How To Deal With Grief and Trauma (Nathalie Himmelrich)
Explore every episode of How To Deal With Grief and Trauma
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jun 2022 | TRAILER: How To Deal With Grief & Trauma | 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 Links--> 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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| 26 Jun 2022 | 1 Rachel Tenpenny | Why and How Healing Is Possible | 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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| 04 Jul 2022 | 2 Katja Faber | Homicide Loss – Effect on the Victim’s Family Part 1 | 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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| 11 Jul 2022 | 3 Melo Garcia | Compound Grief and Finding Someone Who Speaks Grief | 00:41:30 | |
‘When you decide that it is yours, you'll understand that along with that grief comes an amazing life of living after loss because you have something that no one else can ever, ever have. And that is the love, that is the love - that's the love that remains.’ Melo has experienced three multiple significant losses in a short time frame. In this interview, she explains how through grief it felt as if she lost her mind and found it again in her journey with grief and trauma. About this week’s guestMelo Garcia, a grief specialist, assists those who have lost what isn't replaceable. She created After Chloe, an online community that provides support, resources, and assistance through the difficult grief journey, in honor of her daughter Chloe who passed away in 2011, and after losing both her parents. Melo felt it necessary to help others deal with the grief and loss life presents from death, divorce, identity, age, fertility, and empty-nesting by creating various types of solutions that the grieving finds a life worth living. In 2021 she started the podcast, The Resilience of Grieving, and hosts an annual online Summit during the holidays to provide resources to grievers. Melo allows you to speak your grief in your way, a way that will assist you and inspire you to live and grieve. Find out more about Melo on After Chloe on Instagram. Topics discussed in this episode
Resources mentioned in this episodeTo view the resources, please visit the extended show notes here. Links--> 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. Thanks for listening to HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA. If you’d like to be updated on future episodes, please subscribe to my newsletter on Find support: Support the show:
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| 18 Jul 2022 | 4 Turiya Hanover | The Loss of Significant Partners in Life | 00:52:23 | |
Today I speak with Turiya, who – among other losses and traumas - shares the turning point in her life when she lost her then 33-year-old husband Welf von Hannover in 1981. Her relationship with death, the impermanence of physical life significantly changed another time with the loss of her beloved partner Maja 6 months ago, where she experienced something, she never had before: ‘Then one night the message came, and it was: Love Is All. And there was such a strong feeling. Love is the bond that brings us over the bridge and that brings two things into oneness, that overcomes the separation. In this case, the separation is a loss of the physical body. But the heart and the love are there. Love Is All.’ Turiya’s story is deeply moving and will encourage you to look for something beyond the physical. 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 Working with People – School of Counselling. Read Turiya's bio in the extended show notes. Topics discussed in this episode
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| 25 Jul 2022 | 5 Domenique Rice | Unapologetically Grieving Out Loud | 00:34:47 | |
Today I speak with Domenique Rice who I have come to know as part of the Instagram community of bereaved parents supporting one another in the Grieving Parents Support Network. People come and go in this community, but Domenique has stayed actively involved and developed a voice to be noticed creating stillbirth awareness in honour of her son TJ. She says: About this week’s guestDomenique Rice wears many hats – staunch activist, laid-back California transplant, savvy Brooklyn girl, superstar salesperson – but her most important role is that of (bereaved) mother of five. Domenique never had any reason to suspect that something was amiss in her second pregnancy, at least, not until it was already too late. Like most parents, stillbirth and preventative measures were never discussed with Domenique, leaving her completely blindsided when at 36.5 weeks pregnant she unexpectedly went into labor and her second child and first son, TJ, was born still. Read Domenique's full bio in the extended show notes here. Feel free to connect with Domenique on her well-regarded Instagram account, @stillbirthmamafightingforlight, where she is actively breaking down stigma and dropping knowledge to prevent stillbirths from happening. Topics discussed in this episode
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| 01 Aug 2022 | 6 Kellie Sipos | Drug Abuse and Multiple Losses | 00:40:21 | |
Today I speak with Kellie Sipos who I met as part of being a guest on her podcast, My Child Left Home for Heaven. Kellie has experienced multiple losses within her own family which started with her father’s suicide, followed by the sudden unexpected loss of her sister. In 2018 she lost her daughter Emilie through an accidental drug overdose after which Kellie candidly shares how she herself abused drugs to manage her own grief. Just a few months ago, her mother, who she cared for the last few months of her life, died too. Kellie says: ‘Emilie’s grief was so on the top of my heart every single day until I lost my mom. Now it's like the grief of my mom is shadowing over top of the grief of Emilie, and I feel really guilty. I feel like I'm not grieving her appropriately. And then I realized: No, I'm just healing. I'm starting to move on from some of that. And yes, the grief with my mom is newer but that in time will be the same way. I think maybe having to go through it again somehow helped me get over that big hurdle of Emilie.’ About this week’s guestKellie Sipos is the mother of 4 daughters who tragically lost her oldest, Emilie to an accidental drug overdose on July 22, 2018. Since this time Kellie has tried to stay focused on making a difference in this world. Working with children and young adults with Special Needs as a therapeutic riding instructor and an equine specialist. Mental health has always been her focus but since the loss of her child she is on a new mission, starting her podcast My Child Left Home for Heaven. Being an avid podcast listener she quickly found there were not a lot of podcasts on child loss from the Moms perspective. Continue reading here... Topics discussed in this episode
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| 08 Aug 2022 | 7 Amy Watson | Stillbirth, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy After Loss | 00:40:35 | |
Today I speak with Amy Watson who has experienced stillbirth & miscarriage. She talks about pregnancy after loss, how she struggled but also how she supported herself through the different losses. The interesting part of her story is how differently she experienced her two losses and how she managed those differences. Amy says: ‘I call it Radical Self-Compassion, which means you love every part of you, including the grief, including the trauma, including the mess that it at all is, because that's the reality of being a human. We go through these hard things and even if we don't realise it, we all have these ideas of what it's supposed to look like and how we're supposed to be. I mean, that kind of covers at all? It's like an umbrella: if you're just really kind yourself. Because sometimes we think, well, if I just love myself when I want to lay in bed, I'll just lay in bed forever, right? I'll never get any better. But the opposite is true because if you're kind and you just give yourself the space to maybe sleep in a little bit, you're probably going to process through. And end up being able to get going if you want to. Or maybe you lay in bed, and you don't make it mean anything about you.’ About this week’s guestAmy Watson is a certified life and grief coach. She takes her own experiences with stillbirth, miscarriage, and pregnancy after loss and combines them with proven techniques to help moms find themselves again after loss. She shares everything she knows to help you feel more peaceful, confident, and hopeful on her podcast, Smooth Stones. Amy wants all loss parents to know that by making friends with grief, tapping into their own inner voice, and learning to ... continue reading here... Topics discussed in this episode
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| 15 Aug 2022 | 8 Ian Weedon | The Loss of Half of the Family | 00:42:27 | |
Today I speak with Ian Weedon who has lost half of his family in the past few years. Listen to Ian telling us how he deals with loss and trauma in his later stage of life. Together, we also explore how the loved one’s presence can be felt in very different ways, not always the way we want or expect it. Ian’s life story shows the reality of living a life after loss. Ian says: ‘Of course, my life is very different. I only have the responsibility to my daughter now I don't have the responsibility to the other half of the family. I miss them greatly. My life is not as good without them, that's for sure. In spite of all the work that Anne's position entailed, I miss that. I have a lot more freedom now. But I prefer it as it was.’ About this week’s guestOriginally from South Africa, Ian has been living in Switzerland for the past 36 years. He and his late wife Anne had two amazing children. Sadly, their son Derrick was killed in a motor accident in 2013 when he was just 34. Derrick had been married for just a year before his death and subsequently, his wife sued Ian’s daughter for money. The family endured four years of hardship on top of the grief. Ian’s wife Anne suffered from MS (multiple sclerosis) for 40 years, starting soon after they were married. Despite all the challenges, they had a wonderful life together. Anne was wheelchair-bound for eighteen years. She was first partly and for the last few years entirely dependent on Ian. Anne died in 2018. Ian misses both Anne and Derrick and especially their smiles and touches. Ian feels extremely lucky to still have his wonderful loving daughter. Topics discussed in this episode
