Approximately 85% of the kids the My Life, My Choice program serves in eastern Ma are involved with DCF. Just by being in DCF care indicates a history of trauma before being trafficked. Wherever there is trauma there is grief. Lisa co-developed and co-executive directs My Life, My Choice. The program she has developed incorporates a survivor led staff focusing on values of empowerment, equity, community, and unconditional love to name a few. Enjoy this episode? Please give us a 5-star rating and...
May 01, 2024•18 min
What is EMDR? Perhaps you’ve heard of it but don’t know what it is. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. While practitioners may vary their approach to implementing this form of therapy the intended outcomes are similar: Reduce the stress and distress connected to traumatic memories. Dance Movement Therapy utilizes the connection between movement and emotion to aid in people gaining greater physical, emotional, and cognitive awareness. This will ultimately improve one’s mental health. ...
Apr 17, 2024•18 min
People can come to know us through the activities we engage in. What happens to our identity when we are absent from those activities? When we sustain a physical injury that prohibits us from doing the things we like to do, we lose a little piece of who we are. Physical therapy may heal the physical problem but what about the psychological part? That can take longer, extending our time away from ‘who we are’. Jane is a psychologist well versed in the psychological response and recovery from phys...
Apr 03, 2024•18 min
Loss is continuous throughout our lifetime. Even though we know this our instinct might be to push away this reality. When we have had complicated, continuous and/or traumatic loss these can trigger additional mental health issues. There are many interventions and paths to help reduce the suffering. When “nothing works” the use of Esketamine in conjunction with treatments can aid in ‘treatment-resistant’ clients. Kurt is a social worker and the vice president of community partnerships at the Bra...
Mar 20, 2024•21 min
Approximately 25% of women have some type of reproductive health issues. These can range from being able to get pregnant, stay pregnant or have post pregnancy complications. Both females and males have a birth story. This story can start when they are very young and begin to think what it may be like to be a parent one day. When conception is not as simple as “just getting pregnant”, grief and the associated mental health concerns can arise. Further, the intense personal nature of reproductive h...
Mar 06, 2024•19 min
Cory is a news anchor for NBC10 Boston. He has also worked as a field and investigative reporter during his career. In this episode Cory, an Edward Murrow and Emmy award winner, describes how many stories in the news involve grief – from death or non-death losses. Covering loss can have an impact on the mind and soul of the reporter. Reporters are humans too and when your job requires you to engage traumatic scenes and talk with people who are having “maybe the worst day of their life” it’s a lo...
Feb 21, 2024•30 min
When Sasha was 7 years old, she knew she experienced things differently than others her age. She had visions and images of those in another world. While this felt confusing, overwhelming, and scary, over time she cultivated this gift into being a conduit between those grieving someone who had died and the deceased. She knows when she gets the vibrational feeling connecting into others and when she doesn’t. With genuine authenticity and unrelenting compassion Sasha describes the healing process t...
Feb 07, 2024•23 min
While some people are familiar with birth doulas not many are aware of death doulas. Birth doulas help prospective parents bring a child into the world, death doulas assist people in helping their loved ones exit the world. Pamela is a certified death doula and describes how they help the bereaved embrace loss through empowerment and awareness of options to celebrate a life. “Living wakes” and the use of psychedelic assisted support are among the many options discussed in this episode. Enjoy thi...
Jan 24, 2024•21 min
After the sudden and tragic losses of her brother and teenage son within a short period of time, songs Deb had written previously took on new meaning and purpose. Further, the need for movement, expressing through art and nature and connecting with others was never more paramount. This culminated with her book, Book of Walks . In this spirited episode Ken and Deb discuss this process of moving through highly intense and acute grief to having a shared experience with nature and others. To view a ...
Jan 10, 2024•23 min
In 2022 the Grief in Brief podcast engaged in discussions with Authors Rebecca Soffer and E.B. Bartels. Also presented in back-to-back format is Rebecca discussing Modern Loss: Candid Conversations About Loss: Beginners Welcome in the previously re-broadcasted episode, and E.B. leading us through pet loss conversations in Good Grief; On Loving Pets, Here and Hereafter in this one. Enjoy this episode? Please give us a 5-star rating and share with someone who could benefit. Thanks for helping us g...
