When Mai Richmond was 5 years old her father died from a two-year battle with cancer. She attended the Heartplay bereavement program, and it was the community and welcoming she needed to start to make sense of the world and her place in it. Mai was particularly influenced by the teen mentors in the program. In fact, she was so influenced that when her first grade teacher gave the “what do you want to be when you grow up” assignment Mai wrote “A grief counselor” When she aged out of the Heartplay...
Apr 05, 2023•16 min
Julie Brennan is the founder and director of We Do Care, a grief and loss support center. The inspiration for Julie was that when she had a 3 year old and was 3 months pregnant, Julie got a knock on the door one night that no one ever wants to get; her husband was in a car crash and was killed. We Do Care offers Young Widows Connection groups, Social Connection Groups, Support services for children who have lost a parent and other special events. Enjoy this episode? Please give us a 5-star ratin...
Mar 22, 2023•21 min
Today's episode is a rebroadcasted episode from back in October, in honor of Mark directing a play, Time Stand's Still, that's opening this week! (For more info and tickets to the upcoming shows in Reading, MA., please click here. ) The narrative as a play unfolds often has underpinnings of grief and/or non-death loss. Even in comedies! Sometimes, this is obvious and sometimes it’s a bit more subtle. The entrance into the characters psyche in the live format that is theatre can be powerful. Also...
Mar 20, 2023•18 min
Ken goes on the other side of the microphone to discuss his history of friend loss. Having had many friends die throughout his childhood and adolescence help to “install grief DNA” and set him on a career path of becoming a counselor. Enjoy this episode? Please give us a 5-star rating and share with someone who could benefit. Thanks for helping us get the show to more people who need it! Follow Ken on Instagram HERE Download the free self care worksheets HERE...
Mar 08, 2023•11 min
In the aftermath of a loss, as we are setting sail to parts unknown, we begin looking for a map. Where do we look? For over 70 years The Parmenter Foundation has been a charitable organization providing hope, support, and compassionate end-of-life care for those in the Boston Metrowest community. But more than that, Parmenter provides grants and resources for child and adolescent bereavement, hospice, pet loss as well as businesses facing loss, to name a few. In this episode, Ken talks with Parm...
Feb 22, 2023•20 min
We often romanticize adolescence as a time of growth, emerging adulthood, and challenging beliefs. What gets left behind in emerging teens is perhaps the innocence of the world being smaller, kinder, gentler. Some teens bridge this change through substance use. When the substance use takes over there is social, emotional, developmental and learning lags. Recovery also has it’s own sense of losing the life, and friends and systems one had in place. Joelle Bush is school counselor at the Ostiguy R...
Feb 08, 2023•20 min
Wildflower is a program that helps children rediscover life after a loss. Wildflower supports children throughout their childhood and adolescence to have a fun summer. The support is financial and emotional in helping children (and their widowed parent) shift the paradigm from challenges of an unstructured summer to the joys of a camp experience. Audrey is the Executive Director of Wildflower and discusses the process in this episode. Enjoy this episode? Please give us a 5-star rating and share ...
Jan 25, 2023•18 min
Pamela has directed bereavement programs for children and teens throughout her professional life and in the course of this work emphasized and researched the concept of Post Traumatic Growth. PTG is a theory that aims to describe positive changes and transformations that can accompany a traumatic and tragic event. In this episode Pamela and Ken discuss her work in acknowledging that while the loss can never get smaller, the child’s world can get bigger. Enjoy this episode? Please give us a 5-sta...
Jan 11, 2023•18 min
Why is there an episode on a grief podcast with two brothers who run a boxing gym? In addition to the physical benefits from conditioning and exercise, gyms can be another place to find community. We know that having a community where one can feel a sense of belonging and connection can be highly therapeutic. With energy and passion Mark, Matt, and Ken discuss this concept. Follow Ken on Instagram HERE Download the free self care worksheets HERE...
Dec 28, 2022•19 min
Why is there an episode on a grief podcast with an attorney? Among the many stressors, uncertainties and anxieties that come with loss the legal documentation can be another stressor (and sometimes nice distraction). In this episode Ken and Susan discuss documentation related to power-of-attorney, health care proxies as well as wills and estates. Susan is a partner in the firm of Brier, Marandett and Rossetti. Follow Ken on Instagram HERE Download the free self care worksheets HERE...
Dec 14, 2022•19 min
There are times when physical hurts can lead to psychological distress or psychological distress can go to the body in the form of physical pain. Kim discusses with Ken in this episode how massage therapy can be of physical and mental benefit. Treatments can be corrective, proactive or maintenance in nature. Nevertheless, the literal and metaphorical release of hurts in our bodies can bring relief. Follow Ken on Instagram HERE Download the free self care worksheets HERE...
Nov 30, 2022•17 min
What we eat, how we eat, when we eat can be habitual. “While you form habits, your habits form you”, says Gabrielle McGrath a register dietician and nutrition coach who is the founder of the Wellpower Method. When we are grieving or struggling in our day to day we may fall back on old habits of eating – healthy or not. What behaviors around eating do you want to reinforce or extinguish? In this episode Ken and Gabrielle will talk about the impact of food on how we are doing mentally as well as p...