Links--> 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. Thanks for listening to HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA. If you’d like to be updated on future episodes, please subscribe to my newsletter on Nathalie Himmelrich.com If you need grief support, please contact me for a FREE 30 min discovery sessi Find support: Support the show:
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| 22 Aug 2022 | 9 Pinky | The Loss of Her Son and Creating a Legacy | 00:35:12 | |
Today I speak with Pinky who lost her son due to inflammation that affected his heart when he was just a few months old. The birth and the loss of Leonardo both happened during the Covid pandemic and both Pinky and her husband understandably felt extremely isolated in their grief. Pinky dealt with her grief by joining a grief support group and seeing a therapist. Someone she had met through a group on Facebook gave her the book Surviving My First Year of Child Loss as a support resource. Here is what Pinky shares about how reading the book affected her: I felt like I was not alone in this journey. My feelings and my behaviours…, sometimes I thought I was crazy, but after reading the book I understood that it was pretty common, I was not crazy. I learned some very helpful coping mechanisms from parents in the book. I couldn't find any similar resources in my native language Vietnamese. Pinky About this week’s guestHuong Lan 'Pinky' Vu is a communications professional who has lived and worked in Vietnam, Singapore, and the US. After the passing of her first son, Leonardo Vu Massa, in October 2020, she and her husband founded the Leonardo's Smile Fund to support orphans in the SOS Children’s Villages Vietnam. She and her sister also translated the book Surviving My First Year of Child Loss: Personal Stories From Grieving Parents into Vietnamese with the hope to help bereaved parents in Vietnam have access to this helpful resource. Topics discussed in this episode
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| 29 Aug 2022 | 10 Kelsey Chittick | Looking at Death Differently | 00:51:37 | |
Today I speak with Kelsey about the loss of Nate, her husband, and the journey Kelsey took as part of dealing with his loss. She believes that: ‘The bigger the grief, the luckier you were.’ Kelsey shares so many different nuggets of wisdom that I found it hard to choose one to share with you below. Her way of looking at death and loss is different too many and honestly is refreshing. It will invite you to open your thinking and feeling about grief and trauma in a way you might never have thought to be possible. Here is just one of Kelsey’s nuggets of wisdom: ‘If you can take the bad out of dying, whether it is suicide or sudden loss or sickness. If you can trust on some level, there's something bigger going on here. Just like when you're having that child and you are birthing it, you're in so much pain you think you're dying. But there's something bigger going on here… It gives you a little space to go: Maybe there's a different way to walk through this.’ About this week’s guestKelsey Chittick is a writer, comedian, and inspirational speaker. Over the past 14 years, she has performed stand-up comedy all over Los Angeles and speaks at events around the country. She is the author of the best seller Second Half - Surviving Loss and Finding Magic in the Missing, a book about the sudden death of her husband in 2017. She is the host of Mom’s Don’t Have Time to Grieve Podcast and was the co-creator of KeepON, an inspiring and humorous podcast that explored how our greatest obstacles turn out to be our greatest gifts. Growing up in Florida, Kelsey was an accomplished student and athlete—an NCAA Championship individual qualifier and captain of the UNC women’s swimming team. She was married to Super Bowl champion Nate Hobgood-Chittick. Instagram: @kelseydchittick Topics discussed in this episode
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| 05 Sep 2022 | 11 Callie Hawkins | Creating a Legacy | 00:41:10 | |
Today I speak with Callie about the loss of her first son Coley and how she created a legacy by creating an exhibition at Present Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington, DC. Listen to Callie describing how she learned to intentionally grieve. One thing to definitely look out for in this episode is how she experiences grief loving her back. Callie says: ‘One thing I wish I had known was that it is still possible to have a relationship with your loved one who has died. It's certainly not a relationship that you anticipate. It's not the relationship that you even necessarily wanted or had dreamed of or could have imagined. It is beautiful all at the same time.’ About this week’s guestCallie Hawkins is a grief activist and bereaved mother whose son, Coley, died of unexplained stillbirth in February 2018 -- one day after his due date. In her professional role as Director of Programming at President Lincoln's Cottage -- a historic site and museum in Washington, DC where President Abraham Lincoln and his family moved after the death of their son, Willie -- Hawkins curated Reflections on Grief and Child Loss, an exhibit that connects the Lincoln family's experience with the deaths of their children with modern families who have lost children across age and experience. Callie, her husband Jason and their living son, Fletcher, live with a deep and abiding love for Coley in the greater Washington, DC area. Topics discussed in this episode
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| 12 Sep 2022 | 12 SPECIAL: Nathalie with Chris | Grief Eleven Years Later | 00:53:42 | |
Today I speak with my ex-husband and the father of our children. We reflect on eleven years since the death of our younger twin daughter A’Mya. In doing this we are spending time speaking about her, honoring her place in our lives, and, as I’d like to see it: spending time parenting her. Our conversation was moving and opened my eyes to parts of Chris’ grief that I wasn’t aware of. Chris says the following about his personal experience of grief: ‘It is a constant thing; it never goes away. It often pops up in little moments, sometimes catches you unexpectedly and all of a sudden, it’s like: Oh, I wasn't thinking about these things and here it is. And I think that will happen all my life. You know, there's going to be all sorts of key moments in Ananda Mae's life where I'll be wondering what would have been like two of them, what would A’Mya have been like. How would she have been? I think that's natural.’ I, Nathalie cannot say this often enough: ‘I think that is so important for people to understand that this is not something that goes away. It's just like my mother she will always be my mother and there are key moments that I miss her more and then key moments where it is less present. But this is not going to go away because she's dead. Part of her not being here present physically is a topic, the same way as for me, for you, for Ananda Mae, it's a topic that her sister is not growing up with her.’ About this week’s guestChris and Nathalie are the parents of Ananda Mae and A’Mya, twin girls who do not grow up with each other. As their parents, they do their best at raising one here on earth and the other in the beyond, wherever that is. Topics discussed in this episode
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Links--> 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. Thanks for listening to HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA. If you’d like to be updated on future episodes, please subscribe to my ne Find support: Support the show:
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| 03 Oct 2022 | 13 Sharon Ehlers | Dealing With Suicide | 00:50:08 | |
Today Sharon Ehlers and I dive into the topic of loss by suicide. We both share how we dealt with losing close people who took their own lives. Sharon has lost multiple people in her life, two of which died by suicide. She shares so generously about all the tools and resources she found along her way that helped her deal with the losses after she realized that she wasn’t coping at all with the first loss of her best friend Joy. Attending to her grief and learning about death opened things for Sharon she wouldn’t want to miss and she says: ‘The one thing that has changed that I wouldn’t want to miss is the fact of finding what feeds your soul. Certainly, as an intellectual person, it's been about work all of my life and achieving to the point of craziness. And so now it's like, what feeds your soul, and, in many cases, it may not be what you currently do. It may not be your work, maybe something else. And finding that is important.’ About this week’s guestSharon Ehlers’ grief and trauma journey began when her best friend as well as her former fiancé both died by suicide within two years of each other. Then her beloved Dad died unexpectedly from a fall. Sharon's books: Sharon’s Website: www.grief-reiki.com Topics discussed in this episode
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| 10 Oct 2022 | 14 Simone Surgeoner | Loss of Significant Men | 00:44:50 | |
Today Simone and I talk about losing the most significant men in her life. She dealt with the loss of her life partner through cancer, the sudden death of her father, and the dissolution of two marriages. After all these losses she investigated into the masculine, and she found an appreciation for the male aspect in her life and in herself. She describes the experience of grief’s intensity in the following way: ‘The pain and intensity of it has not lessened in those moments. Yes, there are fewer and further between, but … it's okay now because I know that it comes up like a huge wave and it feels so overwhelming in the moment, but I know that it's going to leave now so it doesn't topple me over. But I'm still always quite… It's almost like impressed with that level of grief does not abate when it comes up.’ About this week’s guestSimone Surgeoner is a therapist and mentor who has helped thousands of people find their own authentic path in life. She enjoys nothing more than exploring the depths of what it means to be human. Using herself as her own guinea pig, Simone demonstrates beingness as arising from integrity with one’s essence. Helping people find their inner truth, through their own direct experience, is the core of Simone’s work. Simone’s website: www.saksana.com.au Topics discussed in this episode
Resources mentioned in this episodeLinks--> 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. Thanks for listening to HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA. If you’d like to be updated on future episodes, please subscribe to my newsletter on Nathalie Himmelrich.com 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. Support thisFind support: Support the show:
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| 17 Oct 2022 | 15 Amie Lands | Child Loss, Cancer and Life’s Trauma | 00:39:41 | |
Today I speak with Amie where she shares how her life started with the loss of connection to her father due to mental illness and the challenging relationship with her alcoholic mother. Amie then became pregnant for the first time, but her daughter Ruthie died after 33 days. Dealing with all those extreme situations, Amie learned and practiced one thing: ‘I live in this moment. I try not to think too much ahead of what's to come next or what so many call future tripping. I don't put myself in what could happen and so I really truly live today. I have a calendar and plan ahead, but I really just try and be in this moment.’ About this week’s guestAmie Lands is the author of Navigating the Unknown, Our Only Time, Perfectly Imperfect Family, and the Tending to Your Heart series. She is a cancer survivor, founder of The Ruthie Lou Foundation, and a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist®. Since her daughter’s brief life, Amie’s passion is offering hope and providing support to bereaved families. Amie lives in South Carolina, United States with her husband and their two sons. Amie’s website: www.amielandsauthor.com Instagram: @amielandsauthor Topics discussed in this episode
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Links--> 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. Thanks for listening to HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA. If you’d like to be updated on future episodes, pl Find support: Support the show:
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| 24 Oct 2022 | 16 Lisa Boehm | The Loss of Her Teenage Daughter | 00:41:36 | |
Lisa Boehm heard a knock at the door just as she had gone to bed, and it was the police coming to let her know that her teenage daughter had died in a head-on collision. Lisa says: ‘I think I learned a lot from other grieving moms who were further down the path. Sometimes it was just little snippets that they would say or different things... They gave me hope and I think learning that everybody copes with grief differently, that little nugget right there was enough to carry us through.’ About this week’s guestLisa K. Boehm’s life changed forever when her daughter died suddenly in a car accident. She quickly discovered that our society struggles with death, loss, and grieving and has made it her mission to change that. In her book Journey to HEALING: A Mother’s Guide to Navigating Child Loss, she shares her experience with grief and how it intensified her love for her daughter. Now she focuses on gratitude and living intentionally as a way to honor her daughter’s memory. Lisa is an author, speaker, and certified grief educator who helps bereaved moms move beyond the pain to find peace and purpose. Website: www.griefsupportformoms.com IG @griefsupportformoms Topics discussed in this episode
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| 31 Oct 2022 | 17 Michael Gershe | The Loss of His Mother Through a Drunk Driver | 00:42:03 | |
Michael started with loss very early in his life when his mother got killed in a car accident leaving behind two boys and their father. Michael was 8 weeks old at the time and magically recovered after having almost all the bones in his tiny body broken. Michael says: ‘She hit me pretty hard the very first day when I was going in there thinking I’m going to talk about my aunt and my father's death. Her first question was: hey let’s talk about your mother's death and how that impacted all your relationships. I was like… I was stunned. I was like there's a knockout punch. I didn't want to talk about that even at age 47 I still didn't want to really talk about that in-depth, but she was right, I had to.’ About this week’s guestMichael Gershe is a survivor of a drunk driving crash that killed his mother and nearly himself when he was 8 weeks old. Despite breaking almost all his bones in the crash, he went on to become a collegiate swimmer, comedian, speaker, author, college educator, and photographer. With over 25 years of experience on stage, Michael has presented his programs at schools, colleges, military bases, courts, and even a TEDx talk. He uses humor, audience participation, and his story for an educational and inspirational message. In 2015 he founded The Magic of Life Foundation, a non-profit organization, that helps his mission of eliminating impaired driving making communities safer, and empowering people to make better choices in life. In 2019, he published his memoir, The Magic of Life: A Son’s Story After Tragedy, Grief and a Speedo. His website: The Magic of Life Foundation Topics discussed in this episode
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| 07 Nov 2022 | 18 Miten | Life’s Trauma and the Healing Through Music | 00:47:28 | |
Today I have the pleasure to speak with Miten who I’ve known for almost 20 years through his and Deva’s music. Miten shares the traumas he’s experienced throughout his life and how he’s found the healing power of music. Miten says: ‘If there is one thing, I would say that's helped me, that is to sing. And as much as I can, I tell people, not just our community who are into singing anyway, but… church choirs. Find a choir, find a Gospel choir, you know - sing! Because when you are singing, your heart starts to lift, your burden lift, your spirit lifts. It's not a joke, it's real and it's important and it's a commitment.’ The mantras hold a special place in my heart and my personal healing so I can highly recommend checking out their music on their website, Spotify or wherever you listen to music. About this week’s guestMiten was born in London and grew up in the 60s. He later went on to establish a successful career for himself in the 70s as a noted singer/songwriter, releasing several albums including one for Ariola Records under the guidance of legendary American producer Bones Howe. He toured extensively, opening for Fleetwood Mac, Randy Newman, Hall and Oats, Lou Reed, Ry Cooder, Fairport Convention, and The Kinks, among others. This period of his life was exciting but left him spiritually unfulfilled. After reading a book of the discourses on Zen from Osho (No Water No Moon), Miten had an epiphany and began an inner search. He left everything he had known before, even selling his guitars, and traveled to India, embracing life as a member of the community that had gathered around Osho. It was there he met his life partner, Deva Premal, and they are now renowned worldwide for their fusion of western music with Sanskrit mantras. Together they have presented their music in as many as 45 countries while accumulating accolades from such diverse admirers as Cher and HH the Dalai Lama, with album sales in excess of one million copies. Website: Deva Premal and Miten Topics discussed in this episode
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| 14 Nov 2022 | 19 Joy Bornstein | Using Art to Cope with Loss and Trauma | 00:36:17 | |
Today on the podcast I’m speaking with Joy, who I've known since 2015 as part of the May We All Heal community. This community was born out of a group of women from the Grieving Parents Support Network. They came together year after year during the month of May to focus on dealing with their grief using creativity. Joy has used a unique approach with her artwork, which can be seen on her Instagram channel. Joy describes how she moved from feeling ashamed for disassociating from her pain, which was her coping mechanism to understanding and appreciating it as her survival strategy at the time. Joy says: ‘You deal with it when you can. That is how you are surviving. That is how your brain is keeping you safe in a situation that is not safe so now it's like ‘oh yeah just disassociating, it's okay, I’ll deal with it later.’ I mean it doesn't mean it's easy to deal with but just knowing that yeah that's an ok thing to do for my brain to survive.’ About this week’s guestJoy Bornstein uses art as a way to process everyday emotions and the long-term scars left by trauma. She is the mother of 3 living children, the mother of a stillborn son, Bennet, and a former victim of domestic abuse. Joy uses colour, line, and shape to explore emotions in a way that can't be expressed in words in an attempt to turn pain into beauty. Joy’s Instagram: @fire_fly_joy Topics discussed in this episode
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| 21 Nov 2022 | 20 Katja Faber | Continuing Living While Grieving After Homicide Loss Part 2 | 00:35:19 | |
Today on the podcast I have the pleasure to delve deeper with Katja Faber, who has been a guest on the Podcast in Season 1. If you haven’t already, go check out her episode which has been one of most downloaded and listener showed a clear interest to know more. Katja shares: ‘I cannot image that however much I have come to accept the reality, that I’m a loss mother I will ever accept that Alex is dead. These are just two things that I can know for myself that this is something I am now. That my son does not live anymore, I still struggle with. And I always will.’ 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 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. Make sure to listen to the podcast to the very end as there are some gems to be found there. I am sure you will enjoy and learn from today’s episode. Katja’s Links:
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| 28 Nov 2022 | 21 Sharna Southan | The Changes Needed in Pregnancy Loss Support | 00:38:38 | |
Today on the podcast I’m speaking with Sharna who I’ve come to appreciate as a force for change in regard to the support offered to women in dealing with their pregnancy loss, a passion we have in common. Talking about her missed miscarriage Sharna shares: ‘…never experienced contractions before so I didn’t know that's what I was experiencing until I got to the hospital until they told me then what was going on. They also told me that one in four pregnancies ends in loss and I was like: “Well, then why do I feel like I'm the only one? Why is there not enough information? Why does no one talk about this?” I felt like I was living under a rock, like where have I been my whole life to not know about this?’ About this week’s guestSharna Southan is an ICF-certified coach, a mum to her rainbow baby, a business owner and a wife. She followed her heart and soul into business after her own pregnancy loss in 2017. Sharna firmly believes that our adversity gives us an opportunity to grow. She founded The Institute of Healing through Pregnancy Loss supporting loss parents with her transformative Pregnancy Loss recovery method and teaching her signature Pregnancy Loss Practitioner™️ Certification Program. Topics discussed in this episode
