Explore every episode of the podcast How To Deal With Grief and Trauma
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97 Tori Press | California Wildfires: Loss and Trauma in the Face of Natural Disaster | 03 Feb 2025 | 00:41:00 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeI’ve spoken to today’s guest Tori in S4 E39 so I recommend listening to her personal story there. For today's episode, I invited Tori to speak with me about her experience, who is living just miles from where wildfires in California have recently devastated an entire community. Together, we talk about what it’s like to be so close to this kind of tragedy, the emotional impact on both survivors and those supporting them, and what we can do to help. About this week’s guestTori Press is an artist, author, and anxious human being. She spent 10 years as a graphic designer before quitting to create some space in her life. In 2016 she bought herself a set of markers and began drawing pictures inspired by her yoga practice, mental health struggles, and everyday life. This decision started her on an extraordinary adventure of self-discovery and human connection. Her drawings help her cultivate mindfulness, gratitude, and self-acceptance–and she hopes they do the same for others! Tori’s links: Website | Instagram Resources mentioned in this episodeAnother episode with Tori: Find support: Support the show:
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| 96 Shelby Forsythia | Political Grief | 20 Jan 2025 | 00:37:32 | |
Episode summary introduction HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeI’ve spoken to today’s guest, Shelby in S3E29 so I recommend listening to her personal story there. For today's episode, I invited Shelby back to speak about the topic of loss and/or trauma, at least for some, experienced following the most recent new election of the American president or how she worded it in one of her newsletters: “Thoughts for election despair” and how it affects her. Upon my invitation to speak with her for the podcast, Shelby wrote to me: “Full disclosure: I'll be coming with my progressive perspective as a woman, queer person, and grief business owner, so I really can't speak to the perspective of anyone who's overjoyed at Trump's return to office.” About this week’s guestShelby Forsythia (she/her) is a grief coach, author, and podcast host. In 2020, she founded Life After Loss Academy, an online course and community that has helped dozens of grievers grow and find their way after death, divorce, diagnosis, and other major life transitions. Following her mother’s death in 2013, Shelby began calling herself a “student of grief” and now devotes her days to reading, writing, and speaking about loss. Through mindfulness tools and intuitive, open-ended questions, she guides her clients to welcome grief as a teacher and create meaningful lives that honor and include the heartbreaks they’ve faced. Her work has been featured in Huffington Post, Bustle, Newsweek, and The Oprah Magazine. She considers herself a politically progressive, honoring her identities as a queer woman and grief guide. Shelby’s links: Website | Instagram Resources mentioned in this episodeOther episode with Shelby:
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| 88 Rachel Tenpenny | Grieving Parents 10 Years Later | 11 Oct 2024 | 00:56:47 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeWelcome to a special series of podcast episodes in honor of the 10th anniversary of my first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple, published in 2014. To mark this milestone, I’m reconnecting with the same parents I initially interviewed for the book, offering a unique opportunity to revisit their stories and gain a deeper understanding of their journeys—now, with the perspective of a decade. Helping people through grief is Rachel’s passion. After her twin baby daughters Aubrey and Ellie died in 2008, she made a promise to them that she’d learn how to heal after loss and share what she learned with everyone who wants to heal too. Rachel has spent more than a decade making good on her promise and has helped hundreds of clients build a meaningful and purposeful life after loss. Resources mentioned in this episodeOther episodes with Rachel: Find support: Support the show:
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| 2 Katja Faber | Homicide Loss – Effect on the Victim’s Family Part 1 | 04 Jul 2022 | 00:45:23 | |
‘I wish to be ok with it if for no other reason than I owed it to myself and to my still-living children and those that care about me. Because they have a right to have a full and beautiful life, and having a mother that's traumatised and overwhelmed by something that she has no control over is not doing anybody any favours.’ Katja’s story is extraordinary and has made waves in the media worldwide. Since the recording of this episode a few weeks ago the court case has taken place at the high court in Zurich, and the killer was convicted. We are planning to do Part 2 of this interview in a few weeks so stay tuned. About this week’s guestKatja Faber is the mother of three children. Following her 23-year-old son's murder in Switzerland, she used her legal training to work closely with lawyers and the State Prosecutor to secure justice for her dead son. Through her writing at Still Standing Magazine and other grief-related publications, she hopes to break the taboo of homicide loss and child loss. She runs her own fruit farm and is an advocate of ecotherapy as a means of finding healing following a traumatic loss. Katja is a certified Compassionate Bereavement Care® counselor through the Center for Loss and Trauma in partnership with the MISS Foundation and the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Family Trust. Topics discussed in this episode
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| 1 Rachel Tenpenny | Why and How Healing Is Possible | 26 Jun 2022 | 00:55:20 | |
Episode introduction ‘Whether healing is possible or not, is irrelevant. It has to be possible for me because this is the life that I want, and I am not willing to give up.’ Rachel Tenpenny gave birth to twin girls Aubrey and Ellie on June 24th, 2008. They both died a few days after their birth. Rachel talks to us about her grieving and healing story and how she came to strongly believe that healing is possible About this week’s guestRachel Tenpenny is a grief expert, emotional well-being specialist, and life-after-loss coach. With over 13 years of experience healing her own heart after her baby daughters died in 2008, she has helped hundreds of people find healing after life’s most painful experiences. Rachel believes grief is not forever and teaches grievers how to heal physically and emotionally with a unique and effective holistic approach to cultivating healing that lasts a lifetime. Originally from a small town in Southern California, she now lives in Northern Virginia with her two boys, Dustin and Colton. Topics discussed in this episode
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| TRAILER: How To Deal With Grief & Trauma | 21 Jun 2022 | 00:03:37 | |
Welcome to HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA, a podcast where on each episode we will hear from people - like you – who have lived through heart-breaking losses and traumas.
Sign up here to receive notification of upcoming episodes being released: HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA Updates --> For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website. --> Subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. --> Join the podcast’s Instagram page. If you need grief support, please contact me for a FREE 30 min discovery session. HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Please support this PodcastTo support this podcast, please rate, review, subscribe to, or follow the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you. Remember to keep breathing, I promise, it will get easier. Find support: Support the show:
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| 87 MC McDonalds | Orphaned by 25 | 30 Sep 2024 | 00:48:08 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeI first encountered Mary Catherine McDonald through her powerful presence on social media, where she consistently shares insightful perspectives on trauma and healing. Her way of showing up with authenticity and clarity immediately drew me in. I was further captivated when I heard her speak in several podcasts and at a recent online trauma conference, where her depth of knowledge and her insights left a lasting impression. Mary Catherine’s ability to articulate the complexities of trauma while offering hope and practical guidance has encouraged me to invite her onto the podcast as a guest. Mary Catherine (MC) McDonald, PhD, is a research professor and life coach who specializes in the psychology of trauma, stress, and resilience. She has been researching, lecturing, and publishing on the neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience of trauma and stress for over a decade. She is passionate about destigmatizing trauma, stress, and mental health issues in general, as well as reframing our understanding of trauma in order to better understand and treat it.
