at Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, shares her powerful story of surviving two traumatic losses and finding meaning in their aftermath. As one of only 90 surgeons board-certified in hospice and palliative medicine, her unique perspective bridges the gap between acute trauma care and end-of-life support. A Life-Altering Loss At age 19, Dr. Hoffman experienced her first devastating loss when her father was murdered in Cairo, Egypt. He was 47 years old, on a business trip working on a pipeline between Egypt and Israel, when he was […]

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  • Finding Hope in the Darkness

    Posted on March 10, 2025 - by Linda Henderson

    Finding Hope in The Darkness The Grief of the loss of my daughter deeply embedded itself in my soul. The loss of a child is a profound, life-altering experience. The journey through this loss is one of unimaginable pain that seeps into every cell of existence. The unbearable despair of Grief makes Hope inconceivable and feels unreachable. The weight of Grief is suffocating, making it seem impossible to see any light. Understanding Grief Grief is a whole-body experience. The harsh impact attacks a person with changes that influence us physically, emotionally, cognitively, socially, and in every way possible. Depression, sadness, […]

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  • medical intuition spiritual connections

    Connecting with Departed Loved Ones

    Posted on February 25, 2025 - by Gloria Horsley

    In a compelling discussion on the Open to Hope podcast, hosts Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley welcomed Julie Ryan, a psychic medium and medical intuitive, to explore the fascinating world of spirit communication and the transition between life and death. Ryan, who combines her background as a surgical device inventor with her spiritual abilities, shared insights into how people can connect with departed loved ones and understand the process of transitioning to the afterlife. From Business to Spiritual Practice Ryan’s journey into the spiritual realm began thirty years ago when she discovered Carolyn Mace’s book “Anatomy of the […]

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  • Create a New Vision after Loss

    Posted on February 24, 2025 - by Nalda Seidman

    Create a New Vision after Loss It’s early in the new year, and social media is flooded with posts about resolutions and plans for self-improvement. However, for those who have faced a significant loss, the new year often brings a heavy reminder of loved ones who are no longer with us. It can feel as though the future holds little promise for those who are grieving. It’s important to create a new vision after loss. After losing my son, Josh, when he was 20 years old, I struggled to find joy in a new year, or really about anything in […]

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  • Cemeteries as Cultural Landmarks

    Posted on February 17, 2025 - by Symon Braun Freck

    Cemeteries as Cultural Landmarks Situated on the grounds of Paramount Pictures Studios, Hollywood Forever Cemetery has served as a cultural landmark in the Los Angeles area since it was taken over and revamped by actor Tyler Cassidy in 1998. With the fires recently scorching the Los Angeles area, I felt compelled to share research I conducted on Hollywood Forever Cemetery a few years back. While homes and lives have been burned to the ground, community has strengthened, proving love is more powerful than destruction. This ongoing grieving period is crucial for the Los Angeles community, and I hope my research […]

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  • Death Positivity vs. Fear of Death

    Posted on February 17, 2025 - by Symon Braun Freck

    Death Positivity vs. Fear of Death ‘They’re in a better place.’ ‘It was their time to go.’ ‘Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.’ These statements are fillers that Americans are taught from a young age to avoid discussing death. Although every person will inevitably experience death, at a minimum their own death, the American norm of death avoidance is perpetuated in our communities without much thought to the impact it has on those grieving. These simple, relatively superficial one-liners are embedded into our conversational vocabulary with the intention of helping the bereaved, but all of […]

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  • music grief purpose

    Music and Grief After Losing a Child

    Posted on February 17, 2025 - by Gloria Horsley

    In a deeply moving conversation on the Open to Hope podcast, musician and author Nate McClendon shares his transformative journey through grief following the tragic loss of his 18-year-old daughter Naomi, who died in an accidental fall from a ten-story building in February 2014. McClendon, currently serving as the community engagement specialist at Kansas State University’s Beach Museum of Art, brings a unique perspective to grief and healing through his background as a musician who has worked with prestigious organizations including the Grammy Foundation and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The Evolution of Love and Understanding Ten years […]

