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Liz Gleeson

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Bloom and Grow with Liz Fiedler
Bloom and Grow with Liz FiedlerGrief Therapist Liz Gleeson from the 'Shapes of Grief' PodcastThis week Liz Fiedler sits down with Liz Gleeson of the Shapes of Grief Podcast. As a grief therapist, Gleeson explores meaningful conversations with everyday people about their experience of loss and how they navigated the grieving process. Normalizing grief and helping people to feel a little less alone. This week the two Liz's explore the topics of bereavement, training the right people to help, and what choices we make as grieving people to move forward. Shapes of Grief Podcast: https://shapesofgrief.com/podcast/Grief Training: https://shapesofgrief.com/grief-training-course/
2024-03-0853 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 110 Mary Kennelly on the Losses of MenopauseIn this episode Mary discusses the multifaceted aspects of menopause, the losses associated with menopause, ambiguous loss as well as the release of her new book; Seven Steps to Birth a Crone. She explores the physical and emotional changes, the challenges and triumphs and the unique ways she’s embraced this transition . This episode focuses on the impact of menopause on self-esteem, relationships, and self-identity. She has edited several publications and her work has appeared in several collections and anthologies and has been published in newspapers, magazines and e-zines both nationally and internationally. Some of her works in...
2023-10-161h 21Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 105 Mandy Gosling on Adults Bereaved as ChildrenThis is such an important perspective that hasn't yet been explicitly been explored by the podcast. In this episode, Mandy Gosling shares her experience of being a bereaved child after her mother died when she was aged 9. We explore how this early loss can impact a person's life, affecting their relationships and sense of self in the world. Grief has not always been supported well, and certainly, for several generations of adults who were bereaved as children, they are still living with the ripple effects of that.  More resources for Adults Bereaved as Children can be found o...
2023-05-021h 03Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 102 Jackie Furlong on Delayed Grief following the death of her daughterJackie Furlong describes the immense psychological and emotional challenges of coping with the profound impact of her daughter's death, without the benefit of emotional literacy. It would be years after her loss that Jackie would learn how to grieve. Jackie's thesis was an autobiography - Giving Voice to Grief. The question she researched - Is there a path through the grieving process where we can find a deeper understanding of what it means to grieve? Her writing is based on her own lived experience and inspired by the loss of her 22yr old daughter in 2007.  About Shapes o...
2023-03-201h 08Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp 101 Kathy Donaghy on Multiple Miscarriage & Finding Healing in NatureLiz and Kathy talk about Kathy's experience of multiple miscarriages and how devastating it was to not have a much-wanted third child. Kathy talks about how harmful the process became for her and how she found her sanity again, in the wilds of Donegal. Buy Kathy's newly published book 'Finding my Wild' from Easons here. ‘Life had brought me to the edge of myself and here I was feeling like I was on the edge of the world.’ After moving back to her homeplace on the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal with her young family, journalist Kath...
2023-03-0859 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 99 Phoenix on managing the Grief of LGBTQ+ Estrangement with ADHD & AUTISMPhoenix talks about their grief following family estrangement because of their LGBTQ identity. This is a kind of disenfranchised grief that many LGBTQ+ people experience with little to no recognition or support from society. Life can change in an instant, yet the loss remains ambiguous because nobody has died. #ambiguousloss #disenfranchisedgrief "I am white-anglo, living on unceded Turrbal and Jaggera lands in a place called Meanjin (colonially known as Brisbane, Australia). I am sighted, hearing, mostly able-bodied, monolingual, and in my mid-forties. I am queer, in a complex myriad of ways. My sexuality is fluid, currently asexual...
2022-11-291h 11Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 98 Sacha Langton-Gilks on Childhood Cancer & Anticipatory GriefSacha and Liz discuss childhood cancer, anticipatory grief and the misunderstandings that often surround incurable disease. They talk about the different meanings between incurable, terminal, palliative care and end-of-life. Sacha describes what is was like going through anticipatory grief and how her son wanted to speak about his death in ways that would surprise her.  #childhoodcancerawarenessmonth #childhoodcancer #anticipatorygrief #parentalbereavement #cancer About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals w...
2022-09-121h 29Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 97 Melissa & Emma talk about Grief.Coach, a texting service for bereaved peopleA conversation about some of the needs of bereaved people and why Grief.Coach texting service could be a wonderful balm for people during their most vulnerable months and years.  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving any type of loss. With a curriculum that has b...