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| 05 Dec 2022 | 22 Brooke Carlock | If This Wasn’t Enough Already | 00:45:58 | |
Today on the podcast I’m speaking with Brooke whose story could be one that movies are made of. She has experienced loss after loss culminating in a series of devastating and traumatic losses within the past 12 months. Listening to Brooke telling her life story is both devastating and shocking, at the same time as hope-inspiring in the way she’s living her life after loss with fierce resilience at the same time as grieving. She speaks candidly about the dark places she went through while grieving and how she got help when she was suicidal. The truth is that there are people like Brooke who have no choice but to live with multiple traumatic losses. The question is: how do we meet them? How do we enable ourselves to hold space for someone and their situation? Regarding the people who helped Brooke the most, she says: ‘I want to be strong, and I want to keep going and find meaning in things. I'm just like a go-go-go person and the most helpful thing for me was people saying: ‘Slow down and breathe. You need to feel this and not rush through it, not ignore it, not medicate it.’ About this week’s guestBrooke Carlock has experienced more grief and loss in her lifetime than most... Topics discussed in this episode
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| 12 Dec 2022 | 23 Rachelle Spencer | Being Proud on Who You’ve Become | 00:41:02 | |
Today on the podcast I have the honour to dive deep into loss and trauma with Rachelle Spencer, who I’ve known since 2016. She has experienced multiple miscarriages and an abusive, toxic relationship. Rachelle is proud of who she has become not because but despite of her grief and trauma. ‘I know you mentioned therapist, but that was hugely instrumental for me to have a safe place, a sounding board. I don’t want to underestimate how big that was because I was figuring things out and learning to make decisions on my own. There was one person that completely supported whatever decision I made and trusted me to figure it out.’ About this week’s guestRachelle Spencer is an entrepreneur and mom in Baltimore, Maryland (USA). She started her handmade jewellery business after she lost 4 children to early miscarriage. She now has a son, daughter, and another little one on the way. She spends most of her time doing photography, reading children's books, or trying her hand out at a new creative outlet. Rachelle’s links: Website: www.rachelle-isms.com Topics discussed in this episode
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| 19 Dec 2022 | 24 Jessica Zucker | Saying it Loudly: I Had a Miscarriage | 00:45:40 | |
Today on the podcast I’m speaking with Jessica Zucker who is widely known on social media due to the movement she started in response to her miscarriage. She openly talks about her 16-week miscarriage and the more recent trauma of her journey with breast cancer. Similarly to Jessica’s intent with her #IHadaMiscarriage movement, this podcast is encouraging people to speak about the trauma they have endured and the grief they are dealing with. Having chosen that path herself, Jessica says: About this week’s guestDr Jessica Zucker is a psychologist specializing in reproductive health and the author of I had a Miscarriage: A Memoir, a Movement. She’s the creator of the #IHadaMiscarriage campaign. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, New York Magazine, and Vogue, among others. Jessica’s second book is in the works. Jessica’s links: Instagram: @ihadamiscarriage Topics discussed in this episode
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| 30 Jan 2023 | 25 Keem Fares | How Grief Evolves From Survival | 00:42:13 | |
Today on the podcast I’m speaking with Keem Fares, the mother of Karina, a spirited intelligent young gymnast, who died in a freak accident when she was 12 years old. In our conversation, we draw the connection from early grief to when we worked on the book Surviving My First Year of Child Loss in 2017 to now, 8 years after Karina’s death. I can highly recommend listening to this episode with Keem because she so beautifully describes how grief has affected her life, her relationship, and her faith and how it has evolved from pure survival to how she experiences it now, after 8 years. This was without a doubt the most interesting conversation I had on the topic of how faith and grief interact, especially given the fact that I would call myself a strongly spiritual but non-religious person. About this week’s guestKeem Fares is a Non-Profit professional and holds a leadership position in Financial Operations. Originally from Mexico herself, she met her husband in Cairo, Egypt, where they lived for 15 years before moving to San Diego, California in 2011. Keem struggles to rediscover herself after the accidental death of her 12-year-old daughter, Karina, in 2015. She finds joy in her son Mark, and together with her husband, they rely on their faith in hope. They established Karina’s Joy Foundation to perpetuate Karina’s joyful spirit and giving nature through youth scholarships and acts of kindness. She says, “I don’t have answers. I simply intentionally survive one moment, one day, one week, one month, one year…and then I do it again. Maybe, someday I’ll have survived enough to live and perhaps even thrive. In the midst of my own darkness, I can trust and hope that a rainbow might appear. One stormy day at a time, I am expecting rainbows.” Topics discussed in this episode
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| 06 Feb 2023 | 26 Turiya Hanover | Grief in the First Year and Coming out of Trauma | 00:44:42 | |
Today on the podcast I have the honor to be speaking with Turiya Hanover for the second time, revisiting her first year of grief over the loss of her partner Maia and the associated trauma. Turiya and I share a passion: befriending death. Not everyone’s cup of tea in terms of passions but you will enjoy listening to this episode if you are interested in looking behind the veils of life, birth, death, and everything in between. 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. Turiya's personal journey into human development started when she did her first 2-year Jungian Psychotherapy course aged 22, followed by an encounter workshop in 1970 in Germany. The revelation and exploration of this Humanistic Psychology approach took Turiya by surprise. The internal shift that she experienced was so profound, that she and her husband, set on a new course of human discovery, which led them to India. Through learning meditation, living, and working in a community under the guidance of a master, she developed a unique approach in working with people that is a synthesis of eastern insights, living awareness and western approach to humanistic psychology. Topics discussed in this episode
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| 13 Feb 2023 | 27 Amber Jackson | Life as a Young Widow with Four Children | 00:45:49 | |
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast here. Thank you! Amber is a guiding light as to the resilience she draws from, inspiring with her version of grieving seeing it as a sacred time while also growing and evolving as her own person and in her life after the loss of her soulmate. She believes that ‘laughing means singing Tim’s song’ and it is a way to show her love for him. Amber shares this beautiful advice she picked up early on after her husband died: About this week’s guestAmber Jackson is a mom of four (one with special needs) and a cancer widow but that hasn’t stopped her from living life to the fullest. She 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 loves tulips, pizza Friday, and kitchen dance parties. Topics discussed in this episode
Links --> 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. Thanks for listening to HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA. If you’d like to be updated on future episodes, please subscribe to my newsletter on Nathalie Himmelrich.com 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. Support this PodcastTo support this podcast, please rate, review, subscribe to, or fol Find support: Support the show:
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| 20 Feb 2023 | 28 Clover Stroud | The Ambiguous Loss of Her Mother and the Early Loss of Her Sister | 00:49:21 | |
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast here. Thank you! Today on the podcast I am speaking with Clover Stroud, a British journalist, and author, telling us about her beautifully rich and colorful life, which also included deep trauma within her family of origin. During their teenage years, Clover and her two years older sister Nell formed a close bond, as they first cared for their mother in their home. This role reversal had a huge impact on Clover’s outlook on life. Not even 50, Nell was diagnosed with cancer and died within a couple of years of their mother’s death. Clover believes that what saved her life was to be creating and really going after life. One of her quotes from the podcast that I will keep as a reminder of our conversation is that grief can be a creative act. About this week’s guestClover Stroud is a writer and a journalist and has five children. She writes about the way life feels, mining her own experiences to draw universal truths about what it means to be human. She never shies away from the big topics and writes with startling honesty about life, death, sex, addiction, motherhood, nature, grief, ecstasy, and suffering. She started her career as a journalist at 24, and since then has written regularly for all the major newspapers and publications, including The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, Vogue, Red, Harpers, Elle, and she frequently appears on radio or podcasts as a distinctive and singular voice. She has published three memoirs, all Sunday Times bestsellers, and is working on her next book. Clover hosts a weekly author interview on her popular Instagram page @clover.stroud. Check out her website here for details on her memoirs. Topics discussed in this episode