Dec 27, 2023•19 min
In 2022, the Grief in Brief podcast engaged in discussions with Authors Rebecca Soffer and E.B. Bartels. Also presented in back-to-back format is Rebecca discussing Modern Loss: Candid Conversations About Loss: Beginners Welcome and in the next episode, you'll hear E.B. leading us through pet loss conversations in Good Grief; On Loving Pets, Here and Hereafter. 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 ...
Dec 27, 2023•20 min
Following up on two episodes back with author Colin Campbell we decided to rebroadcast Grief in Brief episodes featuring authors Susan Verde and Maria Sirois. In the previous episode, you will hear Susan discuss her book Say One Kind Thing, Lessons in Acceptance, Love and Letting Go and in this episode, Maria will talk about positive psychology and its influence on her book A Short Course in Happiness After Loss. Follow Ken on Instagram here Download Ken's free PDF, "What to say when you don't k...
Dec 13, 2023•17 min
Following up on the last episode with author Colin Campbell we decided to rebroadcast Grief in Brief episodes featuring authors Susan Verde and Maria Sirois. You will hear Susan discuss her book Say One Kind Thing, Lessons in Acceptance, Love and Letting Go and Maria will talk about positive psychology and its influence on her book A Short Course in Happiness After Loss. Their episodes are being rebroadcasted back-to-back. Follow Ken on Instagram here Download Ken's free PDF, "What to say when y...
Dec 13, 2023•20 min
This is the title of Colin Campbell’s highly impactful book chronicling his grief process in the aftermath of the death of his two teenage children. Ruby and Hart were killed by a drunk and high driver in 2019. A week after their death Colin began writing an acclaimed play titled Grief: A One Man Shitshow. With rawness, rage, and humor we walk the painful steps with him. When the pandemic began the show was put on hold and gave birth to the book. Filled with helpful “action steps”, it’s a must r...
Nov 29, 2023•22 min
Chronic mental health and mental illness impact not only those who suffer from them but also their extended families and support systems. There are associated losses around expectations and hopes for those connected to the person. A diagnosis and a hospitalization can be traumatic and have a feeling of grief for the “patient” as well as their networks. The corresponding feelings are often thought of as behavioral responses but might have their roots in grief reactions. Similarly, the stigma of m...
Nov 15, 2023•17 min
This is the title of Dr Peter Langman’s most recent book which he discusses with Ken. Dr. Langman is the Director of Research and School Safety Training at Drift Net and was a researcher for five years with the National Threat Assessment Center of the U.S. Secret Service. He reminds us that “We’re all on duty”, dispels the myths and stereotypes of shooter’s profiles, and asks us to be aware of students who reveal their intentions. Lastly, we discuss motivations and justifications shooters can ma...
Nov 01, 2023•20 min
Steve Watson has been the senior pastor at the Reservoir Church in Cambridge, Mass. since July 2013. Together with Ken they discuss the inclusive community that is the Reservoir Church. Their talk includes the non-death losses that can apply to marginalized people, and about weekly community based group discussions where members can be heard and validated, regardless of any religious overlay. Lastly, a frank conversation where religion may not be helpful, and can be helpful, is portrayed. Enjoy ...
Oct 18, 2023•19 min
In this episode Ken talks with Jon Gay the Executive Director of the Children’s Room. They discuss the many avenues for addressing child loss and bereavement. The Children’s Room believes “no child should grieve alone” and thus create a “space and a place” for children and their caregivers. By utilizing a peer support group model which involves talk, play therapy and art therapy they help children remember and stay connected to their deceased person. Further, the Children’s Room conducts psychoe...
