Living through two life shaking losses, the death of her father and now the death of her second child, Joëlle explores the unique wisdom and world view that comes with lived experience of grief, loss and trauma. This podcast takes on the many truths behind what we are never told about pregnancy and infant loss and grief in general. This is a place that advocates for grief informed spaces as well as normalizing grief and mourning as a valuable and deeply meaningful process. H.O.M is also for the loved ones of grievers who want to learn how to better support to a grieving loved one.
In this episode, Mary Catherine McDonald (MC) discusses her experience with grief and loss, as well as her research on trauma. She highlights the grief-phobic nature of society and the need for more open conversations about loss. MC reframes the concept of trauma, emphasizing that the trauma response is never wrong and that shame is the real problem. She also explores the importance of relational support in healing from trauma and grief. The conversation delves into the challenges of navigating identity after a traumatic event and the need for society to acknowledge and support those who have experienced loss. Takeaways from this episode: Society is often grief-phobic, making it difficult for individuals to openly discuss and process their grief. The trauma response is an adaptive mechanism that is designed to respond to extreme overwhelm and keep us alive. Shame is the real problem when it comes to trauma and grief, as it prevents individuals from seeking help and healing. Relational support is crucial in the healing process, and healing can happen in various relationships and settings. Trauma and grief can lead to a loss of identity, and individuals may need to reorient themselves and redraw their map of the world. It is important to challenge societal narratives around trauma and grief, and to recognize that healing is a unique and individual process. Content by Chapter: 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:33 Experience with Grief and Loss 03:36The Grief-Phobic Society 08:23 The Thin Spaces of Grief 11:49 Reframing Trauma 15:30 The Concept of Brokenness 18:15 The Trauma Response is Never Wrong 21:57 The Importance of Relational Support 25:24 The Isolation Impulse 29:12 Loss of Identity 32:06 The Elephant in the Room 36:09 The Aftermath of Trauma
In this episode, bereaved father Jason Dykstra speaks frankly about the partner's perspective on grief, pregnancy loss, and healing. Join us as Jason shares his insights on male-identifying folks and how often their experiences get overlooked as well as dismissed. He shares his experience learning to allow himself to stop, and intentionally feel his grief after his son Ezra was stillborn. Jason Dykstra is a father of four as well as an international speaker, author, and coach specializing in grief, and conflict resolution. Contact Jason Dykstra at: https://www.jasondyk.com/ Instagram: @jasondyk Buy his new book: "Welcome to the Shit Club: A Male's Perspective on Stillbirth, Grief and Loss" Contact Joëlle CW at: @joellespeaks
Annie Gudger lost her husband Kent tragically in a car accident and was widowed at the age of 28 while being pregnant with their son Jake. Anne shares candidly about this life shaking loss that happened 36 years ago, through the eyes of a grief holder, writer and now founder and community leader of multiple grief and loss spaces. Annie and Joëlle explore grief as soul work; as a journey that cracks us so deeply open, we have no choice but to be working from the soul level of healing. Anne also shares about her new book, a memoir, that just came out in Sept 2023, called The Fifth Chamber. This one is not to be missed. Anne Gudger can be found at: Instagram: @annegudger Facebook: Coffee & Grief Community & Monthly Events Podcast: Coffee, Grief & Gratitude 30-day Grief writing group: https://writeyourgriefout.thinkific.com/ Joëlle can be found at: Instagram @joellespeaks House of Mourning Blog Youtube Channel: Joëlle CW Baby Loss & Grief
Join us for this powerful conversation as Ayako Gallagher and Joëlle CW discuss the myths of grief and pregnancy loss & rediscovering yourself after loss. Ayako shares candidly about what she has experienced after losing her stillborn daughter Emi. She shares what she has learned about supporting her partner as well as how she has incorporated Emi in every day of her family's life. She talks about the grief myths she has proudly smashed along the way. Ayako is an ICF accredited Grief Coach and PILSC trained group facilitator, and more than anything she is a bereaved parent, community organizer and baby loss advocate. Find & Follow Ayako on Social Media: @mamasmatterhere @emi.and.company Her newly launched Retreat for Sping 2023 Brochure: From Loss to Love Retreat Find and Follow Joëlle CW on social media: @joellespeaks Joëlle CW's Youtube Channel
Join us for this beautiful discussion with the profound Grief and Loss Educator, Expert, Author, and Psychologist - Dr. Mekel Harris. Joëlle and Dr. Mekel explore the impacts of grief and loss on the corporate workplaces as well as the impacts of the pandemic and the grief that has emerged because of it. Dr. Mekel shares about one of the biggest falsehoods that we have been lead to believe in grief: that grief in fact is NOT linear. She shares candidly about her own loss of her mother, and later her father as well. Lots of gems to uncover in this one! @drmekel @growwithbloomwell https://mekelharrisphd.com/
Join us for a heartfelt, raw conversation about the realities behind infertility, pregnancy loss & a couples journey to uncover their feelings about being childlessness, and not by choice. Jessica Van Wyen shares her beautiful baby boy Jacob with us, what she went through to become his mama, and also all she went through in and after losing him. Jessica shares her journey to give back through working in the Pregnancy and Infant Loss community with an incredible Californian Perinatal Loss Charity (RTZ: Hope). Follow Jess on Instagram: @jessvanwyen Work with Jessica and Return to Zero: Hope Charity here: https://rtzhope.org/register https://rtzhope.org/support-group-facilitators
@Joellespeaks with Mary McElhattan: Author, Chaplin, Funeral Director and Permission Mission advocate This episode uncovers the power of giving ourselves and others permission to embrace our mortality as a change agent for enriching our lives while earthside. This is a profound conversation about not how we want life to be - but how it is - and taking out the "shoulds" in our experiences of grief, loss & death and dying. Mary's vision is to share courage and freedom while having honest discussions about mortality. Her intention is to create a peace for the passing and for the living still here. Links/Contact info: Mary's YouTube channel is: http://www.YouTube.com/@permissionmission > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.mcelhattan & Permission Mission. > Author to: Rocket Risks-Not knowing the how and doing it anyway. Available here on Amazon. > Linked In: Mary McElhattan Joëlle CW: Facebook: Joëlle Croteau-Willard Instagram: @Joellespeaks Website: https://pregnancylosshealing.com/coaches/joelle-croteau-willard/
Joëlle speaks with world renowned Performance Coach and author Kelly Poulos about her grief, wisdom and the loss of her 18yr old son, Frankie, just over 30 years ago. Kelly shares what worked for her in grief and healing journey, and what has mattered, above all, over the past 30 years of life after losing her adult son. She also shares her truth behind the ever so cliché and very unhelpful concept of "Time heals all wounds". Follow Kelly Poulos on Instagram: @kellytalks Also on Facebook: Kelly Poulos Purchase Kelly's book "Secrets to Winning": https://www.amazon.ca/Secrets-Winning-Kelly-Poulos-ebook/dp/B00RN4AJ7K Follow Joëlle CW on Instagram at: @joellespeaks On Facebook: Joëlle Croteau-Willard Joëlle's website: https://pregnancylosshealing.com/coaches/joelle-croteau-willard/
Host Joëlle Croteau-Willard shares about the inspiration for this podcast and what you can expect by tuning in.
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