2022-09-0854 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 96 Mary Shine Thompson, Poems for when you can't find the wordsOrder your copy of ‘Poems for when you can’t find the words’ here In this episode, I speak to Mary Shine Thompson about the power of poetry at end-of-life and during times of grief. We also talk about her personal experiences of loss; how the death of her brother as young adults reshaped her life, and how the death of her mother at age 93, brought with it a profound grief. It’s another beautiful conversation that looks at yet more Shapes of Grief. Poems for When You Can’t Find the Words is a comforting...
2022-08-311h 21Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 95 Adriana Marchione on Addiction, Cancer, Dance & GriefSometimes I wish the world were a little smaller, so I could meet my guests in person. Adriana is one of those people who I’d love to spend time with. This, for me, was a beautiful, insightful, honest and tender conversation about humanity, addiction, love, capacity to show up in the face off death, or not, and finding our feet again, literally, after profound loss. #cancer #addictionandloss #death #grief #movement #dancinggrief Biography Adriana Marchione has been involved in the arts for over thirty years as a filmmaker, dancer, photographer and is internationally recognized in he...
2022-08-261h 07Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 93 Rosie Mankes on losing her Mom to DementiaRosie Mankes’s mother has had dementia for ten years. She had to be transitioned into assisted living, and then into memory care. And little by little, Rosie has had to watch her mother go. She recently wrote an article (https://thriveglobal.com/stories/what-i-wish-i-knew-when-i-transitioned-my-mom-into-an-assisted-living-facility/) about this deeply troubling experience that more and more of us are going to have to go through. It starts like this: I am watching my mother’s brain die, right before my eyes. During a recent visit, she said to me, “Please, Rosemarie, can you help me remember who my children are?”...
2022-08-0155 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 91 Alan Creedon on the impact of disenfranchised childhood griefWhen Alan Creedon was a young boy, his sister Aoife was quietly removed from their home and placed in a home for children with disabilities, as was the 'done thing' in rural Ireland. This ambiguous loss and the resultant disenfranchised grief would play a significant part in how Alan would engage with life and other people. After decades of depression, Alan decided to embark on a solo journey, walking from the UK to his hometown in Kerry, in memory of his sister Aoife. To speak about what had been unspeakable for years.    #disenfranchisedgrief #cerebralpalsy #ruralireland #childrenshome #bereavement #me...
2022-05-231h 07Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp 90 Dorothy Holinger on The Anatomy of GriefPsychologist Dorothy Holinger, author of 'The Anatomy of Grief', talks to Liz about her early experience of loss and how it shaped her life as a psychologist. They discuss Prolonged Grief Disorder, how grief affects the body, the heart, the brain, how some people make meaning from their loss and experience psychological growth, while others do not. A rich discussion relevant to everyone. https://dorothypholinger.com  #grief #griefinthebody #thephysiologyofgrief #cardiomyopathy #takotsubocardiomyopathy #dorothyholinger #prolongedgriefdisorder #theanatomyofgrief About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency a...
2022-05-031h 08Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp 88 Sandra Adams on the aftermath of loss, part 2This is part 2 of the conversation I had with Sandy Adams, about how she navigated grief when her fiancé John died suddenly. We talk about choice in grief, expectations of others, good support and finding ourselves again, after profound loss. How do we survive and then thrive when our assumptions about the future are shattered? Another rich, rich conversation. #grief #bereavement https://mrskilpatrick.wordpress.com/2022/04/09/45-the-gifts-of-grief/?fbclid=IwAR3ZVF0faDlgbsnh9fOphmqkoWg5wvawG0F7he6Btn0FbNkFOYhYU-6KaC4 About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency a...
2022-04-131h 21Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 87 Sandra Adams on the sudden death of her partner John & how grief manifestedI really enjoyed this conversation with Sandy Adams about how she navigated her grief following her partner's sudden and unexpected death. In fact, it was so interesting, I asked her to do a part 2!  Sandra has a lot of wisdom to share, so this is well worth listening to. Most of all, she offers a voice of hope after profound loss. I was particularly delighted to learn how the Shapes Of Grief podcast and then training programme, helped her to navigate the experience of grief and gave her options that she wasn't finding elsewhere: YES! #g...