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    Valentine’s Day Memories

    Posted on February 7, 2025 - by Nan Zastrow

    Valentine’s Day Memories “Random memories tell the stories of our lives…the difficult and joyous times that reveal who we are now, how far we’ve traveled, and who we’ve become because of our experiences.” Valentine’s Day dawned, and I awoke keenly aware that my first year without my husband was predestined to be an emotional one. It occurred just one month after his unexpected death.   I wouldn’t be creating any new memories. Gary’s absence filled the house, and the relenting ache of early grief was overwhelming.  I craved having just one more time. One more memory. Hearing his laughter and feeling […]

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  • The Helplessness of Grief

    Posted on January 28, 2025 - by Greg Adams

    The Helplessness of Grief Maybe your family is like mine. When a crisis strikes, you go into action to make things better. First, you want a better understanding of your situation, so you’re off to search the internet. After a good deal of searching, you go through your mental rolodex (remember those) to ask for additional information and suggestions. After making your contacts, you’re on your way to developing your “to-do” list of how to get a handle on the situation, or better yet, how to whip it into shape. A good crisis knocks us off balance and perhaps even […]

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  • Learning from Grief

    Posted on January 28, 2025 - by Harriet Hodgson

    Learning from Grief In the early stages of grief, sadness was all I could think about. I viewed my life—indeed the world—from the lens of sadness. Each day, I felt like I was drowning in sadness and there was nothing to be happy about. Unfortunately, when I did this, I made my life darker and turned it into a future without hope. What might happen if I changed my thinking? I had read about the human mind and how miraculous it is, how we may be the only living species capable of consciously changing our thinking. Dr. Heidi Horsley and […]

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  • Somatic Breathwork Transformed My Grief

    Posted on January 28, 2025 - by Stephen Stott

    How Somatic Breathwork Transformed My Grief Grief has a way of seeping into every part of our lives, even when we think we’ve moved on. For years after my sister’s death, I lived in the fog of grief. Mentally, I was coping as best I could, but because I was active in sports, my body found a way to release some of the tension after every practice. Still, even two decades later, I realized that grief was still lurking in my body, even though I believed I was in a good place—or so I thought. I remember attending my first […]

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  • When Grief Affects Your Mood

    Posted on January 6, 2025 - by Bradie Hansen

    When Grief Affects Your Mood It was one of those days. You know what I’m talking about; when you wake up tired and you can’t quite sort out how you’re going to do all the things? There have been a lot of these kinds of days for me lately, as we’ve been in the full tilt of holiday energy. Sometimes I can remember why it might be harder this year than others. Sometimes I forget. When I forget is when things get more complicated. I’ve found over the years that the holidays, as nice as they can be, also hold […]

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  • art writing healing tools

    Art and Writing as Healing Tools

    Posted on January 6, 2025 - by Heidi Horsley

    When Britney DeSantis lost her father at age 13, she found solace in an unexpected gift – a journal. Two decades later, this simple act of putting pen to paper has evolved into a powerful healing journey that has touched thousands of lives. Through her business, Peak Paper Company, DeSantis has taught calligraphy, watercolor, and journaling to over 50,000 people worldwide. In a recent Open to Hope Conversations podcast interview with Dr. Heidi Horsley, DeSantis shared insights from her personal grief journey and discussed her award-winning guided grief journal, “Forget You Not.” The journal, which hit Amazon’s #1 most gifted […]

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  • Five Ways to Get Through the Holidays (When You’re Not Feeling Ho Ho Hopeful)

