Shows
It’s Not A CrisisNormalizing GriefIn this episode, Doryn is joined by Litsa Williams of What’s Your Grief as they discuss what defines grief and the way that everybody goes through it. Grief is not what people traditionally think it is. It’s much more than suffering from the loss of a loved one. It’s actually a transition, much like midlife. This episode will open up a whole new perspective on what grief is and how it works through various stages of life.
Litsa Williams is a cofounder of the grief community What's Your Grief. She has been working in the field...
2025-10-2356 min
Grief in BriefEP 86: What's Your Grief? with Litsa WilliamsLitsa is the Program Director and Co-founder of What's Your Grief?. WYG is an online support and resource for all things grief. WYG has an emphasis on the unique experience and relationship we all have with loss. By sharing, exploring, and expressing we find that what is most personal applies to all. Further, they accentuate the benefit of community and the need for psychoeducation to compliment the compassion we all need for healing. Whether you are a griever, professional or someone supporting a griever WYG can be a home base. In this episode, Ken and Litsa discuss how What's...
2025-06-1120 min
Grieving Gracefully with Kelly PodcastMoving Forward With Loss: Why It's More Than Just Moving OnGrief can feel like a battle between holding on and moving forward. Society often tells us to "move on," but what if that’s not the answer?
In this episode of Grieving Gracefully with Kelly, host Kelly Sammon sits down with Litsa Williams, grief therapist and co-founder of What’s Your Grief, to unpack the emotional tension between grieving and rebuilding life after loss. If you’ve ever felt pressure to “get back to normal” or guilt for finding joy again, this conversation is for you.
💙 In this episode, you’ll learn:
✔️ Why healing isn’t about leaving...
2025-04-0836 min
Grief is a Sneaky BitchLitsa Williams | What's Your Grief?I’m thrilled to bring you a conversation with the warm and one of the truly wisest people I know on the subject of grief and loss, Litsa Williams. She is the co-founder of the online grief organization, What’s Your Grief - - - which is also the title of the incredible book she co-authored. She is a grief therapist with over 15 years of experience working with sudden, traumatic, and disenfranchised losses as well as ambiguous grief. Litsa holds a Masters in Social work and one in Philosophy too. Both of those perspectives show up in this conversation.
2025-02-131h 11
How the Wise One GrowsHow to Handle Holiday Grief: Advice from a Grief Therapist (112)The holiday season can be a joyful time, but it can also bring challenges, especially for those grieving the loss of a loved one. In this episode, we are joined by grief therapist Litsa Williams to explore practical and meaningful ways to navigate grief during the holidays. Whether you’re struggling to uphold traditions, finding ways to talk to your children during hard moments, or just trying to make it through the “most wonderful time of the year,” this episode offers heartfelt support, actionable tips, and all the things surrounding grief during the holiday season.You’ll Learn...
2024-11-2746 min
The Plural of YouWhat’s Your Grief?: Grief Support for the Rest of Us - Litsa Williams (POY 58)Grief is a constellation of thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Litsa Williams co-founded What's Your Grief? to assist with the process.
2024-08-1533 min
Grief Dreams PodcastE230 - Litsa Williams - What's Your GriefLitsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C is the co-founder of the online grief organization What’s Your Grief. She’s a grief therapist with over 15 years of experience working with sudden, traumatic, and disenfranchised losses as well as ambiguous grief. Drawing on both personal and professional experience with grief, WYG was built as a resource offering concrete, accessible, and relatable support, founded on the values of psychoeducation and creative coping. It has grown to serve more than 3 million grievers each year. Litsa received her master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, as well a...
2024-07-0255 min
Bloom and Grow with Liz FiedlerValidating All Types of Loss with Litsa Williams of 'What's Your Grief'The conversation is about grief and the various types of losses that people experience. The guest, Litsa Williams, shares her background as a clinical social worker and how she founded What's Your Grief to provide resources and support for those grieving. They discuss the concept of non-death losses and the importance of acknowledging and validating these types of grief. They also touch on the challenges of comparing grief experiences and the need for individualized support. The conversation concludes with a discussion about Litsa's book and how it aims to provide accessible and helpful information for grieving individuals. The conversation...
2024-05-0948 min
What About Grief?Regret, Guilt & Grief: a discussion with Litsa WilliamsRegret and guilt are inevitably a part of life, but if you're grieving there are important differences to understand in order to better be able to cope. Larry's guest, Litsa Williams, has explored this very subject as Program Director at WhatsYourGrief.comand co-author of a new book called What's Your Grief? Lists To Help You Through Any Loss . She's here to help us understand how best to navigate this sea of emotions in order to begin healing.
2024-05-0141 min
The Power of Love ShowArticle: ‘Grief Care Plan: Your Foundation for Support’ by Litsa Williams of ‘What’s Your Grief?’On this episode of The Power of Love Show we will be discussing an insightful article written by Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C, for What’s Your Grief titled, ‘A Grief Care Plan: Your Foundation for Support’.
Tune in to learn more about what a Grief Care Plan is, as well as how and why you should implement one.
Read the Article: ‘Grief Care Plan: Your Foundation for Support’: https://whatsyourgrief.com/a-grief-care-plan-your-foundation-for-support/
Grief Care Plan PDF Fillable: https://whatsyourgrief.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/care-plan.pdf?fbclid=PAAaaQ4BNlOx5g6wpZ_2oMHoagjmEU4fYfHaiGOMHP4EmvZzcmJPDnjh03aGs_aem_AUNDSe1cUae4_2VOfYchdX45kwro6dT6G9JZJDmmN-UN...
2024-04-1153 min
Little Miss RecapTalking Grief and Sister Wives with Litsa WilliamsAmye is joined by grief expert Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C, from What’s Your Grief, to talk about some of the issues surrounding the death of Sister Wives’ Garrison Brown.TRIGGER WARNING: We talk about suicide and loss. If you or someone you know needs support, please contact the suicide hotline at 988.You can also watch this interview on our youtube channel! You can find Litsa and follow her amazing work at www.whatsyourgrief.comSupport the show:To get ad-free episodes and bonus content inclu...