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| 86 Nathalie Himmelrich | Building Resilience in the Context of Grief and Trauma | 16 Sep 2024 | 00:11:59 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeWelcome to today's episode of our podcast where we look at how to build resilience when dealing with grief, loss or trauma. When people hear the word, they often think of strength, bouncing back quickly, or being unaffected by hardship. But in the context of grief, loss, and trauma, resilience can look very different—it’s not about avoiding pain or pretending that everything is okay. What is Resilience? Resilience is the ability to continue functioning, even when life feels overwhelming. It’s about adapting to change and hardship in a way that allows you to keep moving forward, even if it’s at your own pace. It doesn’t mean you won’t feel the sadness, anger, or pain. In fact, resilience means you allow yourself to feel those emotions and still find a way to live through them. In this episode, I want to share with you five practical ways to continue building resilience, no matter where you are in your journey of healing. These are simple, easy-to-follow steps that can help strengthen that inner part of you that’s already doing the work of surviving, processing, and adapting. Remember, building resilience is a process, and there’s no rush. Take it day by day, and trust that you have the inner strength to weather the storm. Resources mentioned in this episode
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| 85 Deb Dana | Loss Through the Lens of Polyvagal Theory | 02 Sep 2024 | 00:53:26 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeDeb Dana’s influence first started with her publications and her online workshops, through which she allowed me insights into Polyvagal Theory from a therapist's standpoint. Then, I had the privilege of meeting Deb personally during the Polyvagal Conference in Berlin, an experience that deeply impacted me personally and professionally. Her work on the Polyvagal Theory resonated with me profoundly, offering new insights into the connection between the nervous system and emotional well-being. Deb's compassionate approach and groundbreaking research helped me understand the importance of creating safety and connection in therapeutic settings. Her influence has shaped my practice, allowing me to support my clients more effectively, while also guiding my own journey towards greater self-awareness and emotional resilience. In this episode, Deb shares how she dealt with the recent death of her husband Bob and takes us through how we can trust our nervous system to guide the way through grief. About this week’s guestDeb Dana, LCSW, is a clinician, consultant, author and speaker. Her work is focused on using the lens of Polyvagal Theory to understand and resolve the impact of trauma. She delves into the intricacies of how we can use an understanding of the organizing principles of Polyvagal Theory to change the ways we navigate our daily lives. Deb is well known for translating Polyvagal Theory into a language and application that is both clear and accessible and for her significant contribution pioneering Rhythm of Regulation® methodology, tools, techniques and practices which continue to open up the power of Polyvagal Theory for professionals and curious people from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life. Deb’s published work includes The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation, Polyvagal Practices: Anchoring the Self in Safety, the Polyvagal Card Deck, and Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory. Find support: Support the show:
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| 84 Nathalie Himmelrich | Understanding the Difference Between Grief and Depression | 20 Aug 2024 | 00:14:58 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeWelcome to today's episode of our podcast. Inspired by a clip I saw on Instagram where Elizabeth Gilbert speaks about the two distinctly different experiences, I feel it’s important to say a bit more. We’re going to dive into understanding the intricacies of emotional health, specifically focusing on the differences between grief and depression. These are often conflated, but they are distinct experiences that require different approaches for effective support and management. I’ve personally wrestled with both grief and depression at different stages of my life. My journey through these challenging emotional landscapes taught me a lot, and I hope to share some of that insight with you today. Resources mentioned in this episode
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| 83 Stephanie Sarazin | Understanding Ambiguous Grief | 29 Jul 2024 | 00:48:17 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeToday I have the pleasure of speaking with Stephanie, who I know from a community we both are a part of. I also had the pleasure of reading her book on a specific form of grief, a topic that interests me due to personal reasons. So today we're going to dive into a very widely experienced topic, but not as widely spoken about or understood. Ambiguous grief stands for the grief that is experienced after the loss of a relationship with someone but not through death. I can't wait to hear Stephanie telling us all she’s got to know since her own personal experience with ambiguous grief. About this week’s guestStephanie Sarazin is a writer, researcher, and ambiguous grief guide, who aims to support those grieving the loss of a loved one who is still living, but no longer as they once were. Her work began with her own experience of mid-life trauma, which sparked an ambitious journey— spiritually and around the world—to understand, name, and heal the grief she found within her. Her efforts revealed a first-of-its-kind definition for “ambiguous grief,” whereby grief is onset by the loss of a loved one who is still living and wherein the experience of hope presents in the grieving process. She is the author of Soulbroken: A Guidebook For Your Journey Through Ambiguous Grief, which won the 2023 Nautilus Books Gold Award in the category of grief and loss.
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| 82 Nathalie Himmelrich | Embracing Grief Through Metaphors 2 | 15 Jul 2024 | 00:23:49 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeIn this episode, I will highlight commonly used metaphors for grief and trauma. Metaphors can offer a way to articulate complex emotions and experiences and offer a unique perspective to support those coping with loss and trauma. Of the 10 most commonly used metaphors, I describe five in more detail this week and the remaining five can be found in episode 81. Which one of the grief metaphors described do you relate to the most and why? Do you have any other metaphors that helped you navigate your grief and trauma? Let us know! Write a comment here on the blog. The Top 10 Metaphors for Understanding Grief:
· IG Post about the Grief Crystal: bit.ly/GriefCrystal Find support: Support the show:
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| 81 Nathalie Himmelrich | Embracing Grief Through Metaphors | 09 Jul 2024 | 00:24:50 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeIn this episode, I will highlight commonly used metaphors for grief and trauma. Metaphors can offer a way to articulate complex emotions and experiences and offer a unique perspective to support those coping with loss and trauma. Of the 10 most commonly used metaphors, I describe five in more detail this week and the remaining five in the next episode 82. Which one of the grief metaphors described do you relate to the most and why? Do you have any other metaphors that helped you navigate your grief and trauma? Let us know! Write a comment here on the blog. The Top 10 Metaphors for Understanding Grief:
· IG Post about the Grief Crystal: bit.ly/GriefCrystal Find support: Support the show:
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| 80 Nathalie Himmelrich | 2 YEARS ANNIVERSARY EPISODE! | 21 Jun 2024 | 00:10:54 | |
How to Deal with Grief and Trauma - 2nd Anniversary Special Celebrating Two Years of Healing Conversations Key Takeaways: 1. Milestones: Celebrating 80 episodes over the past two years. 2. Noteworthy Guests: Highlighting episodes with Turiya Hanover, Chris Young, Fish James Gill, Julia Samuel, Dr Mary-Frances O'Connor, and David Kessler. 3. Community Impact: Acknowledging the invaluable support and engagement from listeners. 4. Future Plans: Announcing exciting new topics and episodes for the upcoming year. Suggestions on How to Implement Further: - Visit Podcast Website: Find all episodes and guest information here. - Share the Podcast: Encourage friends and family to listen and subscribe. - Rate and Review: Leave a review on your podcast platform to help others discover the podcast. - Engage on Social Media: Follow and interact with the podcast for updates and discussions. Find support: Support the show:
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| 79 Dr Trish Muehsam | When You Lose Your Pet Companion | 10 Jun 2024 | 00:45:11 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeI have known Trish for a couple of years. From the beginning, it was obvious: that Trish and Mr. Benjamin had a deep connection. Benjamin was part of everything and everywhere she went. He supported her in every way possible. They were inseparable. It comes as no surprise that Benjamin's death just five months ago left her in despair. Trish’s heart was broken, and her life was missing the most essential ingredient: Her most trusted friend and companion, Golden Retriever Benjamin. About this week’s guestPatricia A. Muehsam, MD, a pioneer in the synthesis of science, holistic health, and contemporary spirituality, has been a thought leader in the alternative medicine movement. She forged new ground that led to the establishment of the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health in the USA, endeavors that transformed the landscape of healthcare options today. Dr. Trish has distinguished herself as a practitioner, educator, research scientist, and award-winning author. She founded the American Medical Colleges’ first initiative in alternative medicine, leading medical schools throughout the United States and the world to add courses in the field. Her original bioelectromagnetic research investigated distant healer phenomena and homeopathy. Dr Trish’s award-winning book, Beyond Medicine: A Physician’s Revolutionary Prescription for Achieving Absolute Health and Finding Inner Peace, has been hailed as the “only health and healing book you may ever need.” She offers health consultations, mind-body healing sessions, online courses, and communities of support.