2022-04-0456 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 86 Recording of the Shapes Of Grief Launch event at the Whale Theatre, 31st March 2022The official launch of Shapes Of Grief was a truly powerful evening, last Thursday, March 31st 2022.  Branwen Kavanagh opened and closed the event with her beautiful music.  Introduction was given by Liz Gleeson, who shared a personal story of loss and then talked about the many Shapes Of Grief. Ruth Fitzmaurice read three pieces, including from her book 'I found my tribe', about her grief following the deaths of her husband Simon and a year later, her brother John. Ger Murphy spoke of the grief that followed him through his life ha...
2022-04-041h 51Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 85 Andy Gilats and Liz discuss Prolonged Grief DisorderWe know that grief never really goes away, we learn to live with it and accommodate it in our lives. For some people, about 5-10%,  their grief can remain very intense and cause major disruption in their lives for a prolonged period of time; years and even decades. It is normal for grief to endure for years, but when it is debilitating and people find it impossible to readjust to the world after a loss, perhaps it is what has become known as Prolonged Grief Disorder. Here, Andy talks about how grief affected her in a debilitating way for t...
2022-03-261h 10Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 84 Linda Allen talks about her son dying by suicide & the grief that followedA very insightful conversation with Linda Allen about her grief following her son’s death by suicide. We explore the physicality of grief, the importance of connection in grief, as well as moments of choice we may have in the grieving process. Article written by Linda https://www.alustforlife.com/voice/personal-stories/see-you-in-two-minutes-ma-a-mother-writes-her-story-of-losing-her-son-to-suicide Available on Amazon & kindle ISBN is 9781911013341 #grief #bereavement #suicidegrief #suicidebereavement #parentalloss About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by...
2022-03-131h 03Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 83 Deena Goldstein on her father’s dying & deathDeena Goldstein talks about her father's dying process, death and how writing about her grief helped her through. #dying #death #bereavement #hospice #deathprocess #whatisdying #oklittlebird #deenagoldstein About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving any type of loss. With a curriculum that has been meticulously...
2022-03-0944 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp 82 Tahseen Rizvi on the impact of early loss, bereavement overload & shattered religious beliefsBy the age of 15, Tahseen Rizvi had lost both her parents and was sent to live with relatives in another country, another continent, another culture. What followed was another series of significant losses which would negatively affect every relationship Tahseen would enter, including with her children. This is her story of loss and reconstructing her life as she gained more insight in adulthood. #grief #bereavement #muslimgrief  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz G...
2022-02-2546 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 81 Clemmie Clough, childhood bereavement & life after the tsunamiI often hear grieving people describe their experience of grief 'like a tsunami' that just washes over them. This week's guest, Clemmie Clough, experienced the devastation first-hand of the 2004 tsunami when she was just a child. It was an event that would rob her of her mother and change the trajectory of her life. Clemmie talks about how the trauma of that event has stayed with her and how, as a young adult, she had to address the imprint of the event on her, both physically and psychologically. We talk about how alone people can feel after a very...
2022-02-021h 04Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 80 D Anaya on the death of her daughter and grieving as a black woman in a white communityA tender episode from D Anaya about the sudden death of her little daughter Phoebe and how difficult it was for her to find grief support as a black woman in a predominantly white community. We also talk about sex after loss and the strain on a married couple when a child dies. #parentalloss #grief #bereavement  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the t...
2022-01-112h 15Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 79 Caitriona McMahon on anxiety/depression, the pain of Christmas and surviving suicidal planningThere's often nothing more helpful to those who are suffering than an open and frank conversation from someone who has survived the abyss of depression, addiction or grief. I loved talking to Caitriona about the common human struggles of fitting in, not having a sense of belonging, being too identified with our thoughts and the often excruciating road to recovery that requires such committment and courage. Caitriona talks about a time in her life when she wanted to die, how her person Kayla helped her through and in recovery, how she found meaning and purpose in life by helping...
2021-12-221h 20Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 78 Dr Francis McGivern on 'Life after a partner's suicide attempt'In this episode, we speak with Dr Francis McGivern about his recently published book 'Life after a Partners Suicide Attempt'.   #suicideattempt #survivingasuicideattempt Life After a Partner's Suicide Attempt is the first publication to document in depth the lived experiences of the partners of individuals who have attempted to take their own lives. Although no one has died, the ramifications are, nonetheless, life-changing and permanent. Research in suicidology has paid virtually no attention to these partners, other than to explore their role as caregiver. Based on a series of sensitively conducted interviews, Dr. McGivern proposes a psychotherapeutic pathway towards recovery th...