Oct 04, 2023•19 min
In this episode Ken talks with the founder and executive director of Horse SenseAbility, Polly Kornblith. Polly got her start with the therapeutic use of animals by utilizing therapy dogs with adolescent males in a residential facility. From there grew her current program of horseback riding and care for horses with children, adolescents’ and young adults who have experienced grief, loss, and/or trauma. While many equestrian programs aid those with physical or cognitive issues, Horse SenseAbilit...
Sep 20, 2023•18 min
Jennifer Wiles is the Director of Heartplay and Camp Erin programs at Good Shepherd Community Care. She is also on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance for Children’s Grief. In this episode she discusses with Ken trends in child bereavement - both the kinds of losses that are bringing children and teens in for counseling and how their expressions of grief are manifesting in sessions. Also discussed will be new perspectives in the field to improve efficacy of service. Enjoy this episo...
Sep 06, 2023•23 min
During the months of July and August, we're re-broadcasting some of our top listened to episodes here on the podcast. Enjoy! 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...
Aug 23, 2023•19 min
During the months of July and August, we're re-broadcasting some of our top listened to episodes here on the podcast. Enjoy! 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...
Aug 09, 2023•19 min
During the months of July and August, we'll be re-broadcasting some of our top listened to episodes here on the podcast. Enjoy! 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 healt...
Jul 26, 2023•24 min
During the months of July and August, we'll be re-broadcasting some of our top listened to episodes here on the podcast. Enjoy! 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...
Jul 12, 2023•20 min
Lisa Coppola is a licensed mental health counselor who works with adult adoptees, she also has her own adoption story and history. She understands the duality of appreciating and having gratitude for adoption but also recognizing 4 types of loss that can be associated. Those losses include; loss of roots; loss of trust as a first experience; loss of physiological and emotional health; disenfranchisement of grief. Lisa is passionate about her work and has helped many recognize the unstated feelin...
Jun 28, 2023•17 min
Stu McLeod’s sister Sara was a highly educated, decorated, and acclaimed psychologist. She was a sought-after expert in the field of childhood trauma and sexual abuse. She then became stricken with early-onset Alzheimer’s and the course of her family’s life was altered. Just before she died Stu became involved with the Alzheimer’s association raising money for their legislative as well as research needs. In 2018 he started the Washburn Challenge which is now one of the nation’s largest fundraise...
Jun 14, 2023•22 min
On the night of December 20, 2021 Sandy Carter was at her boxing gym. She was in very good shape, felt fabulous, healthy, and then everything went blank. She woke up in a hospital on Christmas Eve morning and her first question was “who is teaching the class?” Sandy had gone into Sudden Cardiac Arrest, revived, and placed in a cold coma. In this episode Sandy describes the process of coming out of the coma and raising awareness to educating people about Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Enjoy this episode?...
May 31, 2023•16 min
Maria first began studying the field of resilience over 30 years ago which organically led her to the science of positive psychology. Being able to hold paradoxical feelings simultaneously (“I can be sad and also happy”) is the key to living a full life and at the heart of positivity and wellness. Living as if everything is “great” or the world is “terrible” are rooted in delusional thought. However, tapping into our “emotional and cognitive agility” allows us to find resilience, happiness, and ...
May 17, 2023•17 min
This is the title of NY Times, bestselling author Susan Verde’s new book. An accomplished children’s author Susan dives into her first book for adults with a candid and honest memoir. In this episode, Ken and Susan discuss chapters dealing with nondeath losses as well as the chapter chronicling her father’s death. They’ll also discuss how self-compassion plays such a vital role in the management. Enjoy this episode? Please give us a 5-star rating and share with someone who could benefit. Thanks ...
May 03, 2023•20 min
Dr. Lara Milane is a professor and researcher at Northeastern University. In this episode she discusses in a tender and raw way the death of her twin sister, Samantha Tari Jabr (Sam), died just before their 19th birthday. Lara describes with great candor and authenticity the traumas before and with Sam’s death. Lara continues to feel a very strong connection to Sam’s presence which motivates her quest for knowledge, learning, teaching, and helping others. Enjoy this episode? Please give us a 5-s...
Apr 19, 2023•24 min