2024-03-2545 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGrieving a FriendIn this episode, we talk about grieving a friend. Litsa has had four friends die in the last four years. As a grief therapist and someone who is not new to grief, it has left her reflecting on some of the unique and unexpected aspects of these losses. Though we're primarily focusing on when a friend dies in this episode, you can check out this article about grieving a friend following a falling out or estrangement. If you want to read more about the death of a friend you can check out these articles: https://whatsyourgrief.c...
2024-03-2242 min
What's Your Grief PodcastBefriending GriefIn this episode, Litsa and Mary chat about what it means to 'befriend grief'. This includes plenty of thoughts about how modern western culture shapes our beliefs about death and grief, with a healthy dose of how we try to counteractive some of the pressures to pathologize grief. In this episode, Mary mentions the follow books that have had a big impact on her grief lens: The Wild Edge of Sorrow The Smell of Rain on Dust Visit whatsyourgrief.com for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. ...
2024-02-0859 min
What's Your Grief PodcastThe Grief of Anticipated-Sudden DeathsIn this episode we talk about a new article on the website that Litsa wrote about a concept she's termed "paradoxical grief". It's the often-confusing experience of grieving a loss that is both anticipated but also sudden and shocking. We talk about this experience that is both incredibly common and yet also rarely talked about in grief, in part because it can feel difficult to explain. You can check out the article here: https://whatsyourgrief.com/the-paradoxical-grief-of-anticipated-sudden-death/ Visit whatsyourgrief.com for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. You can re...
2024-01-2634 min
What's Your Grief PodcastFrom Grief Literacy to Grief HumilityWe kick off this episode with our review of the new Dan Levy Netflix film "Good Grief". If you haven't watched it and don't want any spoilers, jump into the episode closer to minute 27. In the rest of the episode we address a common question that comes up for grievers: with so much information out there about grief, why aren't people more grief-literate? Which of course begs the question, what is grief literacy? Should that be what we strive for? We're not so sure. The documentary Litsa mentioned about finding out secrets after a death is called S...
2024-01-1857 min
What's Your Grief PodcastMoving Forward Challenges (in the New Year and Beyond)Come to the free Grieving in the New Year Webinar with Litsa this Sunday - sign up here -- https://whatsyourgrief.ck.page/432a2df1e7 This week we're talking about all the surprising challenges of facing the new year in grief. Everything from the passage of time to a Hub member question about what it means to 'live your best life' without fear of forgetting. The book Litsa mentioned in the episode is Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retrea in Difficult Times (though she hasn't read it, so don't think of this as a...
2024-01-0939 min
Good MourningGrief, Relationships and Boundaries with Eleanor Haley and Litsa Williams (aka What’s Your Grief)In today’s episode, we’re joined by Eleanor Haley and Litsa Williams, who some of you may recognise as founders of the popular grief support website What’s Your Grief, and authors of the book under the same name. We chat about why relationships change after loss, grieving complicated relationships (ambiguous grief), grieving styles, and the importance of boundaries and how to set them.💛 If Good Mourning has helped you, consider becoming a Patreon supporter: patreon.com/goodmourning 💛 Help us keep supporting grievers everywhere.Sign up to our newsletter here for even more grief...
2023-09-141h 02
The Widowed Mom PodcastAn Interview with Eleanor and Litsa from the What’s Your Grief PodcastEleanor Haley and Litsa Williams are the founders of "What’s Your Grief" and professionals working in the field of grief and bereavement, supporting people through the sudden and unexpected death of a loved one. After their own losses, their guiding principle has been to identify what is lacking in grief support and to fill those gaps. They are here this week to share nuggets of wisdom to assist you on your grief journey. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/222Mentioned in this ep...
2023-08-2851 min
Grief Club: The Podcast with Addison BrasilFinding Community to Unravel the Complexities of Grief and Trauma with Whats Your Grief (Litsa Williams)When we least expect it, grief and trauma can completely upend our lives. Join me for a raw and powerful conversation with Litsa Williams, a compassionate guide in the grief community, as she shares her own grief journey and the importance of understanding trauma and grief. We explore how Litsa's childhood losses shaped her, the impact of her father's death when she was 18, and how grieving her sister's heroin addiction taught her that one can grieve someone who is still alive.Litsa offers her valuable insights on the differences between traditional grief support and trauma-specific support, as...
2023-06-2649 min
Dead Parent ClubWhat's Your Grief? Community & Coping Strategies; with Litsa WilliamsWelcome to the LAST episode of this mini series of the Dead Parent Club Podcast.. before Kat has her baby VERY soon!In this episode we're chatting with one of the dedicated founders of What’s Your Grief, a grief support network and website that serves circa 5 million people per year. It’s truly an incredible resource for the grieving community. Litsa shares her grief story, the creation of What’s Your Grief, the positives and pitfalls of running a grief community, her experience as a mental health professional, how different causes of deaths are approached differ...
2023-06-0235 min
DEAD TalksHow to Deal With Grief: Anxiety, Guilt & Healing | What’s Your Grief (#107)How do you actually deal with grief? Litsa Williams, grief therapist and co-founder of What’s Your Grief (a platform serving over 5 million people), joins DEAD Talks to share practical ways of coping with loss, anxiety, guilt, and the messy emotions grief leaves behind.In this conversation with David Ferrugio, Litsa offers guidance on how to support yourself or someone else after loss, how to approach unexpected death and trauma, and why grief education is essential for healing. As one of the leading voices in grief support, she breaks down the different ways grief shows up and ho...
2023-05-2648 min
Silvates29. What's your Grief with Litsa WilliamsLitsa Williams joins me to discuss all things grief. Lista is the co-founder and published author (along with Eleanor) of the online community and book, 'What's your Grief'. We discuss different types of grief, secondary losses and how the grief space online has changed over the years.Find more information about Litsa and Eleanor here:https://whatsyourgrief.comInstagram and Tiktok: @whatsyourgriefYoutube: @whatsyourgrief4765 Buy the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Whats-Your-Grief-Lists-Through/dp/1683693027/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3ETID2PJ84HG8&keywords=whats+yo...