2021-12-061h 05Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefBundle of Grief Books Giveaway for Grief Awareness WeekBe in with a chance to win this bundle of ten books, signed by the authors! All you have to do is sign-up to the Shapes of Grief Education Programme during December 2021 to be in with a chance to own this bundle of ten grief books. Use code griefawareness20 for 20% discount during Grief Awareness Week 2021, 2-9th December #griefawareness2021 About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips...
2021-12-0303 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 77 Pat Dollard on Ambiguous loss following his partners' disappearance & lgbtq+ griefThe experience of grief within the lgbtq+ community can be profoundly painful as a result of past losses connected to sexuality. This can be experienced as bereavement (the AIDS crisis), stigmatisation, marginalisation, tacit acceptance from family & community, outright homophobia or erasure by parents or other family members. Many young Irish people left Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s to find a larger gay community and the relief of anonymity in bigger cities such as London. In this episode, Irishman Pat Dollard takes us through the choices he made and why, how he met his partner Mike, the story of...
2021-11-291h 19Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp 76 Rach Underhill on grief following her wife's illness & death (lgbtq+ grief)I'm so grateful to Rach Underhill for this really tender and beautiful episode. It's coming up to two years since Rach's beloved wife Kris died from terminal cancer. Rach takes us through the love story, to Kris' diagnosis and eventual death. The love and grief that Rach experienced from firstly meeting Kris, then losing Kris, are palpable. I think it's perhaps the depth of love and the depth of grief that make Rach's message of hope and choosing life after loss, all the more inspiring. There is a lot of wisdom for all of us here in this chat...
2021-11-211h 08Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp 75 Dr Vanessa Lacey on the grief experience of older transgender women and their families.Dr Vanessa Lacey recently finished her PhD studies on the grief experienced by older transgender women and their families. In this episode, Vanessa talks about her personal experience of loss, what her research uncovered and how she has cultivated an impressive 'live and let live' attitude, despite various attempts to alienate her from her family and hometown. This is a heartwarming conversation and Vanessa certainly engenders a faith in humanity that is enviable.  #transgenderwomengrief #grief #loss #ambiguousloss #teni #transgenderequalitynetwork #lgbtq+grief #lgbtq+ About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized o...
2021-11-151h 10Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 74 Stephen Teap on being a young, bereaved fatherStephen Teap became a young widower when his wife Irene died of cervical cancer, leaving him to parent two young boys age 2 and 4 alone. In this conversation, Stephen talks about the hope, the denial and the devastation of living with terminal cancer and how grief following Irene's death has been for him and his young boys, Oscar and Noah. #grief #bereavement #cervicalscandal #widowhood #singledad #cervicalcancer #childhoodgrief #childhoodbereavement About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and...
2021-11-081h 10Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp 73 Dr Nyasha Grayman, when one twin diesDr Nyasha Grayman speaks to Liz about the premature birth of her sons, navigating a white healthcare system and the death of one of her twins. We talk about why 'nice' therapists need more grief & trauma training and why more black psychologists are needed in America.   For a comprehensive grief education, go to www.shapseofgrief.com and sign-up today.  #grief #bereavement #blackgrief #twindeath #twintotwintransfusionsyndrome #whenonetwindies #griefeducation #griefpodcast About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Ps...
2021-10-301h 03Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 72 Andrew McGinley speaks about finding new purpose following the tragic deaths of his three beloved childrenIn January 2020, Andrew McGinley's three children Carla, Darragh and Conor died suddenly and tragically in their home. Following trial, their mother was found not guilty of murder for reason of insanity. In this conversation, Andrew talks about his love for his three children, how he continues his bonds with them through fulfilling promises that he made to them, and the urgent need for mental health reform in Ireland. Buy tickets to Andrew's fundraiser at https://asdarraghdid.ie #grief #bereavement #andrewmcginley #conorsclips #asdarraghdid #mentalhealthreform About Shapes of Grief: Shapes...