    Posted on December 22, 2024 - by Heidi Gessner

    Five Ways to Get Through the Holidays Holidays can be difficult when someone you love has died. Or you’ve lost your job. Or an important relationship has ended. It can be hard to watch others being joyful and merry while your life feels joyless. You may need to be more intentional about your plans this year. Here are 5 innovative ways you can get through (and maybe even enjoy them). Light a candle. Engage in a meaningful ritual. Set aside some intentional quiet time to think of your loved one (and your life). Perhaps write a letter letting him or […]

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  • Tips for Bedside Visitors

    Posted on December 19, 2024 - by Bernie Siegel

    Tips for Bedside Visitors We know that you don’t need anyone to coach you or instruct you in lovingly reaching out and touching your loved one: holding her hand, putting a (warm or cool) wash cloth on his forehead or giving her a hug. My offering here is to help extend and enhance what you so naturally know how to do in helping your loved one heal. Our excitement about the healing potential of bedside visits came from someone I know who did “bedside ballet” with his mother-in-law shortly after she suffered a stroke. Family members credited this activity with […]

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  • Finding my Safe Spot: Going out While Grieving

    Posted on December 16, 2024 - by Perry Grosser

    Finding my Safe Spot I arrived at my annual software conference around 8am, the time the doors were scheduled to be open. I went into the amphitheater and immediately saw that the back-row corner seat was taken – damn. That is my safe seat. I own the back corner seat no matter where I go. So I did the unthinkable – I moved the bag over to the second chair and I settled into the end chair of the fifth row. That is my safe spot, my safe place at these conferences and meetings. I have come to learn that […]

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  • Black is the Color of Death

    Posted on December 12, 2024 - by Perry Grosser

    Black is the Color of Death I am sure you have seen them, and maybe even wear one or two – those different color silicone awareness bracelets – and they all have their own meaning. Camouflage to support the troops. Orange for Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus and Melanoma. Silver for Dyslexia. And on and on. Black, the color I focus on, is for mourning, POW/MIA, and for some reason Restless Leg Syndrome and Colitis. Matt and I were talking about the black bracelet and what it means to us, the bereaved parents of military personnel, and why black. We both agreed […]

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  • navigating holiday grief

    Practical Strategies for Holiday Survival

    Posted on December 11, 2024 - by Gloria Horsley

    The holiday season can be particularly challenging for those who have lost loved ones. In a heartfelt discussion on the Open to Hope Conversations podcast, Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughters, Dr. Heidi Horsley and Rebecca Barra, shared their personal experiences and professional insights about managing grief during the holidays. Understanding Holiday Grief The first holiday season after losing a family member often proves to be the most difficult. Rebecca Barra, who lost her father four years ago, initially resisted setting up holiday decorations or participating in festivities. Despite having four children, she struggled with acknowledging the holidays without her […]

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  • Faith is Like Insurance When a Loved One Dies

    Posted on December 5, 2024 - by Nan Zastrow

    Faith is Like Insurance The summer of 2011 will be remembered as a season of violent storms and will be marked by many lives that were turned upside down by the havoc of mother nature. Tornados ravaged Alabama.  Hurricane Irene washed the east coast and 11 states with flooding and chaos. Winds and driving rain ravaged the country creating destruction; and flood waters broke records from half-century ago. People were trapped in their homes. Rescue crews worked to dig through the rubble for survivors or bodies of those not so fortunate. The devastation was so widespread that it took days […]

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  • Finding Hope Through Breathwork

    Posted on December 2, 2024 - by Stephen Stott

    Finding Hope Through Breathwork Grief is a universal experience, yet it is deeply personal. It touches every corner of our lives, reshaping our identities, relationships, and even our understanding of the world. For some, it comes like a tidal wave, sudden and overpowering. For others, it settles in slowly, like a fog that doesn’t lift. No matter how grief manifests, it often brings questions we don’t know how to answer: How do I move forward? Can I ever feel whole again? As someone who has walked this path, I’ve learned that grief doesn’t just affect the heart or mind—it takes […]

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  • Valuable Lessons about Holiday Grief