2023-04-3059 min
How the Wise One GrowsExperiencing Grief: Misconceptions, Types, and Healing Strategies with Therapist Litsa Williams (What's Your Grief) (43)In this episode, we dive into the often misunderstood and neglected subject of grief. Litsa Williams, renowned grief therapist, author, and co-founder of the thriving online grief community, What's Your Grief, uncovers common misconceptions surrounding grief. Gain valuable insights into the various types of grief we encounter and learn effective strategies to nurture a positive relationship with grief. Discover how to navigate the complex emotions associated with losing a loved one or experiencing other significant losses. Our discussion encompasses Introducing Litsa and her expertise on grief [03:08], Debunking misconceptions about grief[12:45]Exploring the evol...
2023-03-081h 04
Grief Is My Side HustleEp. 95. What’s Your Grief: Grief Clinicians Eleanor Haley & Litsa WilliamsSit down with Meghan as she talks with the outstanding duo fo Eleanor Haley and Litsa Williams to talk about the publication of their recent book–What's Your Grief: Lists To Help You Through Any Loss
Eleanor Haley, MS and Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C are the co-founders of the online
community What’s Your Grief, one of the largest online grief and bereavement support organizations. Both are mental health professionals
with a collective 25+ years of experience working with people coping with all types of
complicated losses and life transitions. Eleanor and Litsa met whi...
2023-03-0258 min
CCAirwavesWhat's Your Grief? with Litsa WilliamsSend us a textOur latest guest for the Inspiring Stories of Healing and Hope series is Litsa Williams, Program Director and Founder of What's Your Grief?, an online community for grief education, articles, sharing, support & more. In this episode, Litsa shares how losing her father and brother-in-law led her to start What's Your Grief with her co-founder, Eleanor Haley. In addition, we learn a little bit more about Litsa, grief, and the resources they provide, such as booklets, webinars, an informative podcast, and their new book! Do you have a topic...
2023-02-2325 min
What's Your Grief PodcastAsk Me Anything (about Grief)Litsa's flying solo this week, answering questions about grief submitted on Instagram. Talking about supporting partners, siblings, navigating grief conversations with friends, plushies, and more! We don't have ads or a patreon. What helps us most is if you join the WYG member community for grief education, connection, accountability, a grief book club & more. It is only $8.33/month if you join annually and it is a big part of what keeps the podcast going - https://whatsyourgrief.com/online-grief-community/ If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. https://whatsyourgrief.com/grief-professionals-community/...
2023-01-3131 min
What's Your Grief PodcastNew Year, Same MeWe're two days into 2023 and the theme for us has been . . . meh. That 'new year, new me' rhetoric gets old fast. In this episode we're talking about why moving into a new year can feel hard, especially for grievers. That means musing about what happiness is (and isn't), the appeal (and risks) of a 'fresh start', and living a 'because of' life instead of an 'in spite of' life. Read Eleanor's article that we mention here. Want to join our free webinar on coping with grief in the new year? Sign up here- https://whatsyourgrief.ck.page/70975d2c...
2023-01-1428 min
As I Live and Grieve®What's Your Grief? with Litsa WilliamsSend us some LOVE!Summary:It is our goal to find ideas, modalities and resources to help those grieving. In this episode, we chat with Litsa Williams, of What's Your Grief , one of the most popular online resources for those grieving. Find out what you can find if you visit and join their community.Notes:Litsa herself says she has "taken a winding road" to where she is now as Program Director and Co-Founder of What's Your Grief? She has gone from Britain and a Master’s in Philosophy, to...
2023-01-1033 min
What's Your Grief PodcastFeeling Relief in GriefRelief is one of the more common grief emotions and yet it is one that people often feel ashamed to mention. So today we're talking about relief in grief - what it is, what it isn't, how to understand it, and personal experiences with it. About us: Eleanor Haley, MS and Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C are the co-founders of What's Your Grief, one of the largest online grief and bereavement support communities. Both are mental health professionals who have lived through significant death and non-death losses. Since late 2012 they have been growing WYG as a resource for g...
2022-12-1219 min
Grief Out LoudGrief Doesn't Fit In A Box, But You Can Make A List - What's Your GriefHave you found it difficult to read anything longer than a paragraph since your person died? It's a phenomenon familiar, both personally and professionally, to Eleanor Haley, MS & Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C. Eleanor & Litsa started the What's Your Grief community back in 2012 as a way to create the kind of grief resources they most needed in their own lives and for the clients they supported. They just published their first book, What's Your Grief - Lists to Help You Through Any Loss, and it will come as no surprise that it's filled with lists designed to help you better...
2022-11-1544 minGrief Out LoudGrief Doesn't Fit In A Box, But You Can Make A List - What's Your GriefHave you found it difficult to read anything longer than a paragraph since your person died? It's a phenomenon familiar, both personally and professionally, to Eleanor Haley, MS & Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C. Eleanor & Litsa started the What's Your Grief community back in 2012 as a way to create the kind of grief resources they most needed in their own lives and for the clients they supported. They just published their first book, What's Your Grief - Lists to Help You Through Any Loss, and it will come as no surprise that it's filled with lists designed to help you better...
2022-11-1544 min
Feel Good From Within with Yvette Le Blowitz - #spaitgirl podcastWhat's Your Grief? with Eleanor Haley, MS & Litsa Williams, MA LCSW-C, Mental Health Professionals, Co-Authors Feel Good From Within with Yvette Le Blowitz - #SPAITGIRL Podcast EP.194 - What's Your Grief w/Eleanor Haley, MS and Litsa Williams, MA LCSW-C, Mental Health Professionals, Co-Authors What's Your Grief? is a timely reminder that you don't have to grieve alone. Losses, big and small, turn your world upside down. What's Your Grief? will help you through all of them. Many life changes need to be grieved, from the loss of a loved one to the loss of a job, from a breakup to a relocation, and...