2021-10-171h 06Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp 71 Kristine Carlson on the sudden death of her husband & finding meaning after tragic lossKristine Carlson and her husband Richard Carlson, author of 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff', which was No 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list for 100 consecutive weeks, were enjoying their success when tragedy struck. Richard died suddenly and unexpectedly while on a flight to New York. In this conversation, Kristine talks to Liz about how life changed after Richard's death and how she used his teachings to help her to find meaning in her grief. Also available on Shapes Of Grief youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN_6WOp6p_GXhArbMfxvaUg A movie based on...
2021-09-131h 05Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 70 Caoimhe Butterly on navigating grief in advocacy workA rich, rich conversation with the wonderful Caoimhe Butterly about how she has navigated grief through many years of activism and advocacy work and how, as both humans and psychotherapists, we can adequately meet people who are experiencing profound suffering and loss in their lives.  #advocacy #activism #humanitarianwork About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for u...
2021-09-031h 25Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 69 Meghann Scully on losing her brother & father as a teenagerEp. 69 Meghann Scully talks to Liz about her brother's death when they were teenagers, followed by her father's death a year later. Meghann shares how her grief affected her and how unexpressed grief caught up with her in her twenties through addiction.  Podcast is available on all podcasting platforms and on www.shapesofgrief.com.  #grief #bereavement #griefeducation #meghannnscully #siblinglossGrief Education Programme for Mental Health Professionals at www.shapesofogrief.com, subscribe now! About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement li...
2021-08-291h 21Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 68 Clair speaks about living with a terminal illnessHave you ever wondered how you would respond to receiving a terminal diagnosis? In this conversation with Clair, we talk about dying, living, available choices when living with a terminal illness and the 'battle' language that often accompanies cancer. Clair is refreshingly honest and a breath of fresh air.  Clair's website https://www.dyingwell.uk "As someone living with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis I have come to realise that many people seem to think that surviving is the same as being well and that dying is the same as being sick - when actually neither a...
2021-07-1656 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 67 Liz Introduces the Shapes Of Grief Education Programme for Mental Health PractitionersHi Everyone, I took a little break from the podcast to accompany my lovely Dad on his final weeks on planet earth. After he died, I launched myself into completing a project that I've been curating for the past few months, an online Grief Education Programme for Healthcare Providers and Mental Health practitioners. This episode is an introduction to the programme, I hope you'll sign-up and please do spread the word! #griefeducation #bereavementeducation #grief About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency...
2021-06-1637 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 67 in Loving Memory of my father Maurice Gleeson ❤️Some poems that sustained me as I accompanied my beloved father through end-of-life.  #grief #love 
2021-03-061h 05Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 66 Sarah Corbett-Lynch, age 14, on children’s griefSarah’s first major loss happened when she was just twelve weeks old and her adoring mother Mags died as a result of an asthma attack. Sarah’s Dad raised her and her brother until he died tragically when Sarah was just eight years old. What followed next were several weeks of confusion and trauma before Sarah and her brother were put into the safe arms of their aunt and uncle, and travelled to the other side of the Atlantic ocean, where they are adored by a large, loving, blended family. Sarah is an incredible advocate for Children’s grief...
2021-02-1959 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 65 Lord Mayor Hazel Chu on Racism, Discrimination and GriefA conversation with Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu on Racism, Discrimination and Grief.  #grief #racism #discrimination  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving any type of loss. With a curriculum that has been meticulously developed to include the most comprehensive ev...
2021-02-1629 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 64 Adrienne Freeland on how horses supported her grief after her brother's suicideAn outdoor horse girl, the bereavement group in a dingy basement just didn't work for Adrienne Freeland after her brother died by suicide. Seeing a problem that needed fixing, Adrienne contacted her local hospice to talk about setting up an alternative kind of bereavement group; in her barn with the horses. In this episode, Adrienne explains some of the ways in which the people she supports find hope and moments of peace while with the horses.  #grief #bereavement #suicide #griefoutdoors #bereavementgroup About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an i...