    Posted on December 1, 2024 - by Nan Zastrow

    Valuable Lessons about Holiday Grief “The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.”  (Russell M. Nelson) Holidays were always a Big Deal in our family until the death of my son. They began with family and friends gathering for Halloween costume parties and ended only when the calendar flipped to a new year. The only thing that could make them better was if the next year could be better than the last! When my son died in 1993, we made a lot of changes […]

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  • Managing Holiday Grief

    Posted on November 24, 2024 - by Sarah Kravits

    Managing Holiday Grief It was Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, the first Thanksgiving without my brother, just months after a drunk driver had ended his life. I needed to get some shopping done and I found myself at a mall. The instant I stepped inside, I was enveloped in holiday atmosphere. Everything shone and glittered, music rang out, scents of pine and cinnamon candles mingled with the smell of perfumes being sprayed on shoppers in the department stores. Delight hung in the air. But I was feeling holiday grief. It felt like I had been punched in the stomach. I couldn’t […]

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  • Yes, I’m Still Grieving

    Posted on November 22, 2024 - by Sarah Kravits

    Yes, I’m Still Grieving If you or someone you care about has ever suffered a painful loss, you’ve likely heard, communicated, or thought something like the following: That earnest wish that a person could “move on” or “get over” the intensity of grief. The well-meaning concern that someone is “dwelling on,” “wallowing in,” or “stuck in” grief. That kind directive to “focus on the positive” or work to get one’s “life back.” We often feel it, deeply, when friends or family members are grieving. Perhaps we experience their hurt empathically, or maybe we sense its weight because we wish for […]

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  • navigating loss insights

    Grief Tips from an Ayurveda Practitioner

    Posted on November 19, 2024 - by Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley

    In a recent episode of Open to Hope Conversations, Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley welcomed Dr. Shweta Vikram, an international speaker, best-selling author, and Ayurvedic practitioner. Dr. Vikram shared valuable insights on coping with grief and loss, drawing from her personal experiences and professional expertise. A Journey Through Loss Dr. Vikram’s connection to grief and loss runs deep. Her early experiences with the loss of her grandfather and aunt shaped her understanding of grief. Later, she faced the profound loss of both her father and father-in-law within two days of each other, which became the inspiration for her […]

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  • Top 10 Podcasts for Grief, Loss and Healing

    Posted on November 11, 2024 - by Heidi Horsley

    Grief is a deeply personal journey, and while everyone’s experience is different, listening to others share their stories and insights can be incredibly comforting and healing. Podcasts about grief offer a range of perspectives, from experts in mental health and mindfulness to everyday people sharing their personal stories. Here’s a list of top grief podcasts that provide valuable support, empathy, and understanding for those navigating loss. 1. Open to Hope Podcast The Open to Hope Podcast, hosted by Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley, is a powerful resource for individuals dealing with loss. Drawing from personal experiences and professional […]

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    Navigating Grief: A Journey of Growth and Resilience

    Posted on November 6, 2024 - by Zander Sprague

    Grief is a universal human experience, yet society often struggles to address it effectively. In a recent episode of “Epic Begins with 1 Step Forward,” host Xander Sprague and guest Denise DeWalt delve into the complexities of loss and the journey of healing that follows. Their conversation sheds light on the misconceptions surrounding grief and offers valuable insights for those navigating their own path through loss. The Unexpected Journey of Grief Denise DeWalt’s journey began in 2009 when she suddenly lost her husband to a blood clot. This life-altering event propelled her into a new role: helping others navigate their […]

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  • A Very Brief History of Crying

    Posted on October 28, 2024 - by Bob Baugher

    A Very Brief History of Crying In American pre-Victorian times (1700s-1800s), the expectation was that of moderation. That is, if you cried too much, it signified an excessive focus on the here and now and too little faith in the world beyond. In the Victorian age, people saw death as failure of medicine and loss of ties with family, which prompted many tears.  Grief became expressive and often excessive. In the early 1900s, the emergence of World War I brought renewed restraint. Crying was considered a backward-looking emotion. Maintaining a “stiff upper lip” became the expectation in American society. Today, […]