2022-10-3151 min
What's Your Grief PodcastDo We Recover From Grief?In this episode, Eleanor and Litsa talk about a question that has created some disagreement on social media recently: do we 'recover' from grief? Our book is available anywhere you buy books: Amazon Barnes & Noble Bookshop Books A Million Indiebound Hudson Booksellers Powell's Target To join the WYG member community, where we have tons of grief education, support, connection, a book club, and where you can watch the live stream of us recording and chat along - https://whats-your-grief-community.circle.so/ As always, follow us on social Instagram Facebook ...
2022-10-0236 min
Tune In To Into A Eye-Opening Full Audiobook While Cooking.What's Your Grief? by Eleanor Haley, Litsa WilliamsPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/2/audible/173567to listen full audiobooks.
Title: What's Your Grief?
Author: Eleanor Haley, Litsa Williams
Narrator: Tay Wilke
Format: mp3
Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins
Release date: 09-27-22
Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars, 12 ratings
Genres: Grief & Loss
Publisher's Summary:
A friendly and accessible book of 75 lists that will help anyone experiencing a change or loss—for fans of Maggie Smith, Cheryl Strayed, and Katherine May—from the creators of the popular What's Your Grief website and community.
2022-09-276h 53
Empowered to Empower YouEps.119- What's Your Grief- with Guest, Litsa WilliamsWelcome to Eps. 119- What's Your Grief with Litsa Williams! Have your pen and note book ready because Litsa has so much to share about grief!
Connect with her and the What's your Grief movement to learn more about the available resources @ www.whatsyourgrief.com or social media @whatsyourgrief
Do you want to be a guest on the show or connect with me? Visit www.Bewindi.com or send me a message on IG @empowered2serve.
To purchase book, Empowerment for you: Encouragement for your Emotional and Spiritual Wellness, visit https://www.amazon.c...
2022-06-2737 min
Mediavine On AirWork From Home Wellness with Litsa Williams, Eleanor Haley and TQ Evans | Mediavine On Air Episode 30The COVID-19 pandemic has caused not only economic, environmental and health impacts on the world; but emotional impacts as well.In this episode of Teal Talk originally recorded in April 2020, Litsa Williams and Eleanor Haley from What's Your Grief discussed the different ways people grieved the worldwide shutdown, and provided evergreen practices for how to cope.We were also joined by then Head of People Operations TQ Evans. Since this recording, TQ passed away after a long battle with colon cancer in April 2021. Her light shines bright in this episode as she relayed how her family and her coped with...
2021-10-2856 min
Bad Examples w/ Tracy DiMarco & Jessica RomanoEp.511 In Loving MemoryThis weeks episode is dedicated to the life of Mikell Corey Waters. Alan takes us through his very personal journey of guilt and grief in the wake of his younger brother's unexpected death. We are joined by Jordon Ferber host of the podcast Where's The Grief and mental health professional Litsa Williams Cofounder of whatsyourgrief.com. Both Jordon and Litsa have suffered tragic losses of their own, but have turned their grief into advocacy. They've found purpose in helping others cope by sharing support, resources, and a little bit of laughter. http://wha...
2021-07-061h 39
Bad Examples w/ Tracy DiMarco & Jessica RomanoEp.511 In Loving MemoryThis weeks episode is dedicated to the life of Mikell Corey Waters. Alan takes us through his very personal journey of guilt and grief in the wake of his younger brother's unexpected death. We are joined by Jordon Ferber host of the podcast Where's The Grief and mental health professional Litsa Williams Cofounder of whatsyourgrief.com. Both Jordon and Litsa have suffered tragic losses of their own, but have turned their grief into advocacy. They've found purpose in helping others cope by sharing support, resources, and a little bit of laughter. http://wha...
2021-07-061h 41
The Struggle Is Real In GriefThings I Wish Someone Had Told Me About GriefIn this episode , we share personal input and excerpts from the article "64 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Grief' by Litsa Williams. Many times these practical things appear to be the best kept secret until grief knocks on your door.
2020-11-1017 min
Five Minute FamilyGrief - Regrets in GriefTRANSCRIPT: Good morning, Five Minute Families. It is so good to be with you on this unseasonably warm day. We will soon be closing Clear View Retreat down for the winter, but we certainly hope that all the projects our volunteers have been diligently focusing on this year will allow this to be our last year to have to close during the cold winter months. So many pastors, missionaries, and grieving families reach out to us during these months, and we are continually praying and working toward being able to be open during their times of need. That’s wh...
2020-11-1004 min
Mourning MeetingTMM Episode 14: Litsa Williams, Co-Founder of What's Your GriefLitsa Williams MA, LCSW-C is a co-founder of the grief community What’s Your Grief. Litsa received her master's degree in social work from The University of Maryland and has a master’s in Philosophy for The University of Warwick (UK). Litsa has been working in the field of grief and loss for 12 years and previously worked in homeless services in Baltimore, MD. Before founding What’s Your Grief, Litsa supported patients and families in the hospital at end of life in circumstances of unexpected death, and provided ongoing grief and bereavement support in the years following the loss as the d...
2020-11-0342 min
It's Not A CrisisNormalizing GriefIn this episode, Doryn is joined by Litsa Williams of What’s Your Grief as they discuss what defines grief and the way that everybody goes through it. Grief is not what people traditionally think it is. It’s much more than suffering from the loss of a loved one. It’s actually a transition, much like midlife. This episode will open up a whole new perspective on what grief is and how it works through various stages of life.Litsa Williams is a cofounder of the grief community What's Your Grief. She has been working in the fi...
2020-10-3156 min
It's Not A CrisisNormalizing GriefIn this episode, Doryn is joined by Litsa Williams of What’s Your Grief as they discuss what defines grief and the way that everybody goes through it. Grief is not what people traditionally think it is. It’s much more than suffering from the loss of a loved one. It’s actually a transition, much like midlife. This episode will open up a whole new perspective on what grief is and how it works through various stages of life.Litsa Williams is a cofounder of the grief community What's Your Grief. She has been working in the fi...