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| 95 Meghan R Jarvis | The Essential Questions About Grief, Loss and Trauma | 13 Jan 2025 | 00:44:04 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeThis week, I’m speaking with Meghan R. Jarvis again, who was a guest in seasons four and five. We speak the same professional language and, together, discuss the intersection of grief and trauma. Meghan just published another book called Can Anyone Tell Me? Essential Questions about Grief and Loss offers hopeful lessons on loss informed by rigorous neuroscience and biophysical science, communicated to readers in manageable, understandable bites and profound real-world stories. About this week’s guestMeghan Riordan Jarvis, MA, LCSW, is an author, podcast host, TEDx Speaker, and psychotherapist specializing in trauma, grief, and loss. After experiencing PTSD following the deaths of both of her parents within two years of each other, Meghan began speaking on a larger scale about the importance of understanding grief and supporting grievers. Founder of Tacking Point Partners, Meghan, and her team consult regularly with companies addressing grief in the workplace. Meghan’s “Grief is My Side Hustle” platform includes her popular podcast of the same name, her blog, and her free grief writing workshop “Grief Mates.” Meghan’s links: Website | Instagram Resources mentioned in this episodeOther episodes with Meghan: Find support: Support the show:
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| 78 Joshua Black | Grief Dreams and What They Can Tell Us | 03 Jun 2024 | 00:42:46 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeI know Joshua from being the host of his podcast called Grief Dreams where you can find him talking to numerous people about their grief dreams that they had after one of their deceased loved ones passed, as well as pets. I found the topic of grief dreams fascinating as I had my own series of grief dreams following the death of my mother which came one after, not every night, but every so often and they were like different episodes in the series on Netflix, and they lasted for months. And maybe we're going to talk about this a little bit more, but I'm interested in what Joshua can tell me about his view and his research about it. If you haven't heard of Joshua, don't worry because in today's episode, I'm going to ask him all the questions that you might interested in as well. Let's see where this takes us today. About this week’s guestJoshua Black, PhD, is a grief and bereavement researcher, speaker, and host of the Grief Dreams Podcast. Most of his published work has focused on dreams and continuing bonds after loss, including prenatal and pet loss. As one of the leading academic experts in grief dreams, which can be dreams of the deceased, Dr. Black has directed his efforts to raise awareness about this fascinating phenomenon through media interviews, speaking engagements, and workshops. In addition to his website (Griefdreams.ca), you can find him active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@griefdreams). Dr Black currently works as the Bereavement Initiative Manager for the BC Centre for Palliative Care, where he is leading bereavement-related research. His long-term research goals are to continue to serve and raise awareness of those who are bereaved and who are not being provided the necessary grief support.
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| 77 Amber Jackson | How I Survived a Fall from a Zipline - Dealing with Accidental Trauma | 27 May 2024 | 00:41:09 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeYou might remember Amber as my guest from episode number 27 where we spoke about the way she dealt with the loss of her husband, Tim, when she was just 32 years old. Since then, a lot has happened in Amber's life and today we are going to talk about the accidental trauma she had to deal with just over 6 months ago. She survived a fall from a zipline, but she will tell us more about this in her own words. What inspired me to ask Amber to be my guest again is the way she is dealing with trauma and grief. She is a beacon of light and a living model of finding joy in life and admitting its hardship. I admire her and her ability to pick herself off, dust herself off and start all over again – as in Nat King Cole’s song. About this week’s guestAmber Jackson is a single mom of four (one with special needs) and a divorce survivor, cancer widow, fun-seeker, and lover of all things having to do with kitchen dance parties and cheesecake. She is a certified public speaker and loves speaking to women and teens about finding joy in the unexpected. Life’s challenges haven’t stopped her from living life to the fullest. Amber is a self-proclaimed life enthusiast and is determined to see everything that life has to offer, including the bad, as something she can learn from. She has a huge appreciation for life and all the things that make one happy. She believes that all lights twinkle, that there can be magic laced in music and there is strength in even the smallest of breaths.
If you need personal support dealing with your trauma, please visit Nathalie's website for more resources: https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/ Find support: Support the show:
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| 76 Dr Kate Truitt | Keep Breathing - An Intimate Journey Through Loss, Trauma, and Rediscovering Life | 20 May 2024 | 00:40:36 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week's episodeI found Dr. Kate Truitt on social media through her connections with two of my previous podcast guests and we probably have even more mutual connections than that. Our shared interest and her latest new book release where she shares about her personal journey through loss and trauma, obviously made me curious. Speaking with someone like Kate who has similar interests in the main two topics of this podcast is more than a synchronicity and I hope you benefit from today's session as much as I'm looking forward to having this time with Kate. About this week's guestDr. Kate Truitt, a clinical psychologist and applied neuroscientist, is internationally recognized for her expertise in trauma, stress, and resilience. She is the founder of the educational platform Truitt Institute and leads her award-winning clinical team at Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates. As a member of the Goldie Hawn Foundation’s MindUP Scientific Advisory Committee and a Developer of the Havening Techniques, Dr. Truitt passionately advocates for mental health literacy and empowerment globally. With an impressive social media following of over 140,000 as well as viewership and readership of over 4 million, and as the author of Keep Breathing: A Psychologist’s Intimate Journey Through Loss, Trauma, and Rediscovering Life and Healing in Your Hands: Self-Havening Exercises to Harness Neuroplasticity, Heal Traumatic Stress, and Build Resilience, she is dedicated to destigmatizing mental health and fostering resilience worldwide.