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| 27 Feb 2023 | 29 Shelby Forsythia | Mother-loss as a Young Adult | 00:47:38 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self, funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Today on the podcast I am speaking with Shelby Forsythia who lost her mother due to breast cancer following years of treatment. Shelby was just twenty-one and this traumatic experience influenced her life as a young adult. Dealing with her loss, she delved into understanding and learning about grief. About this week’s guestShelby Forsythia (she/her) is a grief guide, 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 a combination of 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, and The Oprah Magazine. Check out Shelby’s links here: Website | Instagram Topics discussed in this episode
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| 06 Mar 2023 | 30 Katherine Lazar | On A Mission to Help You Find Light in the Darkness after Loss | 00:41:58 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self, funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Today on the podcast I am speaking with Katherine Lazar who lost her son Brody in a late-term stillbirth just a year ago during her first pregnancy. She knew early on that she needed to speak with other moms who had experienced what she had. Katherine felt the importance of finding people that had the same grief vibe. The conversations with these women turned into her podcast At a Total Loss. From helping herself cope, the podcast was a way to reach others and helped them to cope with their losses. About this week’s guestKatherine Lazar currently lives in Atlanta, GA in the US and is married to the love of her life, Brody’s dad, Michael. When she was 37 weeks pregnant, her precious son died and was stillborn. The sorrow following his death almost killed her. Conversations with other loss moms saved her. She decided to record them and put them out for others to hear. If they helped her feel less alone, maybe they could help others. She’s so proud to have created this in Brody’s honor and to give other mothers a platform to talk about their babies. Finding my purpose has helped her in so many ways, and she is a big believer in helping others do the same with real talk and honesty about life after loss. Check out Katherine’s links here: Website | Instagram | YouTube Topics discussed in this episode
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| 13 Mar 2023 | 31 Lisa Bolton | It is Never Too Late to Mourn Your Losses | 00:39:49 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self, funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Today on the podcast I am speaking with Lisa Bolton who experienced multiple losses in her life. She talks about dealing with loss after loss, the intense grieving bringing her to the brink of suicide, and the pivotal importance of her support system. She says: Without support, you can’t go through it. In her case, she had her church and a group of mothers who all had lost children through a drug overdose. In making her loss meaningful, Lisa beautifully describes how she allows her daughter to live through her. Another really important part of our conversation dealt with the topic of comparing losses, especially in the case of blended families dealing with losses on both sides and the importance of relational support within the family. About this week’s guestOriginally from New Jersey, Lisa now lives in Florida. After having been married for 25 years, she divorced and later remarried. She is a mother to 3 biological children, 2 stepchildren, and one foster child, but she considers them all hers. She has been an Early Childhood Administrator for almost 40 years. A few years ago, she also became a Stillbirth Doula, Support Group Facilitator and Grief Counselor for adults, children, and adolescents. Her grief journey began 34 years ago when she lost her first-born son to a miscarriage. 30 years later she lost her rainbow baby, her beautiful 26-year-old daughter to an overdose of heroin laced with fentanyl. In between those losses, she also lost her wonderful 18-year-old stepdaughter to a rare autoimmune disease. Read more about Lisa here... Topics discussed in this episode
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| 20 Mar 2023 | 32 Estelle Thomson | How Art and Yoga Saved My Life | 00:48:34 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Today on the podcast I am speaking with Estelle Thomson, who has been an inspiration for me for years. We’ve met on Instagram as part of a yearly event called May We All Heal which I started in 2015 and gave grieving mothers a creative outlet and an avenue to share with others. Estelle has a way of using art and yoga in her healing journey that drew me in and it was an honor for me to be speaking with her. Here is someone who can laugh while crying, who exemplifies living with the paradox of living a creative life while holding the gift of what death has brought her. About this week’s guestEstelle Thomson, M.A. in Counselling Psychology is a leading yoga teacher and educator in the intersecting fields of expressive arts, embodied movement, and psychology. With over ten years of experience, her work explores the relationship between breath, body, emotions, imagination, and play. Estelle is a faculty member of Quantum University, internationally recognized for offering online courses and graduate degree programs in holistic, alternative, natural, and integrative medicine. Estelle leads numerous lectures, workshops, and retreats locally and internationally. Estelle’s links: Website | Instagram Topics discussed in this episode
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| 27 Mar 2023 | 33 Ana Vick | The Importance of Stillbirth Prevention | 00:48:14 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self, funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Today on the podcast I am speaking with Ana Vick about the trauma of stillbirth and pregnancy loss. Ana believes in the importance of stillbirth prevention during pregnancy. Having experienced the trauma of pregnancy loss multiple times, and finding out more about Owen’s reason for death helped her move from self-blame and shame and gave her some sort of closure. This allowed Ana to turn her story into a meaningful advocacy to support others not having to experience what she had. About this week’s guestAna Lepe Vick is a maternal health advocate and stillbirth rights activist who grew up in the Bay Area and is a recent North Carolina transplant. She is a wife and mother of 3, known as Still My Son on social media where she finds support and inspiration to continue pushing for change in memory of her middle son, Owen Nathaniel, and all babies gone too soon. Owen was unexpectedly born still at almost 32 weeks of a perfect "textbook" pregnancy via crash c-section. She also suffered miscarriages before and after Owen's death so she’s no stranger to the trauma of pregnancy loss. Although she would much rather have her son in her arms, she proudly parents Owen through her activism and role as Co-Director of Communications of PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy (a stillbirth prevention non-profit she helped found with other bereaved families in 2021). As part of the Count the Kicks Influencer Advisory Board she leads targeted efforts to outreach to Spanish-speaking communities because every parent deserves to know how to protect their baby through fetal movement education. She is the Social Media Lead for the SHINE for Autumn Act, which is a bill she hopes will be passed soon for the U.S. to start making a systemic change to prevent stillbirths. In addition, Ana is helping to spread “Womb Wisdom” through her new educational platform, Sacred Birth Circle, where she interviews maternal health experts & birthing parents to help families be better informed about their pregnancy and birth journeys. She will always wish her family could be complete, but she’s thankful she can keep her son’s memory alive while saving babies in his honor. Check out Ana’s links:
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| 03 Apr 2023 | 34 Sarah Stillman | How Dealing With Trauma Does Not Prevent But Helps Prepare For Future Trauma Part 1 | 00:36:04 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self, funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Today on the podcast I am speaking with Sarah Stillman, who suffered preeclampsia and concealed placental abruption which led to the stillbirth of her first son. Having been sexually assaulted earlier on in her life in a medical environment, she was very clear about needing to take charge of her medical care to avoid further traumatization. Unfortunately, the developments her pregnancy experienced leading to emergency care, resulted in her experiencing more trauma. We had such a rich conversation that this became a double episode. Make sure you listen to the second part which is going to be published a week after this in which we dive much deeper into the topic of pregnancy after loss and how to deal with the trauma of sexual assault. About this week’s guestSarah is one of Nathaniel’s two mamas (yes, he has two moms)! Nathaniel is Sarah and Amy’s firstborn son conceived through IVF with a traumatic ending in severe early-onset preeclampsia, placental abruption, emergency C-section, a brief NICU stay, and death within his mother’s arms. Sarah took to grieving, finding out what happened, and planning for future pregnancy like a full-time job, and in the midst of the uncertainty and haze of grief, identified resources that helped answer critical questions. In honor of her son, she created whenmybabydied.com which aims to offer families a centralized resource hub of information and answers for the question no parent ever thought they’d have to find. Sarah is currently pregnant with Nathaniel’s sibling who is expected to be born in April 2023. She lives with her wife, two dogs, and Nathaniel’s warrior spirit in Central Massachusetts. Check out Sarah’s links: Topics discussed in this episode | |||