2020-10-3156 min
Teach Me How To AdultTeach Me How To Cope With Grief, with Eleanor Haley and Litsa Williams of What’s Your GriefThis week’s topic is a tough one, but it’s something that we’ll all have to navigate at some point in our lives despite most of us feeling totally unequipped to cope with it. We’re talking about grief, with the help of mental health professionals Eleanor Haley and Litsa Williams, the founders of popular website and podcast What’s Your Grief. Whether you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, the general uncertainty of the pandemic, job loss, a breakup, a difficult diagnosis, or the loss of connection with the people you love, you mig...
2020-09-3050 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGrief HindsightAfter a death we do a lot of looking backwards. We think about what we should have known or done differently. We imagine a different world, and ideal world, if things had just taken another path. This becomes wound up in our grief - we beat ourselves up for the past based on things we can only know in the present. In this episode we talk through what that looks like, why we do it, and how to avoid getting sucked too far down the blackholes of counterfactual thinking and hindsight bias in grief.
2020-09-1832 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGrief ExpectationsWhat we believe about grief often starts from a young age. We get messages from family, friends, community, and the media about what grief is 'supposed' to look like. Those messages become beliefs and those beliefs have a very real impact on the way we judge our grief (and often ourselves!). Today we're talking about the ins and outs - where to we get these ideas about grieving and how to they affect us?
2020-09-0133 min
What's Your Grief PodcastIs Grief Ever 'On Hold'?Terms like delayed grief and absent grief get thrown around a lot. Recently, people have been suggesting that distancing may be putting people's grief 'on hold'. In this episode, we talk about whether grief is ever 'on hold', how external circumstances can have a very real impact on grieving, and why delayed grief can sometimes happen. Oh, and we do some musing about our own grief.
2020-06-3033 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGrief Math and Other MusingsIn this episode we ramble and reflect out loud a bit, so don't say we didn't warn you. Thinking about the ways grief has us doing mental math calculations up, down, and sideways. How old would he be now? She's been gone longer than we were married . . . How many more years until I am the age he was when he died? And on and on. Talking about grief math and the what-ifs and doing some personal processing of our own grieving as we go.
2020-06-2432 min
What's Your Grief PodcastPositive Psychology, Grief, and PERMAThough positive psychology may sound like a field that is all about just thinking happy thoughts, nothing could be further from the truth. This well-researched, practical approach to boosting well-being is a WYG when it comes to grief and coping. In this episode we're talking about PERMA and challenging you to some momentum from the school of positive psychology.
2020-06-0653 min
What's Your Grief PodcastA Lesson in Avoiding AvoidanceWhen the world changes, the way we operate in the world has to change. Grief forces us to make new decisions about the things we do, the things we don't do, and how we cope. Today we talk about how so many of those decisions may feel good in the short term, but often don't serve us in the long-run. Avoidance sounds like it is obvious, but sometimes it hides in corners we don't even recognize.
2020-05-2045 min
What's Your Grief PodcastIn Grief, Is It Ever Too Late?When a lot of time has passed after a loss, we hear all sorts of questions - is it too late for counseling? Is it too late to reconnect with people I lost touch with? Is it too late to ask for stories and memories? We're pretty strong believers that, in grief, it is never too late.
2020-05-1441 min
What's Your Grief Podcast7 Types of Grief and Loss to Know Right NowThere is a lot of discussion right now about the many ways people are experiencing grief - the grief of death related losses, but also many other types of grief that are coming up in the world. Today we're sorting through 7 types of grief we think may be relevant and impacting you right now.
2020-05-0840 min
What's Your Grief PodcastIs It Okay To Talk To My Kids About My Dead Mom?We received a question recently about talking to children about people who have died, especially those people the child never met. We get questions like this a lot. Is it normal? Is it okay? Will it screw up my kids? The quick answers: yes! yes! no! For the long answers, tune in.
2020-05-0637 min
What's Your Grief PodcastBinge-Worthy Grief Movie and TelevisionSeeing as a lot of us are spending more time at home than usual, we asked our readers/listeners for some of the best depictions of grief in movies and television. In this episode, we share your responses and our thoughts.
2020-05-0147 min
What's Your Grief PodcastWhat's Your Grief Question?We did an "Ask Us Anything" on Instagram and turns out your grief questions were a little too big to answer on Instagram. So today we are answering some of your pressing questions about grief - from widow dating to friends disappearing after a death, we're covering some tough topics in less than 35 minutes. Have a question you would like to see us cover? Email us at whatsyourgrief@gmail.com
2020-04-2235 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGrief in the Time of COVID-19Whether you were grieving before the coronavirus crisis or you've just lost a loved one and are navigating through the dark days of early grief, the current crisis is changing the way we grieve. We have heard from people all over the world and we've been touched personally, so it seemed about time to end our long hiatus to offer some observations, thoughts, and hopefully even support for everyone coping with grief right now (which just so happens to be a lot of us).
2020-04-1737 min
The Widowed Parent PodcastLitsa Williams From What's Your GriefI had such a great discussion with Litsa Williams for this episode. Litsa is the co-founder of the popular grief blog and website What’s Your Grief, and I had the pleasure of meeting her this summer at the National Alliance for Grieving Children symposium. What’s Your grief has so many articles on every different topic related to grief and loss, and they also have a number of really innovative projects going on that might be interesting to think about trying with your kids or teens. Some topics that Litsa and I cover include: Resources avai...
2019-09-2548 min
The Practice of Therapy PodcastLitsa Williams | Expanding Your Niche To Provide Resources Beyond Therapy | TPOT Podcast 094In this episode, Litsa Williams and Gordon discuss helping people with an issue that affects all of us at one point or another in our life, grief. Litsa and her partner, Eleanor Haley, have created an endless supply of resources for people who are in the grieving process. Plus, they have resources for professionals who help others that require grief support. Later, they discuss creative coping and the idea that re-grieving is entirely normal. Meet Litsa Williams I have taken a winding road, from England and a Master's in Philosophy, to Baltimore and a Master's in Social...