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| 75 David Kessler | How Long Does Grief Last? | 13 May 2024 | 00:43:49 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week's episodeDavid Kessler’s name is known worldwide in relation to grief and probably does not require an introduction as a guest. If you have been dealing with grief and diving into the literature, you will have most likely come across his name. I had the chance to meet David through mutual connections more than a year ago and I've been touched by his genuine nature and the passion with which he has been serving the community of the bereaved for a long time now. Personally, I have read many of his books. David also offers a lot of free resources both to grieving people as well as to clinicians. I'm honoured to bring you David as a guest today and I hope together we will have the chance to hear a lot more of his personal stories and benefit from his professional wisdom. About this week's guestDavid Kessler is one of the world's foremost experts on grief and loss. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets of living a happy and fulfilled life, even after life tragedies. He's the author of six books, including his latest best-selling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. He co-authored 2 books, Elizabeth Kuebler, Ross, Life Lessons and On Grieve and Grieving, updating her five stages for grief. He also co-wrote You Can Heal Your Heart with Louise Hay and he authored Vision, Trips and Crowded Rooms: Who and What You See Before You Die. His first book, The Needs of the Dying, received praise from Saint Mother Teresa. He has a new online model of grief support called Tender Hearts, with over 25 groups each, as well as one of the most respected grief certification programs. He's the founder of Grief.com.
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| Season 8 - Trailer: News About the Upcoming Show | 06 May 2024 | 00:04:30 | |
Welcome again to the How to Deal With Grief and Trauma Podcast Season 8. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. Season 8 of the podcast will restart next Monday with episode #75 and after that new episodes will drop every Monday as per usual. If you'd like to receive updates to never miss an episode and receive special invitations, only sent out to newsletter subscribers, please sign up for the weekly newsletter on nathaliehimmelrich.com. Thank you for your support and please rate the show. Find support: Support the show:
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| 74 Diana Richardson | Intimacy and Sexuality Affected By Loss and Trauma | 22 Apr 2024 | 00:56:41 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeIf you've been drawn to this episode, it might be due to the title containing one of the most searched-for topics or due to the name of my guest. Diana Richardson is widely known due to her many books that span multiple pages if you look on Amazon which have been translated into various languages. Diana Richardson (aka Puja) was born in KwaZulu, South Africa. She has a Law Degree from University of Natal, Durban, and been a teacher of therapeutic massage since 1978. In 1979 she became a disciple of the Indian mystic Osho. Soon after she began a personal enquiry into Tantra inspired by Osho and Barry Long. Diana Richardson is one of today’s leading authorities on human sexuality. She has been teaching couples her highly effective 'Love Keys' together with her partner Michael since 1993. She has written 8 books on Tantra, two with Michael as co-author. Diana deals with the essence of Tantra - the union of sex and meditation - and how in practical ways a person can experience a more fulfilling love life.
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| 73 Marc Hauser | How Adverse Childhood Experiences Shape Vulnerable Minds | 15 Apr 2024 | 00:44:58 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeIf you’ve been listening to the How to Deal with Grief and Trauma Podcast for a while you will have heard me or our guests speak about the term ACEs, short for Adverse Childhood Experiences before. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic experiences that children experience before the age of 18 that can have lasting impacts on their mental health, physical health, and general well-being. As a psychological therapist and grief and trauma expert, I am faced with people’s life experiences on a daily basis and can see the impact and effect Adverse Childhood Experiences have on a person’s life, both past and present. About this week’s guestMarc Hauser’s scientific research, including over 300 published papers and seven books, has focused on how the brain evolves, develops, and is altered by damage and neurodevelopmental disorders, with an emphasis on the processes of learning and decision-making, as well as the impact of traumatic experiences on development. His educational and consulting work has focused on the implementation of quantitative, brain-based methods for teachers, clinicians, and doctors working with children who have different disabilities, including especially those that result from a history of traumatic experiences. Marc has earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Bucknell University, a PhD from UCLA and Post-doctoral fellowships from the University of Michigan, Rockefeller University, and University of California-Davis. For almost 20 years he was a Professor at Harvard University. In 2013, he founded the company Risk-Eraser, dedicated to providing software and consulting to programs focusing on students in special education.
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| 72 Hope Edelman | Motherless Daughters, Motherless Mothers | 08 Apr 2024 | 00:49:49 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeMany motherless daughters or motherless mothers will have heard of Hope Edelman, who has written books to support bereaved women worldwide for many, many years. Her book Motherless Daughters was written almost 30 years ago and to this day it is being recommended to women, young or old, who are dealing with the loss of their mothers. More than that, I had the chance to meet Hope through mutual connections more than a year ago, and I've been touched by her gentleness and the passion with which she serves her community of bereaved women. 12 1/2 years ago I lost both my mother and my daughter in the time of 4 1/2 months. So, this upcoming conversation is very dear to my heart. About this week’s guestHope Edelman is the author of eight nonfiction books, including the bestsellers Motherless Daughters and Motherless Mothers, and The AfterGrief: Finding Your Way Along the Long Arc of Loss. Her books have been published in 17 countries and 11 languages and have sold over 1 million copies. Hope speaks at venues and conferences worldwide and has taught nonfiction writing for more than 25 years. Her articles and essays have been published widely, including in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Psychology Today, Parade, Real Simple, and CNN.com. She is a certified life coach with additional training in narrative therapy and trauma support services. In 2020 she was the recipient of the prestigious ADEC Community Educator award. As the founder and CEO of MotherlessDaughters.com, she creates and leads online support groups, in-person retreats, webinars, and Mother's Day programs that reach thousands of women each year.
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| 71 Emma Pearson | Still Living Open-Heartedly After Loss | 01 Apr 2024 | 00:45:11 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeFor today’s episode, I speak with Emma who I’ve met through email as she reached out to me as a podcast listener, where she shared about her multiple significant losses. Something in her email touched me and interested me. I felt that her specific story – the combination of grieving a child at the same time as grieving her husband and the father of their child - would be very interesting to share in an episode in the hope of fostering a community of widowed parents grieving a child. About this week’s guestEmma is a Brit who has been living in France, just outside Geneva, for the past 25 years. She grew up in Brussels in the 1970s and 1980s then headed to the UK for university studies, specialising in organisational psychology - a field she still loves and works in as an independent practitioner. Between 2015 and 2019 Emma had a series of four significant losses - starting with her best male friend, Don; then her youngest brother, Edward; then her husband, Mike; and then their youngest child, Julia. It's been a lot. Too much. And yet the world keeps spinning and somehow life carries on. There is much to live for and much to enjoy about life. Emma still has her two surviving children, now young adults. There is a lovely new man in her life who goes by the name of Medjool (dates!) And at the time of writing, still has both parents, now in their mid-80s.