2021-02-1054 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 63 Carrie Thompson on Climbing 48 Mountains following her son's death by suicideIn 2019, Carrie Thompson's worst nightmare came true when her beautiful son Ben died by suicide. In December 2020, Carrie had an article published in the New York Times that documented her journey through the NH48 - the 48 highest peaks of New Hampshire, a challenge she set herself to pay homage to her son who adored the outdoors. Carrie shares some of her grief experience with Liz in this moving and important conversation about parental loss and suicide bereavement. #suicide #hiking #cherylstrayed #carriethompson #newhampshire48 #nh48 #suicidebereavement https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/28/opinion/hiking-grief.html
2021-02-0553 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 62 Jill Campbell, Filmmaker, talks of Zoom Funerals, Lost Rituals, Parental Loss and her documentary Seat20DFilmmaker Jill Campbell talks to Liz about the making of the documentary Seat 20D, which tells the story of Suse Lowenstein, a bereaved mother whose son Alexi was one of 270 people killed in the Lockerbie terror attack thirty two years ago. Jill talks about making the documentary, what she learnt about grief. Jill also speaks about how her family are now dealing with the death of her father, Zoom funerals and the loss of ritual due to Covid19.  Watch the documentary here https://www.seat20d.com #lockerbie #grief #bereavement A...
2021-01-241h 01Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 61 Gill Mann, Mother, Author & Psychotherapist, talks of living with her son's mental illness & subsequent deathPsychotherapist, Mother and author Gill Mann speaks to Liz about living with her son's mental illness, how it impacted her and the family and the grief that followed his sudden and untimely death when travelling abroad as a young man. About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or...
2021-01-171h 12Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 60 Trauma Therapist Meghan Riordan-Jarvis on Trauma & GriefA really interesting discussion on Grief and Trauma from Trauma Therapist Meghan Riordan-Jarvis, who also experienced ptsd herself following the sudden and unexpected death of her beloved mother. Lots to learn here, for anyone experiencing or working with trauma. We talk about trauma in the therapy room, times when touch is necessary in therapy (co-regulation) and what modalities can be useful in taking a bottom-up approach to trauma therapy. #trama #ptsd #grief #bereavement #bestgriefpodcast #ACEs #somaticexperiencing #peterlevine #besselvanderkolk #gabormate #patogden #sensorimotorpsychotherapy Meghan Riordan Jarvis is a psychotherapist, speaker, educator, writer, wife, and mother of three...
2021-01-111h 33Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 59 Dr Esther Ramsey Jones on caring for her mother after a terminal diagnosis and the grief following her death.Dr Esther Ramsey Jones is a Palliative Psychotherapist with years of experience supporting people towards the end of their lives. In her latest book "The Silly Thing: Shaping the Story of Life and Death", Esther takes us through the poignant turn of events in her life when her own mother became suddenly ill and was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.  In this episode,  Esther talks to Liz about her relationship with her mother and what surprised her about how she met her mother's illness and impending death. Buy Esther's book here https://freeassociationpublishing.com/product/the-silly-thing-shaping-the-story-of-life-and-death/ ...
2021-01-031h 01Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 58 Lindsey Whissel-Fenton on making the Documentary ‘Speaking Grief’A wonderful conversation with Lindsey Whissel Fenton about many facets of grief, in particular, Disenfranchised Grief. Lindsey Whissel Fenton is a senior producer at WPSU, the PBS/NPR affiliate station in Central Pennsylvania. She’s an Emmy award-winning storyteller who is passionate about using public media to build empathy. Lindsey produced, directed, and wrote the documentary Speaking Grief and continues to produce content for the initiative’s website and social media presence. Watch the documentary here https://speakinggrief.org/documentary #grief #bereavement #speakinggrief #megandevine #griefdocumentary #griefpodcast #disenfranchisedgrief About Shapes of Grief:
2020-12-2159 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp 57 A brief talk about coping with Grief during the holidays from Liz for @mentalhealthirelandSharing a few words about meeting our grief during the holidays, a time when grief can often be exacerbated. I hope this is helpful to you. Liz  #grief #bereavement #griefatchristmas #griefduringtheholidays #holidaysandgrief #christmasandgrief About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving any type o...
2020-12-2108 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 55 Dana Lawson on living with CancerSometimes I as I write these descriptions, I know that my words simply do not do justice to the story being shared; this episode is one of those times. Dana Lawson takes us through her experience of learning to live with cancer, go through extreme domestic violence and still come out the other side with a focus on achieving life-long dreams, despite her life experience. Dana talks about the 'battle' language of cancer, why that didn't serve her and why she chose, instead, to befriend her cancer as a part of her body.  Inspiring doesn't do this justice!