2019-08-2641 min
The Gifted Life: Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation PodcastWhat's Your Grief?Show Notes: On episode 97 we welcome Litsa Williams and Eleanor Haley of What’s Your Grief to put a spotlight on the need for various approaches to grieving. They have a plethora of resources, from their blog with entries titled ‘64 of the Best Things Ever Said to a Griever’, to trainings for professionals, to a podcast called What’s Your Grief. Then Sally guides us through tips for navigating the holidays, we honor hero Jeffrey Carr and answer a listener’s question about registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.
2018-12-0731 min
What's Your Grief PodcastNavigating Social Media While GrievingWith over 150 million social media users in the US alone, we can no longer conceptualize grief support and support systems without considering online social interaction. As the co-founders of multiple online spaces, we believe online platforms provide grieving people with powerful tools for connecting and coping in the wake of loss. However, just like in real life, online spaces and interactions can, at times, be difficult to navigate. Intro by tom_luft (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/tom_luft/34080 Notes: www.whatsyourgrief.com...
2018-03-3036 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGrief Themes in Pixar's CocoPixar must have a secret deal with Kleenex. They seemed determined to bring audiences to tears with every movie they make. This is fine by us, though, because these tender and relatable films make great teachable moments for children and adults alike. In this episode of the WYG podcast, we take a look at themes related to grief and death in Pixar's latest movie, Coco. Intro by tom_luft (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/tom_luft/34080
2018-03-2130 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGrief in TV, Movies, and Pop-CultureWe're back after a brief hiatus with an update on WYG and our plans for the future of this podcast. We're especially interested in talking about grief in current events, pop-culture, and the world around us and the ways these depictions help us and hurt. Intro by tom_luft (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/tom_luft/34080
2018-03-1319 min
What's Your Grief PodcastCoping with Identity Changes After a LossA loss of any kind can lead to difficult identity changes. Shifts in one's sense-of-self, roles that no longer need to be fulfilled, and added responsibilities culminate to create overwhelming stress and confusion as a person has to figure out who they are in the context of life after loss. In this podcast, we discuss the many ways that loss leads to identity changes. We also discuss ways to stay focused on the pieces of you that will stay the same and how to remain flexible towards the elements of your life that will have to change.
2017-11-0234 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGrief and Defense MechanismsSigmund Freud first proposed the concept of 'defense mechanisms' as an element of his influential theory of personality. For those of you who took Psych 101, think back to the Id, Ego, and Superego in which all elements, with the exception of the ego, reside in the unconscious. Since their introduction, the concept of defense mechanisms has been expanded quite a bit, and they are still used today to try to understand certain behavioral patterns. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast, we discuss how people sometimes use defense mechanisms to cope with grief. 0:00 - 4...
2017-06-0531 min
What's Your Grief PodcastReturning to Work After the Death of a Loved OneMany people have to return to work within days after experiencing the death of a loved one. Others have a little more flexibility, but must eventually take the step to return to the workplace and workforce. In this podcast the girls of What's Your Grief discuss returning to work after the death of a loved one. They address some of the common barriers and offer suggestions for reducing stress during this transition. 0:00 - 5:40: Announcements 5:40 - 15:00: Things we've watched and read about grief 15:00 - 35:00: Returning to work after the death of a...
2017-04-2736 min
What's Your Grief PodcastThe Conflicting Emotions of GriefOne emotional experience that many grieving people find particularly confusing is the realization that their thoughts, emotions, and needs occasionally seem to conflict with one another. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast, we discuss the sometimes conflicting emotions of grief. We also answer a reader questions about seeking therapy after a loss. Show Notes: www.whatsyourgrief.com/forty-eight
2017-03-0939 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGrieving the Loss of a HomePeople give up homes for various reasons. Sometimes the circumstances are in their control (such as making the choice to sell a house and move to a new one) and sometimes they aren't (like in the case of foreclosure, house fire, natural disaster, or death of the primary resident). Leaving a home can be very sad and emotional regardless of the reason. In today's podcast, we discuss the emotional experience of saying goodbye to a home and grieving places from the past. Show Notes: www.whatsyourgrief.com/forty-seven
2017-02-1536 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGrief in 'This is Us'We've been telling you for weeks to get caught up on NBC's 'This is Us' because we're going to talk about it. Well, today is the day. If you've been watching This is Us, then you've probably noticed the many grief themes that have played out in episodes 1-11. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast, we discuss four of the main grief themes that we've observed in this critically acclaimed television show. Notes: www.whatsyourgrief.com/forty-six
2017-01-1339 min
What's Your Grief PodcastHow to Handle Holiday Tradition After a DeathBy far one of the hardest outcomes to accept about the holidays after the death of a loved one is that tradition needs to be changed or skipped. Traditions your loved one used to be involved with have to change and even those they weren't a part of may seem entirely too difficult to manage. The worst thing you can do is set your holidays on autopilot and hope things work themselves out. Not only does this put you at risk of being majorly blindsided by your grief, but it also takes away from your traditions. In this episode of...
2016-12-2231 min
What's Your Grief PodcastManaging Expectation at the Holidays and Other TopicsPeople tend to have a lot of expectations about the holiday season. This is true during times of peace and during times of turmoil. After the death of a loved one, grieving people continue to have expectations about the holiday season. Sometimes these expectations are based on past ideals that have become impossible to replicate since someone integral to existing ritual and tradition has died. Sometimes these expectations are based on anxiety and worst-case-scenarios. And sometimes they are based on pressures put upon us by ourselves and by others. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast we will di...
2016-12-0836 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGrief in 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life'In this special edition of the What's Your Grief Podcast Litsa and Eleanor discuss the recent Gilmore Girls revival. Not your typical gossip session, this discussion focuses specifically on the grief themes the hosts observed throughout the four episode season. 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life' meets up with the Gilmore women a decade after the original series ended and four months after the death of spouse, father, and grandfather Richard Gilmore. True to life, each character handles grief in their own unique way. P.S. There will be a few spoilers.