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| 70 Nathalie Himmelrich | Person-centred Grief Support | 25 Mar 2024 | 00:30:01 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeToday’s episode is a profound journey into the world of person-centred grief and trauma support. To start you off right: I highly recommend downloading the 33-step guide from my website, a simple guide that will teach you to feel supported or give support while grieving. It contains the wisdom collection from my latest book Bridging the Grief Gap. If you want to find out more about it, check out my website. Grief and trauma are universal experiences, yet deeply personal. Each journey through them is unique, but one thing remains constant—the need for empathy, understanding, and support. Today, we'll explore the challenges faced by those navigating these tumultuous waters and the people beside them, offering insights and strategies for meaningful support. The following topics are being discussed:
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| 94 Rachel Tenpenny McGonigle | Managing the Holidays While Dealing With Grief and Trauma | 16 Dec 2024 | 00:48:24 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeAs the holiday season approaches, emotions around grief and trauma can intensify, especially during family gatherings. Tune into this episode with one of our favourite guests on the podcast, Rachel Tenpenny McGonigle (E1, E50 and E88) to gain insights into dealing with grief and trauma and explore effective ways to manage Christmas and grief. We will delve into how to navigate family gatherings when you as a member are dealing with recent loss and/or trauma. We aim to offer a safe space where you as the listener can find solace, learn, and empower yourself through shared experiences and professional guidance. About this week’s guestHelping people through grief is Rachel’s passion. After her twin baby daughters Aubrey and Ellie died in 2008, she made a promise to them that she’d learn how to heal after loss and share what she learned with everyone who wants to heal too. Rachel has spent over a decade making good on her promise and has helped hundreds of clients build a meaningful and purposeful life after loss. Find out more on Rachel’s website: thegriefgal.com Resources mentioned in this episodeOther episodes with Rachel:
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| 69 Mary-Frances O’Connor | The Grieving Brain | 18 Mar 2024 | 00:53:47 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeMary-Frances’s book The Grieving Brain has inspired me from the moment I started reading it. I recommend it to so many of my therapy clients who express a desire to understand grief – I’ve lost count. As a neuroscientist, she shares groundbreaking discoveries about what happens in our brain when we grieve, providing a new paradigm for understanding love, loss, and learning. I have been excitedly and patiently waiting for today’s episode to find out even more of my favourite topics: grief and trauma and to have Mary-Frances enlighten our brains on those topics in a language that we can all understand. About this week’s guestMary-Frances O’Connor, PhD is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Arizona, where she directs the Grief, Loss and Social Stress (GLASS) Lab. Her research focuses on the physiological correlates of emotion, in particular, the wide range of physical and emotional responses during bereavement, including yearning and isolation. She believes that a clinical science approach toward the experience and mechanisms of grieving can improve interventions for prolonged grief disorder, newly included in the revised DSM-5.
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| 68 Helen Morris | The Beautiful Side of Grief | 11 Mar 2024 | 00:50:35 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeI first met Helen when I was being a guest on her podcast called The Beautiful Side of Grief and in my opinion, we connected on a deeper level. As you can guess from the title of her podcast, Helen is also fluent in the language of grief and loss. After losing her 18-year-old daughter and only child, Helen has managed to create new meaning in a way that inspired me. Not because of her loss but despite it. Helen Morris hosts a podcast called The Beautiful Side of Grief and is a certified Emotion Code and Body Code practitioner based out of Rotorua, New Zealand. She came across this healing modality after tragically losing her 18-year-old daughter, and only child, in a motor vehicle accident in 2017. Prior to this, she worked in the health sector in Health Intelligence, supporting general practices in Hawke’s Bay with national health initiatives and programs. In March of 2021, Helen launched a podcast called The Beautiful Side of Grief where she interviews guests who have moved through heart-wrenching loss or those who are at the coalface supporting this process. It is diverse, and heart-warming, though most of all it is positive and filled with go-tos for anyone experiencing to use. She is also about to launch an 8-week grief support resource called A Letter of Hope & Aroha.
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| 67 Hospice Nurse Julie McFadden | Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death | 04 Mar 2024 | 00:51:01 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeI’m very excited about this week’s guest: Hospice Nurse Julie. I found her on social media, like many of her followers do, where she shares openly about death and dying. In Julia, I found another friend who is friends with death. In this episode, you will learn so much about what happens in the dying process and truly understand that there is nothing to fear, as it says in Julie's upcoming book. About this week’s guestJulie McFadden, BSN, RN has been a nurse for 15 years. Julie is an experienced ICU and is now a Hospice/Palliative Nurse. Julie has been featured in Newsweek, USA Today, The Atlantic, and several other articles worldwide. Julie has been passionate about normalizing death through education to the masses using social media. Her TikTok has 1.4M followers, and you can find her on all social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube) at Hospice Nurse Julie.
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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| 66 Nathalie Himmelrich | Navigating the Shadows: Understanding Developmental Trauma | 26 Feb 2024 | 00:13:37 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeAfter last week's conversation with Dr. Frank Anderson (S7 E65), where he shed light on his first-hand experience of the trauma he experienced throughout his childhood, I thought we could benefit from understanding the background of developmental trauma in more depth. So today, we're exploring this critical yet often misunderstood topic. We'll unravel what it is, its causes, how it manifests at different stages of life, and most importantly, how we can navigate through it, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit along the way. The following topics are being discussed:
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| 65 Dr. Frank Anderson | Understanding Developmental Trauma and Its Lifelong Impact | 20 Feb 2024 | 00:47:22 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeI have been personally impressed by Dr. Frank Anderson’s work for quite some time due to our shared interest in trauma. I’ve seen him speak with many other specialists, such as David Kessler or Matthias Barker, and feel like I already know him – or at least from those details that he shared openly so I’m very excited to bring you this week’s episode and a conversation I have been looking forward to having for months. Frank speaks about Developmental Trauma from both his personal experience as well as through the eyes of a professional trauma expert. I hope you enjoy today’s episode as much as I do. About this week’s guestDr. Frank Anderson is a Harvard-educated psychiatrist, trauma specialist, and author of the upcoming memoir To Be Loved: A Story of Truth, Trauma, and Transformation. He is the go-to “Trauma Expert” and knows firsthand what it’s like to endure the pain. Dr. Anderson has spent the past three decades studying neuroscience and trauma treatment, working to heal trauma and bring more love, compassion, and unity to the world.