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  • Hope is a Muscle

    Posted on October 28, 2024 - by Greg Adams

    Hope is a Muscle Nicholas Kristoff doesn’t look away. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who writes about people all over the world who experience great loss. He interviews people in the middle of their suffering and shares what he has learned with the rest of us. And despite witnessing some of the worst of what humans can experience, he is not a pessimist. In a recent podcast episode of “Everything Happens with Kate Bowler,” he was asked if his family had a motto, and if so, what would it be? His response, in part, was this: “I think that […]

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  • Five Myths About Crying

    Posted on October 15, 2024 - by Bob Baugher

    Five Myths About Crying Myth #1: Crying is a sign of weakness. This is truly a cultural attitude, not a truth.  Crying is an individual response to a physiological, emotional, or spiritual state of being and is neither a sign of weakness nor strength.  Crying for some requires great strength and courage while for others, not crying requires the same things.  For some, crying or not crying comes easily.   Myth #2: Crying shows you care. Tears are often used as a measure of how much a person cares.  Because people don’t cry, does this mean they don’t care?  Some […]

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  • An Introduction to Crying

    Posted on October 14, 2024 - by Bob Baugher

    An Introduction to Crying Crying is a mysterious and often misunderstood phenomenon.  As an introduction to crying, it can be defined as a way to express grief, pain, anger, joy or other emotions by tears, voice or both. We humans secrete a host of fluids that no one wants to see. Tears are pretty much the only secretion that people around us will tolerate; and even then, their acceptance of our crying behavior depends upon many complex factors. You’ve heard people say, “Crying is normal.” Yet, every day people are chastised, criticized, ridiculed and put down for their display of […]

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    Finding Light in the Darkness

    Posted on October 14, 2024 - by Gloria Horsley

    Finding Light in the Darkness: A Message of Hope and Healing In times of profound struggle and emotional turmoil, it’s easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed. However, Sue Frederick, a renowned spiritual guide and author, offers a powerful message of hope and reassurance for those experiencing what is often referred to as “the dark night of the soul.” She helps us in finding light in the darkness. The Dark Night of the Soul: Understanding Your Journey The concept of the “dark night of the soul” has its roots in spiritual and mystical traditions. It describes a period of intense spiritual […]

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  • Widower Finds Poetry Healing

    Posted on September 23, 2024 - by Mike Bernhardt

    Widower Experiences Consuming Grief My wife Susan died unexpectedly in April 1991, the Sunday after Easter. I could never have imagined beforehand how transformative an experience that would be. Nothing was true anymore but the truths of her death and my continued existence. I was shaken to my foundations, forced to decide what I would keep of myself and what I would throw away. Every aspect of my life was subject to review, from my occupation to my spiritual beliefs, from my choice of friends to my choice of doctors. Although some friends were very supportive, for about a year […]

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  • Longing for a Child Who has Died

    Posted on September 23, 2024 - by Janice Bell Meisenhelder

    Longing for a Child Who has Died The intense longing for your deceased child causes difficult emotional pain and unremitting agony. Our bodies and minds cry out deep from our core to see, hear, touch, smell and feel our child.  Although there is no satisfying these needs, bereaved parents find many ways to stay connected to their child and recommend doing so to other bereaved mothers. Parents report a lessening of the intensity of their grief when they remain connected to their child, and continue bonding practices for many years, usually their lifetime.  For the bereaved parent, the goal of […]

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  • Not Censoring our Grief Stories

    Posted on August 26, 2024 - by Greg Adams

    Not Censoring our Grief Stories I was recently in a bookstore on vacation with my wife and adult daughter. As we sat at a table drinking our afternoon pick-me-up beverages, both asked if I had seen a particular book on the shelf with books signed by the authors. I had not and went over to look. It was a grief book, not surprisingly, and I brought it back to the table for review. I liked the chapter and section titles and descriptions. I liked the people listed in the acknowledging of “grief guides.”  And I liked the title and the […]