2016-11-3032 min
What's Your Grief PodcastDating a Widower and Other TopicsSeason 2: Episode 3: Dating a Widower and Other Topics 0:00 - 5:00 : NFDA Conference Impressions The intersection between grief support and funeral homes 5:00 - 13:45: Talk of a Lifetime Have the Talk of a Lifetime: Conversations around family history, legacy, and how people want to be remembered Talk of a Lifetime cards and conversation starters 13:45 - 15:50: National Alliance for Grieving Children New book: When Someone Dies: A Child-Caregiver Activity Book Child Grief Awareness Month: November is Child Grief Awareness Month 15:50 - 19: 15: Grief in the Media...
2016-11-2132 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGrief in Six Words and Other TopicsIn this episode of the What's Your Grief podcast we discuss the new grief website, Grief in Six Words, adjusting to the school year after a death, answer a reader's question about grief counseling and discuss a few times that grief has made us feel like mean and ugly people. Minute 0:00 - 3:00: Introduction Minute 3:00 - 10:00: Grief in Six Words Website Minute 10:00 - 15:30: Update on the WYG Bookclub Minute 15:30 - 21:30: Adjusting to the school year after a death Minute 21:30 - 26:30: Reader Question Minute 26:30 - 33:00: A few of the times grief has made us feel like ugly or mean people
2016-10-0333 min
What's Your Grief PodcastLoneliness in Grief and Other TopicsWelcome to Season 2, Episode 1 of the What's Your Grief Podcast. This season we're going to shake up our format a little and cover several different topics during each 30 minute episode. In this episode we talk about some of the new resources WYG has to offer; grief reading and movies; and we discuss the concept of loneliness in grief. Minute 0:00 - 5:00: Introductions Minute 5:00 - What's new with WYG Minute 10:30 - Resource shout out Minute 12:15 - Grief books and movies Minute 16:00 - The unique loneliness of grief If you have a grief question that you would like to hear answer...
2016-09-0830 min
What's Your Grief PodcastHow Attitudes About Death Impact GriefIt stands to reason that how a person feels about life and death, in many ways, will impact the way they grieve. Perhaps they hold on tightly to their pain for fear that if they let go their loved one's life will be forgotten or meaningless. Perhaps they refuse to fully face their grief because it makes them uncomfortable to think about death. Perhaps they find comfort in their beliefs, or perhaps they question their faith when they don't feel comfort. We should really talk more about how attitudes about death impact grief. Perhaps it feels selfish turning the lens...
2016-06-0821 min
What's Your Grief PodcastUnderstanding the Difference Between Support and ComfortWhen something sad, bad, or anxiety producing happens in the life of someone we care about, our immediate instinct is to comfort. Of course it is – we're good people! And often this instinct is useful because comforting is exactly what the situation calls for; for example a child's bruised knee or a nervous first day on the job are both situations where a "there, there, you'll be okay" goes a long way. However, in the early days of grief, there is very little anyone can say to take away a griever's pain and there is very little value...
2016-04-2500 min
KidneyTalk - An Online Radio Show By Renal Support Network4/12/2016 - Writing a Letter to your Transplant Donor FamilySaying thank you to the family who gave the gift of life to save others is an important part to their healing. But, often people don't understand the process. Litsa Williams is the Director of Community Service for the Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland which is 1 of 58 Organ Procurement Organization in the United States. She describes the process and shares some stories that have happened as result of sending a letter. Learn how one needs to go about reaching out to the family who gave the gift of life.
2016-04-1200 min
What's Your Grief PodcastReconnecting with Life After LossWhat have you stopped doing since experiencing the death of your loved one? More specifically, what do you no longer do that you used to previously enjoy or find fulfilling? These may be things that you stopped doing them because you don't have the time, they require too much effort, they remind you of your loved one, or they seem less fun. These are things like walking your dog in the evening, going to church on Sunday, getting a hair cut, cooking dinner a few times a week, art, listening to music, coffee with a friend, journaling, finding daily grat...
2016-03-3133 min
What's Your Grief PodcastParenting While GrievingAs if parenting we're hard enough, you've recently experienced the death of someone you love. You've done your best to shelter your children from death, loss, and grief for their entire lives, and now it seems you have no choice but to allow these frightening realities into your family home. Even if your child is not directly impacted by the loss, the pain of one family member often affects the family as a whole. In order for you, the parent or guardian, to be an engaged, patient, consistent, and loving presence, you have to deal with the intense emotional, m...
2016-03-0944 min
What's Your Grief PodcastDealing With Valentine's Day After a DeathAlthough Litsa and I have never been big on Valentine's Day, we realize many of you may have warm, fond memories of Valentine's Days past. Regardless of where you typically fall of the Valentine's Day love-hate spectrum, a day focused on romance and love can be hard on those who are feeling sad. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast we discuss some very specific ways to spend Valentine's Day when you're grieving. We discuss options for staying in alone or with a small group of people and, for those of you who hate sitting around the hous...
2016-02-1031 min
What's Your Grief PodcastExpanding Our Understanding of LossThere is a common misconception that death is the only loss that results in grief. Although the loss of a loved one is one of the most devastating types of loss, there are many other circumstances - such as addiction, mental illness, infertility and/or the loss of a relationship, home, job, pet, health, hopes and dreams, faith, identity. etc - that might cause a person to grieve. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast, we encourage people to expand their understanding of grief and loss so they can better understand their own relationship with loss and so...
2016-01-2121 min
What's Your Grief PodcastThinking About New Year's ResolutionsWith New Years just a few days away, you may be tempted to make a resolution for 2016; especially if 2015 has been a tough year. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast, we discuss the positives, pitfalls, and practicalities of making a New Year's resolution when you're grieving. Show Notes: www.whatsyourgrief.com/thirty-two
2015-12-2830 min
What's Your Grief PodcastYour Questions About Holiday Grief AnsweredIn this episode of the What's Your Grief podcast, we answer your questions about coping with holiday grief. I'm worried the holidays will be very sad and glum. How can I be strong for everyone? My loved one just died and now the holidays are here, what do I do? The anniversary of my loved one's death is right around the holidays, what do I do? Is it okay if I skip the holidays altogether? How do I politely respond to people who ask why I don't like/celebrate the holidays? How do I deal with feeling like a th...