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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| Season 7 - Trailer: News About the Upcoming Show | 19 Feb 2024 | 00:03:09 | |
Welcome again to the How to Deal With Grief and Trauma Podcast Season 7. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. Season 7 of the podcast will restart on Tuesday with episode #65 and after that new episodes will drop every Monday as per usual. If you'd like to receive updates to never miss an episode and receive special invitations, only sent out to newsletter subscribers, please sign up for the weekly newsletter on nathaliehimmelrich.com.
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| 64 Turiya Hanover | Grief, Trauma, Essence, Connection and Safety | 25 Dec 2023 | 00:39:03 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeTuriya has been one of the first guests on the podcast in season one, and her first episode has since then been the most listened to episode ever which has just reached over 1000 individual downloads over the last 18 months. I love speaking with Turiya because we share a passion for healing from trauma and grief and understanding the self in a deeper sense. This is also why this is not just the second, but actually the third episode. Today we are going to delve into the connection between trauma and grief. About this week’s guestTuriya is the co-founder of Path Retreats and the transformational process – Path of Love with Rafia Morgan. Together they also lead a one-year Holistic Counsellor training for therapists called Working with People – School of Counselling. She has been trained in many different modalities such as Gestalt, Bioenergetics, Psychodrama, Family Therapy (V. Satir), NLP, Hypnosis, Somatic Experiencing™ (Peter Levine), Ego Psychology, Family Constellation, Enneagram and Astrology, and Essence Work. Read more about Turiya's journey here on the website. The sudden, unexpected death of her husband and the death of her beloved friend marked a turning point in Turiya’s life. These profound experiences with death deeply influenced her own personal search and how she works with people today. Today Turiya has the joy of being a grandmother and spends her free time painting and is writing a book about the rising of the feminine and about Death as a friend and the realisation of Impermanence.
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| 63 Stephen Berkley | Induced After-Death Communication | 18 Dec 2023 | 00:48:30 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeI came across Stephen and his film Life With Ghosts as part of a newsletter that a friend had forwarded me. I was so intrigued by the story behind the film that I decided to watch the film and listen to a panel discussion between key players in and around the documentary. You can go and watch it on the link provided in the show notes by offering your support in the form of a donation. Life With Ghosts has not yet officially been released. It’s been selected to broadcast on PBS, and for that to happen, they need to make a 56-minute version, which is why they are raising money via private screenings. There is also a free short film version containing the basic information about the film’s featured therapy, Induced After-Death Communication. The film company believes it’s important to make this information available to everyone, regardless of their financial status. About this week’s guestStephen Z. Berkley is a writer, director, and producer. Stephen has worked in multiple capacities in the entertainment/media industry for over 30 years. He’s done everything from writing promotional copy at MTV Channel to drafting talent agreements for television legend Aaron Spelling. His most recent endeavor is the production of a documentary film entitled Life With Ghosts, written and directed with Christopher Seward of Fahrenheit 911 fame. The idea for a ghost story came unexpectantly with the death of Stephen’s father when shortly afterwards, his mother began reporting interactions with whom she believed to be his father’s ghost — a real-life Mrs. Muir situation. The film won multiple awards in the film festival circuit including Best Documentary. The final product is a seven-year investigation into the nature of true love and the science behind after-death communication. · Website: www.lifewithghosts.com Resources mentioned in this episode:Find support: Support the show:
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| 62 Julia Samuel | Why Grief Works | 11 Dec 2023 | 00:42:16 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeJulia Samuel has such vast knowledge in the realm of grief that I feel incredibly lucky to have her as a guest on the podcast. The understanding she can share from her over 30 years of experience is exceptional. I’m sure that you will enjoy and learn a lot from today’s episode. About this week’s guestJulia was Psychotherapist for Paediatrics at St Mary's Hospital Paddington, the post she established in 1992, where her role for 25 years involved seeing families who have children or babies who die, and where she trained and supported the staff. In 1994 she worked to help launch and establish The Child Bereavement Charity, and as the Founder Patron was involved in many aspects of the charity's work, having a key role in fundraising, strategy, and training for 25 years. In 2016 Julia was awarded an MBE in recognition of her services to bereaved children and in 2017 Middlesex University awarded her an Honorary Doctorate. Later, Julia published her three books Grief Works, This Too Shall Pass, and Every Family Has a Story which all became Sunday Times bestsellers. Most recently, Julia produced the Grief Works app and released her new podcast Therapy Works. She also has a private practice where she sees families and individuals. I recommend you head over to the podcast website to find the gift for today’s episode filled with Julia’s wisdom and make sure to check out all the links in the show notes.
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| 61 Charlene Lam | Curating Grief After Mother Loss | 04 Dec 2023 | 00:45:47 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeCharlene impressed me through the creativity with which she dealt with the sudden loss of her mother. She used her professional background as a curator and brought it with her when she took the time to empty the dream house her mother spent the last years of her life. Charlene describes the process of carefully honoring and making decisions about physical objects holding memories and deciding how she wanted to remember her mother and supports others to do the same. About this week’s guestCharlene Lam is a certified grief coach, speaker, and the founder of The Grief Gallery. After her mother died suddenly in 2013, Charlene leaned into her creativity and curatorial instincts to guide herself through grief. Since then, she’s curated and presented multiple exhibitions featuring the belongings of loved ones lost at international events in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, and London. Charlene believes we are ALL curators after a loved one dies, and developed her Curating Grief coaching framework to help people process grief in a creative, accessible way. She speaks about the power of creativity and storytelling for healthy grieving and post-traumatic growth. Originally from NYC, she's currently based in Lisbon, Portugal.
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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| 93 Alexa Bigwarfe | Grieving Parents 10 Years Later | 09 Dec 2024 | 00:49:14 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeWelcome to a special series of podcast episodes in honor of the 10th anniversary of my first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple, published in 2014. To mark this milestone, I’m reconnecting with the same parents I initially interviewed for the book, offering a unique opportunity to revisit their stories and gain a deeper understanding of their journeys—now, with the perspective of a decade. Alexa Bigwarte is Kathryn’s mother. Alexa Bigwarfe is an author, speaker, publishing consultant, and community builder. Her writing career began after her infant daughter passed away at two days old, and she turned to writing for healing. Her first book, Sunshine After the Storm, A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother, has helped thousands of grieving mothers. Her most recent tool for grieving mothers, Sisterhood of the Healing Hearts: Permission to Thrive, A 6-Month Guided Journal for G Find support: Support the show:
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| 60 Heidi Horsley | From Sibling Loss, Identity Loss to Opening to Hope | 27 Nov 2023 | 00:32:11 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeLike Reid and Jon in the previous two episodes, Heidi has turned dealing with the loss, in her case the loss of her brother at a young age into purpose-driven work to support others. Heidi and her mother have created this amazing hub in the form of the Open to Hope Foundation, which has offered support in various ways for the past 20 years. Even before podcasts were a thing, they offered regular support through Open to Hope radio and TV shows. What this mother-daughter combo has created is a beautiful legacy of support in honor of their brother and son. Make sure to check it out! About this week’s guestDr. Heidi Horsley is a licensed psychologist, social worker, and bereaved sibling. She is the Executive Director of the Open to Hope Foundation and co-hosts the award-winning weekly cable television show and podcast, Open to Hope. Dr. Heidi is an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, an award-winning author, and has a private practice in NYC. She has co-authored eight books and has been interviewed on numerous television and radio shows, including 20/20. She serves on the Advisory Boards for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors of military loss (TAPS), the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation, and Peace of Mind Afghanistan (POMA). In addition, for 10 years she worked for the FDNY-Columbia University Family Guidance Program, helping families of firefighters killed in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Her psychology doctoral dissertation was on the sudden death of a sibling.