2020-11-0951 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 54 Norah Casey on Grief in Ireland today & her personal story of lossIn this episode, Norah reflects on the many shapes of grief that are manifesting in Ireland today, from the recent tragedies in Dublin and Cork, to the Mother & Babies Homes scandal that has caused widespread grief throughout the nation. On a more personal note, Norah shares her experience of domestic abuse, the physical violence she endured and how she found the courage to get out. She generously shares her experience through Richard’s illness and death and how she found her feet again, in the midst of crippling grief. Please share the episode and as al...
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Shapes Of GriefEp. 52 Autumn Toelle Jackson on Compound Grief, Bereavement Overload & Organ DonationAn extraordinary story of navigating multiple losses in a short space of time and how Autumn consciously chose to allow herself to experience joy again, in the face of bereavement overload, trauma and unmeasurable tragedy. #Parentalloss, #bereavementoverload, #organdonation #boldlyintothedarkness About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving...
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Shapes Of GriefEp. 51 Juliet Rosenfeld, Psychotherapist, on grief & denial when facing deathJuliet Rosenfeld had been married to Andrew just 7 months when her beloved husband died of cancer. Five years on, Juliet has published a poignant memoir of their journey together with a cancer diagnosis, the strategies that Andrew employed to deal with his illness and how his death, despite his serious diagnosis, still came as a shock. We talk about the denial in both Andrew’s illness and also the ambiguity from the medics and what that meant to Juliet and her experience of grief. The book is available online https://www.theportobellobookshop.com/science-tech/state-of-disbelief-a-story-of-death-love-and-forgetting-juliet-rosenfeld #gr...
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Shapes Of GriefEp. 50 Niamh Fitzpatrick on 'Tell Me The Truth about Loss'Three years after her world stopped turning when her family were hit by a sudden and traumatic loss, Niamh Fitzpatrick has written a raw and tender memoir of her experience of grief, following the death of her sister and also the more silent losses of an IVF journey and the end of her marriage.  This book and indeed this conversation, are a veritable gift to the listeners and readers, as Niamh takes us through an authentic, vulnerable and profoundly courageous account of her experience of grief, from an intellectual, emotional and physical perspective. I got so much out of N...
2020-09-301h 40Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 49 Dr Mags Crean on bereavement overload, delayed grief and the economics of deathLocal Greystones Councellor, Dr. Mags Crean, speaks to Liz about the death of her parents, just a few weeks apart and how the birth of her first child in the middle of these losses contributed to her delayed grief. We talk about how unexpressed grief can build up and, in Mags' case, cause unbearable panic and anxiety.  Liz and Mags talk about the economics of grief and how difficult it can be for those in lower socio-economic classes to access grief support and why now, this needs to be addressed. As always, a tender and i...
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Shapes Of GriefEp. 48 Dr Mekel Harris on the death of her mother & the collective grief following George Floyd's deathDr Mekel Harris, Clinical Psychologist, speaks about her tremendous grief following the death of her mother who was also her best friend. Liz and Mekel draw comparisons between our individual losses experienced around the time of bereavement and the collective loss following the death of George Floyd, a brutal death that has left the world reeling and crying out for change. Mekel discusses the ongoing grief of racism, injustice and marginalisation and how white allies can help. The first thirty minutes cover Makel’s personal bereavement and the latter half of the episode explores the collective grief ex...
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Shapes Of GriefEp. 47 Dr. Kathryn Mannix on Dying & Death from Covid19, how healthcare staff can ease the fear, what we're doing right & what we can learnSo privileged to be joined again, for the third time, by Dr. Kathryn Mannix, Palliative Doctor and author of the bestselling book 'With the End in Mind".  Kathryn talks about how dying and death have changed as a result of Covid19, demystifying what is happening in our hospitals and what families need to know about how their loved ones may be cared for.  She takes us through how a death due to Covid may pan out and what we can expect or look out for if we are providing palliative care in the community. A must-listen for anyone touched by...
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Shapes Of GriefEp 46 Grief Therapists & End-of-life doulas Katrina Taee & Wendelien McNicoll speak to Liz about 'Surviving the Tsunami of Grief'What a rich conversation this was, speaking to Katrina Taee and Wendelien McNicoll about their personal experiences of loss, their work with the dying and the bereaved, through to the recent launch of their very valuable book 'Surving the Tsunami of Grief'.  Between them, Katrina and Wendelien have a wealth of personal experience of loss as well as a very palpable passion for being of service to those who are dying and those who are grieving. We speak about euthanasia, sibling grief and how grief can strike at any time, no matter how long after the loss.