Nov 16, 2022•20 min
Pets are part of our family; they are with us through perhaps some of our biggest life moments, they love us unconditionally and consistently show up for us. They are never too busy, overscheduled or don’t have time. In this episode Ken and E.B. discuss the complexities of the process when a pet dies. Follow Ken on Instagram HERE. Download the free self care worksheets HERE....
Nov 02, 2022•19 min
The narrative as a play unfolds often has underpinnings of grief and/or non-death loss. Even in comedies! Sometimes, this is obvious and sometimes it’s a bit more subtle. The entrance into the characters psyche in the live format that is theatre can be powerful. Also, the “audience as a group” can validate and break down any feelings of isolation the viewer may be having. Mark has been a local to Boston theatre director for over 20 years and in this episode he and Ken discuss the access and educ...
Oct 19, 2022•18 min
Breathing is the first thing we do when we are born, the last thing we do before dying and every moment in between. We breathe every day, but do we know how to do it? Do we know what purpose it serves for us beyond the obvious? Do we know how to get maximum benefit and how breathing can impact our mental health? Franny is a yoga instructor who emphasizes the critical nature of breathwork in her practice. She shares her appreciation of breathwork with Ken in this episode. Follow Ken on Instagram ...
Oct 05, 2022•24 min
Like grief itself there are a great number of misperceptions about what goes on in a counseling session, what people get out of counseling and how counseling may not be for everyone (even though that’s what others want for them). Ken Barringer speaks about some of what he's learned in his many years as a licensed mental health counselor with a specialty in grief and loss. Follow Ken on Instagram HERE Download his free self care worksheets by clicking HERE...
Sep 21, 2022•16 min
In this episode, you'll hear Antonio Vargas talk about the pivot he made over twenty years ago from computer programming to working with and in nature. There is much to gain mentally and physically from walking into a landscape of plants and flowers whether you created the space or are the beneficiary of a space created by others. Landscapes naturally slow us down, and seem to demand we pay attention to them whether it’s a forest, park, your backyard or one plant on your desk. Follow Ken on Inst...
Sep 07, 2022•17 min
In this episode Ken talks with psychologist and author, Matt Hersh about the growing field of energy psychology. Matt has been practicing for many years using EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). These techniques are an evidenced based treatment method. The increased use and efficacy in helping people find relief from suffering is growing within the field of mental health. Matt has also recently published a book on Self-Care for helping professionals called the Thriving Therapist. Enjoy!!! Follow...
Aug 24, 2022•24 min
In this episode Ken sits with the Cofounder and CEO of Modern Loss, Rebecca Soffer. They discuss the development of the Global Community that is Modern Loss and how the telling of your story and having it validated is such a pathway to healing. Rebecca blends a warm, caring and a straightforward (at times humorous) approach to moving through grief. They also discuss how she came from a journalism background to speaking internationally on the topic of grief. Follow Ken on Instagram HERE Download ...
Aug 10, 2022•20 min
In this episode Ken and Sabbi talk through taking a compassionate approach in connecting with others and using that same perspective to support oneself. Sabbi has a master’s degree in Traditions in Yoga and Meditation from SOAS, University of London. She continues to be inspired by these traditions and brings this artistry to her yoga and meditation practice. Sabbi is also trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Enjoy!!! Follow Ken on Instagram HERE Download Ken's free self care worksheet...
Jul 27, 2022•18 min
In this episode Ken talks with Jon Hazilla who is a percussionist and professor at the Berklee College School of Music, department of Percussion and Music Therapy. They discuss how music in general, and percussion instruments in particular, can be highly therapeutic and greatly influence one’s mood. Whether you’re 7 or 70 you can benefit from the beats and rhythms produced by the ancient craft of music. Follow Ken on Instagram HERE Download his free self care worksheets by clicking HERE...
Jul 13, 2022•18 min
In this episode, Ken talks with Ashley Rachel, mindset and business coach and host of Follow Your Light podcast, about how through journaling people can find focus, direction and move towards their next vision of living fully and successfully. Follow Ken on Instagram HERE Download his free self care worksheets by clicking HERE...
Jun 29, 2022•13 min
In this episode, Ken meets with Marci Zeiff, founder of Creating Calm to examine the ancient practices of meditation and shamanism and the role they can play in managing grief, loss and the associated anxieties that come with them. Follow Ken on Instagram HERE Download his free self care worksheets by clicking HERE
Jun 15, 2022•21 min
In this episode, Ken meets with Kathy Seltzer, an acupuncture care specialist to describe how emotions and feelings can get stored in the body causing physical problems. Acupuncture can free up the body to release these feelings and reduce physical and emotional pain. A practitioner of Chinese medicine for over 25 years, she discusses the beauty and simplicity of the craft. Follow Ken on Instagram by clicking here HERE Download his free self care worksheets by clicking HERE...
Jun 01, 2022•19 min
In this episode, Ken and Jennifer Wiles, LMHC-DMT, Director of HEART play and Camp Erin, Boston talk about looking at situations through the lens of grief and using dance and movement as an expressive art. Follow Ken on Instagram HERE Download his free self care worksheets by clicking HERE
Jun 01, 2022•21 min
In this episode, Ken interviews Jess Moran and RRCA level 1 certified running coach about the therapeutic benefits of a committed running practice. They discuss how running can aid in the management of intense emotions that often come with grief as well as maintaining sobriety. Follow Ken on Instagram HERE Download his free self care worksheets by clicking HERE...
Jun 01, 2022•18 min