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| 59 Jon Lefrandt | Father Loss Leading to Purpose-driven Work | 20 Nov 2023 | 00:40:43 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeJon has blown me away from the moment we met and when he shared about what he was involved in:- For Grief.com - A resource hub for grievers to find what they individually need with their specific kind of grief. This was so meaningful to me as it was so much like the mission held in 2015, just before I was dealing with my first burnout, where I had envisaged the idea of creating a Google for grievers. Hearing Jon giving life to a vision I had in my mind was so touching. As mentioned last week I’m excited to speak to yet another man on the podcast and today we’ll find out from Jon how he turned his experience with the early death of his father into offering support through his purpose-driven work. About this week’s guestAfter experiencing the passing of his father, Jon took a leap of faith to join the funeral profession in 2011. Since then, he has been dedicated to developing solutions that help families plan funerals in advance and offering support for people who are grieving the loss of loved ones. These efforts continue to grow through For Grief, as more people benefit from the support they need to experience comfort, connections, and peace as part of their journey. Jon lives in Utah with his wife and children.
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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| 58 Reid Peterson | Dealing with Father Loss Twice | 13 Nov 2023 | 00:46:51 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. I’m so glad that my next two guests on the podcast are men. Both are speaking about father loss, and both have created purpose-driven businesses after those losses supporting others. Reid experienced the loss of his father who died from suicide. Having experienced the loss of a significant male person in his life, Reid thought he knew how to handle this grief, when a few years later his stepfather died from cancer, but he had to experience it all again in a new and unexpected way. Why did he experience those two losses so differently? Find out from Reid telling his story. As this week’s podcast gift Reid offers one of the meditations that can also be received through his Grief Refuge App. Go to the podcast gift page on my website and enter the number of the episode in a word and you will receive the gift now. About this week’s guestReid Peterson is a grief companion and educator whose mission is to help people find peace and purpose after loss. He is the founder of Grief Refuge and the creator of the Grief Refuge app.
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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| 57 Kelly Cervantes | Dealing with the Loss of a Child after a Medically Complex Life | 06 Nov 2023 | 00:46:40 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeKelly and her family went through different losses. Her daughter Adelaide whom she cared for while she lived a medically complex life died as a young child. Kelly and I talk about the complex topic of making a decision to take your child off life support and when to do this. She shares how she dealt with her grief at the time COVID came around, which kept her locked in and separate from her surroundings. Kelly Cervantes is an award-winning writer, speaker, and advocate best known for her blog Inchstones, where she shared the stress, love, and joy that came with parenting her medically complex daughter, Adelaide. Since Adelaide’s passing, Kelly has continued to write candidly about her arduous and, at times, contradictory grief journey. She has been published in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Cosmopolitan, as well as quoted in the New York Times, CNN, and People. She is the current board chair for the nonprofit CURE Epilepsy and hosts their biweekly podcast, Seizing Life, where she interviews scientists, doctors, and individuals affected by epilepsy. Kelly currently resides in Maplewood, NJ, with her husband, Miguel Cervantes currently starring in Hamilton on Broadway, four children, and their two dogs, Tabasco and Sriracha. Website: normalbroken.com
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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| 56 Mindy Meiering | Cumulative Losses: Health, Infertility and Pet Loss | 30 Oct 2023 | 00:40:07 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeMindy has experienced multiple forms of grief: loss of health (cancer), unexplained infertility, loss of friends through death or life transitions, and pet loss. Having specialized in pet loss, Mindy says as a society we just don’t have the rituals and the support to support those who lost a pet in the same way we do when we lose a human being. As a therapist, she focuses on supporting clients after pet loss and shares with us what she has learned from those people dealing with their losses. About this week’s guestMindy Meiering, LCSW is a licensed therapist, certified coach, and mindfulness teacher who specializes in grief and loss. She began her career as a psychotherapist in 1995 and over the last three decades, she has supported countless individuals and families as they face serious illness, end-of-life issues, and other significant losses and life transitions. Despite her extensive experience with grief, she was blindsided by how devastated she felt after losing her first dog, Ellie. Her personal experience helped her understand how heartbreaking the loss of a pet can be and inspired her to become a Pet Loss & Grief Specialist and create the Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss Deck. She lives in Colorado with her husband and their two scruffy terriers, Izzy and Charlie. Website: www.mindymeiering.com and www.rainbowbridgedeck.com
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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| 55 Emma Payne | Dealing with Suicide Partner Loss Led to the Development of Help Texts | 23 Oct 2023 | 00:48:07 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeEmma lost her husband Barry through suicide. In the first part of the episode, Emma candidly shares how she dealt with his death while living in a foreign country, without any family around. She describes how people reacted to the suicide and stopped being in contact with her. Ten years after Barry’s death, attending their best friend’s funeral she reconnected with so many people and one after the other apologized for not knowing what to say or do. This meeting changed Emma’s life and led to the creation of Help Texts, which supports grievers after all kinds of losses. I’m not easily recommending grief resources, but I will absolutely put my hand up for this amazing support and have provided my expertise and the content of my grief books to be used in Help Texts. So I am a proud supporter – Go check out Help Text here: helptexts.com/griefandtrauma and get a discount if you’d like to sign up. About this week’s guestEmma Payne is a seasoned technology entrepreneur and MIT graduate who started building online communities before Netscape was born. She is the founder and CEO of Help Texts, a game-changing SaaS, short for software as a service, business that delivers ongoing, accessible, expert grief and mental health support globally, via text message. Every single day, Emma combines her personal grief experience and her more than 25 years in the tech space to provide people with thoughtful, practical support that really works. Straight to their phones. Website: helptexts.com · Bridging the Grief Gap (The latest book by Nathalie Himmelrich) Thank you for listening!HOW TO DEAL WI Find support: Support the show:
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| 54 Julia Warren | Navigating Stigmatized Loss | 09 Oct 2023 | 00:41:44 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeI met this week’s guest Julia through Instagram, where she candidly shares about stigmatized loss and widowhood. I felt intrigued by what and how Julia shares and clearly felt that we need to know and understand more about this topic. Her husband’s way of dying brings about people’s judgments and ideas, often without looking a bit deeper behind the veil. I invite you to be mindful of your thoughts and feelings and investigate your own assumptions when listening to today’s episode. If you'd like to know more about stigmatized loss, go to the website and find the podcast gifts page. There you can download Julia’s e-book about the topic. Simply enter the podcast number – as in a word – where it asks you for the password. About this week’s guestJulia became a widow on September 1, 2021, when her husband, Doug, succumbed to his lifelong battle with addiction and died of an accidental overdose. This left her a solo mom of two young boys, with a deeply unregulated nervous system, a burning desire to live life fully in his absence, and a passion to help many women just like her along the way by sharing her truth. She is deeply passionate about speaking about the intricate layers that come along with losing someone to addiction to help educate others and soften the stigma while providing a safe landing for those looking for support as they navigate stigmatized loss and widowhood. As a trauma-informed yoga teacher with extensive training in guided meditation, energy work, yogic philosophy, as well as nervous system regulation and somatics, she helps her clients find healing by teaching them how to get in touch with their bodies, their emotions, and the felt sense through gentle somatic work and support. Julia’s links:
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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| 53 Erica Messer | Normalizing and Acknowledging Pet Loss Grief | 02 Oct 2023 | 00:39:39 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeToday’s episode is about the impact of pet loss. Pet loss often goes unacknowledged, is compared with other losses, or is met with statements that invalidate the grief that is experienced. ‘It was just a cat’ and other unhelpful comments minimize the real experience of grief pet owners go through. Both Erica and I describe the connection we had with our cats and how their loss affected us. Erica’s cat Wolfgang had such an impact on her life and when he died, she could not find suitable support to help her navigate grief, so she created a beautiful card deck. Erica’s mission is to support others in dealing with pet loss and normalize pet loss grief as a valid sort of grief. About this week’s guestAfter the sudden passing of her cat, Wolfgang, Erica couldn’t find a simple product to help her cope, so she created her own: Pet Loss Grieving Cards. Thus, her company Wolfie’s Wish was born. Grieving Cards have since won “Best New Product” at the Superzoo tradeshow. When she’s not paw-sitively rocking it in her business, Erica enjoys performing pop and rock covers on her harp or scratching and mixing on the turntables. Erica’s links:
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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| 52 James Fish Gill | Bringing Loving Awareness To Your Pain Part 2 | 25 Sep 2023 | 00:41:02 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self, funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeThis amazing conversation with James Fish Gill from Australia comes to you in the form of a double episode. Fish, as he refers to himself, has so much wisdom to share, I already knew from before we started recording that it would not fit into the usual 45 minutes of this podcast. I knew Fish from Instagram, where I became intrigued with his approach of conscious communication. Listening to some of the podcasts where he had been a guest, I’ve been so drawn to what he shared in his capacity as a coach and through his unique approach. In episode 51 and 52 he takes us through how he dealt with his own grief, using the approach of conscious communication with himself: first he honestly acknowledged and validated all his thoughts, then felt into the actual emotional experience. From there, he entered the field of his yearning, and the longing in his heart which he recognized and honored, even when it – in the case of his loss – could not be met. Bringing loving awareness to the whole experience, without wanting to change it, makes every component of the experience matter. Fish says we are not usually bringing loving awareness, but we are trained to respond to pain by usually dismissing, minimizing, comparing, assigning fault, understanding, or fixing when what it actually needs is validating it. James Gill (aka ‘Fish’) is a heart coach, yoga teacher and transformational facilitator based in Australia and working internationally. He is committed to the global spread of conscious communication practices that enable all beings to experience love in every moment which appears to have gone missing. Fish’s links:
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| 51 James Fish Gill | Bringing Loving Awareness To Your Pain Part 1 | 18 Sep 2023 | 00:42:00 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. In episode 51 and 52 he takes us through how he dealt with his own grief, using the approach of conscious communication with himself: first he honestly acknowledged and validated all his thoughts, then felt into the actual emotional experience. From there, he entered the field of his yearning, and the longing in his heart which he recognized and honored, even when it – in the case of his loss – could not be met. Bringing loving awareness to the whole experience, without wanting to change it, makes every component of the experience matter. Fish says we are not usually bringing loving awareness, but we are trained to respond to pain by usually dismissing, minimizing, comparing, assigning fault, understanding, or fixing when what it actually needs is validating it. James Gill (aka ‘Fish’) is a heart coach, yoga teacher and transformational facilitator based in Australia and working internationally. He is committed to the global spread of conscious communication practices that enable all beings to experience love in every moment which appears to have gone missing. Fish’s links:
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| 92 Tina Hedin | Losing Kiki at 25 | 25 Nov 2024 | 00:40:04 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeI first encountered Tina Hedin through her poignant article 'We Didn’t Know It Was the Last Time' in The New York Times, where she shared the heart-wrenching story of her daughter Kiki's death. The raw emotion and profound grief expressed in her writing resonated deeply with me, touching a place of empathy and connection that few pieces ever have. Tina's ability to articulate the indescribable pain of losing a child, while also conveying a sense of resilience, left a lasting impact on me. Her story moved me personally and inspired me to invite her as a guest for the podcast. About this week’s guestTina Hedin has reinvented herself many times. From punk rocker to textile designer, graphic artist to homeschooling mom, from entrepreneur to writer, she has let curiosity lead her evolution.
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| 50 Rachel Tenpenny | Cultivating Healing Versus Coping Mechanism | 11 Sep 2023 | 00:42:17 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self, funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episodeRachel was my first guest on the podcast so I’m excited to have her back for episode number 50 – halfway to 100. She shares how she supports the bereaved with her tried and true methods which she found to be helpful in her own personal loss (check out Rachel’s personal story in Episode 1, Season 1). Also, today we are starting something new: some of my guests will have a gift for you which you’ll receive by going to my website (nathaliehimmelrich.com) and finding ‘Podcast gift’ in the navigation bar. Simply enter the password, which in Rachel’s case is the word fifty, (as in the episode number) and you’ll receive her ebook about grief myths. But for now, make sure to make notes of what Rachel is going to share with us. About this week’s guestHelping people through grief is Rachel's passion. After her baby daughters died in 2008, she made a promise to them that she'd learn how to heal after loss and share what she learned with everyone who wants to heal too. Rachel has spent more than a decade making good on her promise and has helped hundreds of clients build a meaningful and purposeful life after loss. Rachel’s links:
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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