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  • What to Do When the Casseroles Stop Coming: First Anniversary of the Death

    Posted on July 30, 2024 - by Mary Joye

    First Anniversary of the Death About three weeks after a funeral, most people stop checking on you. The offerings become a smattering of well wishes and hopes you’re doing “better”. However, you might not be “better”. The anniversary of a loved one’s passing, particularly the first, sometimes is the toughest. Many books say that one year is “long enough” to grieve. One year may be enough for some, but for others, especially people with small or dysfunctional families, it may not be. If your loved one died of a violent act, the grief may last a lifetime. And no matter the […]

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  • The Difference Between Functioning and Grieving

    Posted on July 22, 2024 - by Brooke Carlock

    Grieving over Libby A few months after Libby died, I sat for an interview with a local newspaper to talk about her death, her impact on the people she knew, and the charity her father and I created in her honor. If you’ll allow a mom to gush about her kid for a moment, Libby was no ordinary ten-year-old. Not only was she beautiful, with a smile that radiated her joyful personality, but she was intelligent, talented, and most of all, kind. She was the once-in-a-lifetime student that teachers raved about, who befriended the other children sitting alone at lunch […]

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  • Tell Your Grief Story

    Posted on July 22, 2024 - by Brooke Carlock

    Tell Your Grief Story Telling your grief story is an insanely powerful way to process your emotions. At first, friends and family want to hear the story, and we tell it in a haze, barely registering what we’re saying. Then, we might find ourselves telling the same story for the tenth time. But somehow something clicks and sinks in, and we break down into a sobbing hysterical mess. Eventually, you will most likely feel like you’re being a pain in the ass telling the same people the same story over and over again. At that point, grief groups can be […]

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Open to Hope TV

  • Episode 235: Navigating Loss

    Posted on December 20, 2024 - by admin

    Losses are complicated, how do we navigate them?  Join hosts Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughter Dr. Heidi Horsley and their guests; Julie Ryan, Sarah Voleman and Dr. Korie Leigh to talk about navigating loss. Julie Ryan is a Medical Intuitive. She is the author of, Angelic Attendants: What Really Happens As We Transition From This Life Into The Next, and Angel Messages, picture books answering kids’ tough questions. Julie hosts the “Ask Julie Ryan” show which is heard by millions worldwide. Sarah Voleman is a board certified art therapist and a licensed social worker.  She is a faculty member […]

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  • Episode 229: Grief as a Teacher

    Posted on November 6, 2024 - by admin

    Is it possible to learn something from your grief? Join host Dr. Heidi Horsley and her co-host Alan Pedersen as they discuss how grief can be a teacher. Joining them are, Jason Wendroff-Rawnicki, Carin Mikos, Jan Jeremias, Bill Correll, Jordon Ferber, and Kelli Holst. Co-host Alan Pedersen has presented programs for grieving families in over 1,600 cities and is the former Executive Director for The Compassionate Friends. Jason Wendroff-Rawnicki, is a somatic therapist, who started SIBS online, a weekly peer to peer support group. Carin Mikos, is the creator of Quietus House, and podcast host for In the Gap. Jan […]

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  • Episode 217: Navigating Loss as Men

    Posted on June 10, 2024 - by admin

    While there are similarities among men who are grieving, there are also differences. Listen to how two men with very different experiences navigated their unexpected losses. Join hosts Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughter Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with their guests Jon Lefrandt and Warren Kozak, as they discuss how they navigated their lives after loss. Jon Lefrandt is the Founder and CEO of Elevia, a text messaging service used to better serve grieving families. Jon comes to this work after the death of his father, which left him reeling. He is also the founder of For Grief, a multi-platform […]

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