| 10 Apr 2023 | 35 Sarah Stillman | How Dealing With Trauma Does Not Prevent But Helps Prepare For Future Trauma Part 2 | 00:37:42 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Part 2Today on the podcast I am speaking with Sarah Stillman, who suffered preeclampsia and concealed placental abruption, leading to the stillbirth of her first son. Having been sexually assaulted earlier on in her life in a medical environment, she was very clear about needing to take charge of her medical care to avoid further traumatization. Unfortunately, the developments her pregnancy experienced leading to emergency care, resulted in her experiencing more trauma. We had such a rich conversation that this became a double episode. Make sure you listen to the second part which is going to be published a week after this in which we dive much deeper into the topic of pregnancy after loss and how to deal with the trauma of sexual assault. About this week’s guestSarah is one of Nathaniel’s two mamas (yes, he has two moms)! Nathaniel is Sarah and Amy’s firstborn son conceived through IVF with a traumatic ending in severe early-onset preeclampsia, placental abruption, emergency C-section, a brief NICU stay and death within his mother’s arms. Sarah took to grieving, finding out what happened, and planning for future pregnancy like a full-time job, and in the midst of the uncertainty and haze of grief, identified resources that helped answer critical questions. In honour of her son, she created whenmybabydied.com which aims to offer families a centralized resource hub of information and answers for the question no parent ever thought they’d have to find. Sarah is currently pregnant with Nathaniel’s sibling who is expected to be born in April 2023. She lives with her wife, two dogs, and Nathaniel’s warrior spirit in Central Massachusetts. Check out Sarah’s links: Topics discussed in this episode | |||
| 17 Apr 2023 | 36 Shannon Traphagen | Vulnerability and Loneliness as a Widow | 00:46:46 | |
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self, funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Today on the podcast I am speaking with Shannon Traphagen about the loss of the love of her life and best friend from brain cancer. She so beautifully describes feeling rudderless and lost after having spent all her adult life with her husband. Before her husband’s diagnosis, they were on the road to adoption but due to his illness, they also lost that option. Shannon slept downstairs on the couch for a year to avoid the loneliness of the bedroom she had shared with her husband and the baby’s room across the hallway. She slowly worked her way back into embracing her life and now helps others through her podcast. Shannon speaks about vulnerability and loneliness, a topic she feels is not discussed enough in grief. About this week’s guestShannon Traphagen, MSW, is a published author, motivational grief & loss speaker, patient advocate, and host of The Game On Glio Podcast. A show centered around the stories of brain cancer patients, caregivers, doctors, researchers, therapists, and grief and loss journeys. With a background in magazine publishing, social work, and modern media, Shannon is also walking through her own grief journey after losing her 45-year-old husband to Glioblastoma two years ago. She now helps others through her podcast and her own experiences, bridging the gap in communication between patients/families, widows, and the medical community. She is also the founder of Traphagen's Trail Ride 4 Brain Cancer, a cycling fundraiser which has raised over $30,000 to date for brain cancer clinical trials. Shannon’s links: Topics discussed in this episode
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| 08 May 2023 | 37 John Henry Parker | How Helping Troubled Veterans Helped Him Deal With Grief | 00:45:27 | |
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. Today on the podcast I am speaking with John Henry Parker who has experienced multiple losses in his family. From avoiding grief and its emotionality altogether after the loss of his older brother Russel when John was just twenty years old, he could no longer do that when his son Danny died in 2009. Therapeutic writing and helping other troubled veterans as he calls them were his ways of dealing with his loss. About this week’s guestJohn Henry Parker is a behavioral assessment analyst, writer and audiobook narrator. For over 35 years, he has immersed himself in the work of personal transformation with a simple philosophy; Apply everything to self, first. Check out John’s links: Topics discussed in this episode
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| 08 May 2023 | Season 4 - Trailer: News About the Upcoming Show | 00:03:37 | |
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| 05 Jun 2023 | 41 Meghan Jarvis | How a Therapist Deals With Grief and Trauma | 00:49:07 | |
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. Another exciting conversation awaits you here today because Meghan and I have something central in common: our passion for grief and trauma. Speaking the same kind of language, our conversation flowed easily through her personal story of dealing with many losses and trauma, leading to her professional work with clients dealing with grief and trauma, especially in the workplace. 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 memoir. “The End of The Hour,” will be published in December 2023. Meghan’s links: Website | Instagram Topics discussed in this episode
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| 15 May 2023 | 38 Mira Simone | Grief Literacy and Somatic Trauma Work | 00:45:04 | |
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. I’m so excited to talk to Mira, an inspirational woman, dealing with the loss and trauma of her partner. I found her through Instagram, where she shares authentically about her journey through her voice that connects with many other grievers, not just young widows. She shares about Brian’s death which came very quickly, within 7 weeks of his second diagnosis, and how she finds her way back to living life as a young widow. About this week’s guestMira Simone is a widow, mother, published writer, grief coach, and grief-literacy advocate. She is also a registered mental health occupational therapist in Ontario, Canada. In early 2019, Mira's life was blown apart, when her partner Brian was diagnosed with an unbelievably aggressive cancer. He died seven weeks later, leaving her alone with their almost three-year-old daughter. Prior to Brian's death, she worked in the mental health space. But it wasn't until his death that Mira began to explore the grieving process. In 2022, she launched New Moon Mira, her grief coaching business, through which she supports widows and grievers in more intimate group containers and provides grief literacy training for grief-support people and healthcare professionals. She is currently in the early stages of writing a memoir, with support from the Canada Council for the Arts. Mira’s links: Website | Instagram Topics discussed in this episode
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| 22 May 2023 | 39 Tori Press | When Grieving Dad Equals the Loss of a Challenging Relationship | 00:45:04 | |
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. I’m honestly a big fan of Tori and you’ll be too as soon as you see her amazingly creative way in which she processes her life through her art. There is this one post about grief being a gift that keeps on giving which immediately drew me in and I was hooked. Tori and I had an immediate connection even though this interview was the first time we spoke in person. I’m so grateful to her deciding to share about the topic of grief in relation to a person when the relationship in life was difficult which is another place where our lives run in parallel. This is another exciting conversation that I am sure you’ll enjoy as much as I did. 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! She is the author of two books: How to Feel Better, a companion and workbook for dealing with tough times (including grief and loss), and I Am Definitely, Probably Enough (I Think). Tori’s links: Website | Instagram Topics discussed in this episode
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| 29 May 2023 | 40 Nathalie Himmelrich | Trauma and Its Impact on the Nervous System | 00:18:21 | |
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. Todays EpisodeAll trauma involves grief but not all grief needs to necessarily be or feel traumatic. When is a loss also traumatic and when is it not? What are the differences between a traumatic loss and a non-traumatic loss? Why and how does it matter? How can we support ourselves and others after a traumatic loss? All these questions and more are the topics for today's episode. Nathalie’s links: Website | Instagram Topics discussed in this episode
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| 12 Jun 2023 | 42 Janet McGeever | Sexuality and Relationships in the Context of Grief, Loss and Trauma | 00:39:05 | |
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 excited about this conversation I had with my dear friend Janet who I’ve known for almost 20 years. She works with individuals and couples in the area of sexuality and relationship. Janet leads the Making Love Retreat workshops where couples focus on their mindful connection through sexuality. Janet also describes the potential of suppressed emotions and trauma being brought up, released, and healed through the conscious way of lovemaking rather than having sex in a conventional way. You must listen to this week’s episode to find out more. About this week’s guestJanet McGeever has been a psychotherapist for almost 25 years, specializing in the field of love, sex, and intimacy, particularly in relation to midlife. She co-wrote the book, Tantric Sex and Menopause - Practices for Spiritual and Sexual Renewal with Conscious Sexuality Teacher Diana Richardson. Janet was a TEDx speaker in Noosa, Australia in 2013. She has been teaching The Making Love Retreat, a retreat founded by Diana and Michael Richardson, in Australia since 2012. Janet’s links: Website | Instagram Topics discussed in this episode
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| 19 Jun 2023 | 43 Andrew Dupy | Dealing With Early Childhood Trauma, Losses, Divorce and PTSD | 00:34:06 | |
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. As you know, I thrive to have more male guests on the Podcast and I’m glad that Andrew offered to speak from his personal experience of dealing with grief and trauma in many different situations. He speaks about divorce, both the divorce of his parents as well as his own marriage, the death of both of his parents, and the loss of most of his family and friends as a result of that. As you will hear in today’s episode, having experienced quite significant early childhood trauma, Andrew knows his boundaries and is clear on what he can talk about and where he prefers not to go deeper, which I’m guessing many of you listeners can relate to. Having clear boundaries is so important, especially dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the aftermath of a chronically dysregulated nervous system. Find out more by listening to today’s episode. About this week’s guestAndrew Dupy is the CSO for Leaders Press with a demonstrated history working in the publishing industry and more than 15 years of developing extensive customer, sales, support, management, and executive experience. Andrew’s links: LinkedIn | Leader’s Press article Topics discussed in thisFind support: Support the show:
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| 21 Jun 2023 | 44 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EPISODE! Nathalie Himmelrich Developmental Trauma, Sexual Abuse, and Family History of Grief and Loss | 00:34:23 | |
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. Birthday GiveawayI'm giving away 5 copies of my books to individuals who leave or have already left a review for the podcast. The choice of the book is absolutely yours! If you want to be in the draw for a copy of one of my books,
Support this PodcastDonate just 3$ per month to cover some of the cost: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast Nathalie’s links: Website | Instagram Topics discussed in this episode
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| 07 Aug 2023 | 45 Laney Rosenzweig | How Trauma Can Be Resolved in Just One Session With ART | 00:35:03 | |
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. The episode with Laney Rosenzweig, founder of Accelerated Resolution Therapy ART has been one of those conversations that caught me by surprise. After hearing about Accelerated Resolution Therapy from one of my previous podcast guests, I was interested but after speaking with Laney I was completely intrigued by her experimental spirit which led to the potential of ART to help people heal from many challenges. ART has been proven useful to treat:
About this week’s guestLaney Rosenzweig is the Developer of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). Developed in 2008, ART is an evidence-based, eye movement therapy that can resolve the symptoms of PTSD and other mental health issues. The research showed that one to five sessions with an average of three resolved the issues studied. Most past trauma can be resolved in only one session. Ongoing problems may take longer due to secondary gains. Her training company, Rosenzweig Center for Rapid Recovery (RCRR), has trained over 8,000 clinicians both in private practice and in numerous clinics. Her book, "Too Good to Be True" is an autobiographical account of her life, how she developed ART, and examples of ART's healing power. Laney’s Website: https://erasetraumanow.com ART links: ART Website: http://www.acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com/ | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acceleratedresolutiontherapy Thank you for listening!HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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| 04 Aug 2023 | Season 5 - Trailer: News About the Upcoming Show | 00:03:37 | |
Welcome again to the How to Deal With Grief and Trauma Podcast Season 5. 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. Find support: Support the show:
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| 14 Aug 2023 | 46 Coco Buchmann | Motherloss After 23 Years of Anticipatory Grief | 00:48:06 | |
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’ve known Coco personally as we studied Somatic Experience, Peter Levine’s extensive professional trauma training, together. I accompanied her as she dealt with the intensive relationship with her mother and the grief over her mother’s subsequent death. From a young age - for half of her own life - Coco cared for her mother and had to be the one to make decisions regarding her mother’s care in her 23-year-long battle with cancer and mental health issues. About this week’s guestCoco Buchmann is a body psychotherapist and trauma therapist. She is also the mother of two boys, 11 and 8 years old. As a therapist, Coco has been working with individuals, dealing with mental illness, such as depression and anxiety, and she also worked with couples. Coco’s website: www.chill-dini-basis.com Other episodes mentioned in this episode: Thank you for listening!HOW TO DEAL Find support: Support the show:
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| 21 Aug 2023 | 47 Tara Storch | Organ Donation After Losing Their Teenage Daughter | 00:47:04 | |
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. Today I’m speaking with Tara, Taylor’s mum. Taylor died following a skiing accident when she was just a teenager. In the hospital when Taylor’s parents were met with the fact that she would not be able to survive, they were offered the option of organ donation, which surprisingly was one of the easier decisions the parents to make. Tara talks about how she and her husband both grieved the loss of their daughter in very different ways and how talking to another couple who experienced a similar loss helped them. After their loss, they made it their mission to focus on the good. Part of that was that Taylor had saved multiple lives through organ donation, so the parents started Taylor’s Gift Foundation to change the conversation around the topic and to support donor families. About this week’s guestTara Storch is president and co-founder of Taylor’s Gift Foundation and is a marketing professional, award-winning author, and community leader. Tara and her husband Todd co-authored the award-winning book, Taylor’s Gift, which was recognized as the ‘Most Inspirational Book’ at the Books for A Better Life Awards in New York City. She and her husband were also recognized as “Heroes Among Us” by People Magazine. Opening up about her journey of finding hope and purpose after the loss of their daughter Taylor, she speaks publicly across the nation about her powerful “Outlive Yourself” message. Sharing her journey on Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Ellen Show, People Magazine, and other national and international media, she brings a message of inspiration that touches lives worldwide. Tara is the proud mother to three children - Taylor, Ryan, and Peyton. She and her husband, Todd currently live in the Dallas, Texas area. Tara’s links:
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| 28 Aug 2023 | 48 Gina Moffa | Motherloss, Divorce, and Acknowledging Loss Upon Loss | 00:44:26 | |
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. When I spoke with Gina, I was surprised at how moved I was by the depth of our conversation even though we just met for the first time. Gina has not only experienced multiple losses herself, but she is also working as a therapist with clients dealing with loss. Just last week she published her first book, a practical guide giving tools and resources helping people while they are grieving. About this week’s guestGina Moffa is a licensed psychotherapist, mental health educator, and media consultant in New York City. In practice for nearly two decades, she has helped thousands of people seeking treatment for trauma, and grief, as well as challenging life experiences and transitions. She received her master’s degree in social work with a specialty in trauma from New York University. August 22nd, 2023, her book, Moving On Doesn't Mean Letting Go: A Modern Guide to Navigating Loss, will be on bookshelves around the world. Gina’s links:
Resources mentioned in this episodeMoving On Doesn't Mean Letting Go: A Modern Guide to Navigating Loss Thank you for listening!HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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| 04 Sep 2023 | 49 Meghan R Jarvis | Review of Trauma and Grief Modalities | 00:46:20 | |
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 is the second episode with Meghan and this time; we speak about all kinds of support modalities that are on offer to treat grief and trauma. This is by far the best episode if you want to get clarity on how grief and trauma work and to find out what kind of treatment is out there and might be the right way to support yourself personally and professionally. Just listen and sense into what feels or sounds good for you and try it. 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 memoir. “The End of The Hour,” will be published in December 2023. Meghan’s links: Website | Instagram Resources mentioned in this episode:
Thank you for listening!HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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| 11 Sep 2023 | 50 Rachel Tenpenny | Cultivating Healing Versus Coping Mechanism | 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:
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| 18 Sep 2023 | 51 James Fish Gill | Bringing Loving Awareness To Your Pain Part 1 | 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. About this week’s guestJames 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:
Resources mentioned in this episode:
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| 25 Sep 2023 | 52 James Fish Gill | Bringing Loving Awareness To Your Pain Part 2 | 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. About this week’s guestJames 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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| 02 Oct 2023 | 53 Erica Messer | Normalizing and Acknowledging Pet Loss Grief | 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:
Resources mentioned in this episode:Thank you for listening!HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is produced and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Find support: Support the show:
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| 09 Oct 2023 | 54 Julia Warren | Navigating Stigmatized Loss | 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:
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| 23 Oct 2023 | 55 Emma Payne | Dealing with Suicide Partner Loss Led to the Development of Help Texts | 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 Resources mentioned in this episode:· 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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| 06 Nov 2023 | 57 Kelly Cervantes | Dealing with the Loss of a Child after a Medically Complex Life | 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. About this week’s guestKelly 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 Resources mentioned in this episode:
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| 30 Oct 2023 | 56 Mindy Meiering | Cumulative Losses: Health, Infertility and Pet Loss | 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 Resources mentioned in this episode:
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| 13 Nov 2023 | 58 Reid Peterson | Dealing with Father Loss Twice | 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.