2015-12-0927 min
What's Your Grief PodcastThe Guilt of Feeling Better and Living Life After a LossAfter the death of a loved one, things like feeling better, letting go of belongings, making changes, and just generally living life after the loss can be complicated. Things like when to remove your wedding ring, give away your loved one's belonging, and even when it's okay to laugh again are very personal and often difficult decisions to make. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast, we discuss the guilt and hesitancy many people feel when taking steps forward (or even laterally) and making changes after the death of a loved one. Show not...
2015-11-1022 min
What's Your Grief PodcastThe Continuum of Negative CopingAfter the death of a loved one, it is easy to find yourself engaged in negative coping. These types of coping allow for people to avoid grief triggers, difficult emotions, and tough situations. Ultimately, though, they can be part of a cycle that prevents you from truly processing your experiences and from learning how to live now that your loved one is gone. Many people don't realize that negative coping exists on a continuum, where 'normal' behaviors become maladaptive. It is easy to recognize some of these behaviors - like substance use and negative coping- while others - l...
2015-09-3026 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGoing Back to School After a Death It is normal to be nervous about sending your child back to school after a death. As a parent, it's in your nature to want to protect your child after a death. If your family experienced the death of someone special this summer, there is a good chance you've been watching your child to see if they're coping and adapting well. If possible, you may have spent extra time over the summer coping together as a family. Maybe you've even been spoiling them a bit, trying to make the pain in their life just a little bit more tolerable.
2015-08-3126 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGrief Raves and Faves In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast, Litsa and Eleanor discuss their grief favorites - favorite movies, favorite songs, favorite books, and even favorite grief cliche they love to hate. Listen to this episode to hear their recommendations and then share your own favorites with the WYG community in the page comments or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the hashtag #GriefFavorites. Show Notes: www.whatsyourgrief.com/twenty-seven/
2015-08-2027 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGetting Married After a DeathAlthough your wedding is a happy and joyous occasion, it can be a bittersweet when someone important has died and isn't there for your special day. There are lots of little ways to bring yourself comfort and honor and remember the person you who has died on your wedding day. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast we invite our grief friend Jana DeCristofaro of the Dougy Center to help us discuss planning and navigating your wedding day after a loss. Show Notes: www.whatsyourgrief.com/twenty-six
2015-07-2431 min
What's Your Grief PodcastMilestones and Weddings After a DeathWhen someone dies, those they leave behind not only grieve for the present but they also grieve for their loved one's absence in the future. For children and teens, complicated feelings and emotions around future milestones like weddings, starting a family, and graduations can be expected. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast, we invite Jana DeCristofaro from the Dougy Center to talk with us about the many ways that grief can impact children, teens and families when it comes to marriage and weddings. We also share a few tips and tricks for attending weddings a...
2015-07-2428 min
What's Your Grief PodcastLocating Grief Support Locally and Beyond After a death, finding grief support in your community can be a confusing task. Although great resources often exist, many people have limited awareness of them until they're actually needed. Sadly, there are also times when formal grief support does not exist locally, in these cases people must find help and healing in other places. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast, we detail the types of resources that exist, how to find them, and what to do when formal support can not be found in your own community. Show Notes: whatsyourgrief.com/twenty-four
2015-07-0629 min
What's Your Grief PodcastMaintaining Relationships After a Death When times are hard, the support of friends and family members can go a long way. Yet unfortunately after the death of a loved one relationships can sometimes become changed and strained. If people don't make an effort to maintain relationships they often lose touch, which can lead to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and secondary loss. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast, we discuss some of the common reasons why people fall out of touch after experiencing the death of a loved one and simple ways to ensure important relationships aren't lost forever.
2015-06-2929 min
What's Your Grief PodcastGuilt and Regret in Grief Feelings of guilt and regret are common after the death of a loved one. These two complicated emotions often go hand in hand and, for the person experiencing them, can cause quite a bit of confusion, shame, and distress when left unresolved. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast we discuss the differences between guilt and regret; the ways in which society, our internalized biases, and our support systems can cause us to minimize and avoid these feelings; and we discuss constructive ways to acknowledge, understand, and cope with our own individual guilts and regrets no matter how b...
2015-06-0832 min
What's Your Grief PodcastSupporting a Grieving Teenager Supporting a grieving teenager or young adult can be a pretty big head scratcher for parents and professionals. Although teens are a lot like adults when it comes to grief, there are a few key differences due to personal history, social support, and stage of life. In this episode of the What’s Your Grief Podcast we talk about specific considerations for supporting a grieving teen. Show Notes: www.whatsyourgrief.com/twenty-one/
2015-06-0136 min
What's Your Grief PodcastDealing With Your Loved One's Belongings How to approach the daunting task of sorting through a loved one's belongings can be a complicated and personal decision. Objects big and small can trigger a wide range of emotions, from nostalgia and laughter to tears and longing. Decisions about what to keep, donate and throwaway can also present a range of challenges. In this episode of the What's Your Grief podcast, we address some of the many questions we receive on this topic and offer some thoughts to get you started. Show Notes: www.whatsyourgrief.com/twenty
2015-05-1329 min
What's Your Grief PodcastAll About Grief Friends Grief re-writes your address book. Sometimes the people you think will be there for you aren’t. It can be easy to just hole-up in your house feeling angry and bitter that your friends aren’t there for you the way you thought they’d be. It can be even easier to feel like you will never connect with people in the same way again, no one will ever understand your loss, and you will live on your own little grief island forever. When you lose a loved one you become part of this tragic little club that y...
2015-04-1826 min
What's Your Grief PodcastExtroverts and Grief Do you consider yourself an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert? Although many aren’t sure what these terms really mean or where they naturally fall on the introvert-extrovert continuum, this element of your personality has a large impact on how you view and interact with the world. People tend to think extroverts have it easy in a world that favors the outgoing and gregarious, but after a death your natural tendencies can make things both easier and, at times, more difficult. In this episode of the What's Your Grief Podcast Litsa and Eleanor discuss the many ways extroversion can imp...
2015-01-2027 min