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| 20 Nov 2023 | 59 Jon Lefrandt | Father Loss Leading to Purpose-driven Work | 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.
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| 27 Nov 2023 | 60 Heidi Horsley | From Sibling Loss, Identity Loss to Opening to Hope | 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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| 04 Dec 2023 | 61 Charlene Lam | Curating Grief After Mother Loss | 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.
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| 11 Dec 2023 | 62 Julia Samuel | Why Grief Works | 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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| 18 Dec 2023 | 63 Stephen Berkley | Induced After-Death Communication | 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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| 25 Dec 2023 | 64 Turiya Hanover | Grief, Trauma, Essence, Connection and Safety | 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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| 19 Feb 2024 | Season 7 - Trailer: News About the Upcoming Show | 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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| 20 Feb 2024 | 65 Dr. Frank Anderson | Understanding Developmental Trauma and Its Lifelong Impact | 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.
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| 26 Feb 2024 | 66 Nathalie Himmelrich | Navigating the Shadows: Understanding Developmental Trauma | 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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| 04 Mar 2024 | 67 Hospice Nurse Julie McFadden | Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death | 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.
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| 11 Mar 2024 | 68 Helen Morris | The Beautiful Side of Grief | 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. About this week’s guestHelen 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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| 18 Mar 2024 | 69 Mary-Frances O’Connor | The Grieving Brain | 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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| 25 Mar 2024 | 70 Nathalie Himmelrich | Person-centred Grief Support | 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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| 01 Apr 2024 | 71 Emma Pearson | Still Living Open-Heartedly After Loss | 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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| 08 Apr 2024 | 72 Hope Edelman | Motherless Daughters, Motherless Mothers | 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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| 15 Apr 2024 | 73 Marc Hauser | How Adverse Childhood Experiences Shape Vulnerable Minds | 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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| 22 Apr 2024 | 74 Diana Richardson | Intimacy and Sexuality Affected By Loss and Trauma | 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. About this week's guestDiana 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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| 06 May 2024 | Season 8 - Trailer: News About the Upcoming Show | 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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| 13 May 2024 | 75 David Kessler | How Long Does Grief Last? | 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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| 20 May 2024 | 76 Dr Kate Truitt | Keep Breathing - An Intimate Journey Through Loss, Trauma, and Rediscovering Life | 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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| 27 May 2024 | 77 Amber Jackson | How I Survived a Fall from a Zipline - Dealing with Accidental Trauma | 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.
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| 03 Jun 2024 | 78 Joshua Black | Grief Dreams and What They Can Tell Us | 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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| 10 Jun 2024 | 79 Dr Trish Muehsam | When You Lose Your Pet Companion | 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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| 21 Jun 2024 | 80 Nathalie Himmelrich | 2 YEARS ANNIVERSARY EPISODE! | 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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| 09 Jul 2024 | 81 Nathalie Himmelrich | Embracing Grief Through Metaphors | 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:
Resources mentioned in this episode· IG Post about the Grief Crystal: bit.ly/GriefCrystal Find support: Support the show:
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| 15 Jul 2024 | 82 Nathalie Himmelrich | Embracing Grief Through Metaphors 2 | 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:
Resources mentioned in this episode· IG Post about the Grief Crystal: bit.ly/GriefCrystal Find support: Support the show:
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| 29 Jul 2024 | 83 Stephanie Sarazin | Understanding Ambiguous Grief | 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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| 20 Aug 2024 | 84 Nathalie Himmelrich | Understanding the Difference Between Grief and Depression | 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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| 02 Sep 2024 | 85 Deb Dana | Loss Through the Lens of Polyvagal Theory | 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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| 16 Sep 2024 | 86 Nathalie Himmelrich | Building Resilience in the Context of Grief and Trauma | 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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| 30 Sep 2024 | 87 MC McDonalds | Orphaned by 25 | 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. About this week’s guestMary 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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| 11 Oct 2024 | 88 Rachel Tenpenny | Grieving Parents 10 Years Later | 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. 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 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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| 21 Oct 2024 | 89 Martina Sandles | Grieving Parents 10 Years Later | 00:44:16 | |
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 episodeWelcome to a special series of podcast episodes in honour 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. About this week’s guestMartina Sandles is Hannah’s mother, who would have been 39 years old this year. Here is what she shares with me all these years later: “Quite a few of my friends had weddings or became grandparents and are involved with a little once again. I am grieving the lost dream of all those milestones we didn't get to experience with her, and I still wonder what kind of woman she would have been and what path in life she would have chosen. We could see characteristics emerging and loved her personality, traits I feel we need in the world. It is more a dream of the 'what ifs' and wishing that her siblings would have had a big sister to go to or who would have modelled things for them. Hannah, and my/our living with her till her death, has shaped me and my development so much, I wonder what parts of me would have lived on in her. Not that this is passed on consciously, but by living with each other, sharing values and ways of livin Find support: Support the show:
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| 28 Oct 2024 | 90 Kiley Hanish | Grieving Parents 10 Years Later | 00:41:28 | |
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 honour 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. Additionally, I’m excited to offer Healing Steps, my audio course, at 25% off this month. Use the coupon code HSOCT24 to access the course and begin your journey toward healing. About this week’s guestKiley Hanish is Norbert’s mother. Resources mentioned in this episode
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| 12 Nov 2024 | Season 10 - Trailer: News About the Upcoming Show | 00:05:42 | |
Welcome again to the How to Deal With Grief and Trauma Podcast Season 10. 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. Let's have a look back at the most popular episodes so far:
This season, we’re welcoming back grieving parents who shared their stories with me over a decade ago during the interviews for my first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple. That book recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, and as we hear from these parents again, we’ll learn how their journeys have evolved over the years and how they continue to live with loss and love. This season, I’ll explore how our nervous system processes traumatic loss and what happens when grief and trauma intertwine. I'll share some more insights from Polyvagal Theory and how this understanding can help you partner your body to regulate itself. Season 10 of the podcast will restart next Monday with episode #91. 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 and follow the show. Find support: Support the show:
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| 09 Dec 2024 | 93 Alexa Bigwarfe | Grieving Parents 10 Years Later | 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. About this week’s guestAlexa 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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| 18 Nov 2024 | 91 Whitney Lyn Allen | How I Continued Living with Two Toddlers after My Husband Died Following a Bee Sting | 00:40:13 | |
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 connected with today's podcast guest Whitney through her heartfelt and courageous posts on Instagram. Her vulnerability in sharing her journey through grief deeply resonated with me because we both realized, through our own traumatic experiences, that there isn’t enough conversation around grief and trauma. Like her, many of my clients aren’t prepared for the overwhelming emotions they face, making the process even harder. This shared understanding fuels my work every day—I show up to talk about grief because I don't want anyone to feel the same sense of isolation or confusion that so many do. And so does Whitney. Both of us are passionate about creating more space for these conversations and ensuring others know they aren’t alone in their journey. About this week’s guestWhitney Lyn Allen is first and foremost mama to her sons, Jackson (6) and Leo (2). She practiced law as a medical malpractice defense attorney for ten years before her husband had a severe reaction to a bee sting and sustained a severe brain injury, subsequently resulting in his death. Whitney decided to turn her pain into purpose and followed her new calling to serve others who are also experiencing grief and trauma and share her vulnerable and personal grief journey with others. She is the author of the book about grief and life after loss titled, Running in Trauma Stilettos, an Amazon Best Seller. Whitney is also a certified grief educator and provides grief coaching to those ready for their transformation and growth after loss. She shares the empowering message that there is so much beauty in life, even after losing a loved one.
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| 25 Nov 2024 | 92 Tina Hedin | Losing Kiki at 25 | 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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| 16 Dec 2024 | 94 Rachel Tenpenny McGonigle | Managing the Holidays While Dealing With Grief and Trauma | 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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