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Shapes Of GriefEp. 45 Ger Murphy, Psychotherapist & Poet, with Liz on Grief and Meaning Making during physical isolationGer and Liz talk about how it is to be living in such unprecedented times and how being with the unknown can bring us to places that we usually don’t stop to face when in the usual busyness of life. We draw parallels between the collective grief that is in the air and the personal experience of loss through death. There are more questions here than answers, but our conversation may mirror some of what you have been wondering, thinking, raging against and feeling hopeful for, over these past few weeks. #grief #bereavement #covid19 #co...
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Shapes Of GriefEp. 44 Liz speaks about managing our grief and anxiety during Covid 19When we are grieving, it is often as if the whole world has turned upside down and we need to navigate our new reality on very shaky ground. The pandemic Covid 19 that we are now living through will elicit feelings of grief and anxiety for many of us as we try to understand and process our new reality and find stability amongst the chaos. In this episode, Liz describes what can happen in our bodies in times of stress and how we can best take care of ourselves during these uncertain times.  #grief #anxiety #covid19 #selfcompassion #vagusnerve #s...
2020-03-2331 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 43 Nicola Crean on the Grief of Separation & when you're bereaved by suicideHaving coffee with a friend today, we commented on how we all have our stories, we all have our 'stuff'. This isn't always apparent when we look at each other. For those watching Nicola Crean complete her first Iron 'Man' in Cork last year, it would not have been obvious what hurdles she had overcome in the previous few years and how running had become her way of staying sane as the life she knew unravelled around her. In this honest and down-to-earth conversation, Nicola describes a very relatable account of meeting a partner, starting a home...
2020-03-1559 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 42 Jimmy Edmonds, Bereaved Dad & Filmmaker on how creativity helps him through griefThis was a really interesting talk with Jimmy Edmonds, award-winning filmmaker and bereaved father, on what his grief is like for him and how being creative helped him to find expression for his grief. Along with his wife Jane, Jimmy Produced and Directed the beautiful documentary 'A Love that Never Dies' - which documents life after their son's death as well as the grief journeys of several other bereaved parents.  Jimmy and Jane set up The Good Grief Project in the UK and have produced several short films on grief, check out their website on https://thegoodgriefproject.c...
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Shapes Of GriefEp. 40 Kate Gunn, Author, on the grief of separation/divorceIn this episode, Liz talks to Kate Gunn, author of 'Untying the Knot - how to consciously uncouple in the real world', about the grief of separation and divorce.  Purchase Kate's book 'Untying the Knot' here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Untying-Knot-Consciously-Uncouple-World/dp/1786050684 When you are going through separation or divorce it can often feel like there is no way through the pain and conflict. No small light twinkling at the end of the tunnel. Will it always feel this bad? How will you heal the hurt of your children? Will this damage them for l...
2020-02-101h 01Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 39 Live Screening of 'A Love that Never Dies' with Directors Q & A (documentary features parental bereavement)This episode of Shapes Of Grief features the introduction by Liz of Shapes Of Grief and follows with Directors Q & A with Liz, Jane Harris & Jimmy Edmonds during a live screening of ‘A Love That Never Dies’ held in the Whale Theatre in Greystones, Co. Wicklow on January 29th 2020. The documentary itself can be viewed here for £3.99 https://thegoodgriefproject.co.uk/watch-a-love-that-never-dies-now/ How do we grieve? Why do we grieve? And why are we afraid of those that do grieve? Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds’ son Josh died nine years ago while travelling in SE Asia. A...
2020-02-0352 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 38 Dr. Chris Germer on how Mindful Self-Compassion can help at times of GriefA lovely episode with psychologist Chris Germer on how Self-Compassion can be a really useful practice at times of Grief.  Understanding the biology of self-compassion can assist us in understanding the mechanism of how kindness not criticism can support us through grief.  As promised in the episode, find links to Chris' website for lots of free resources and more information on Mindful Self Compassion https://chrisgermer.com/meditations/ About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Cu...
2019-12-3159 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 37 Julia Samuel, Grief Therapist, Speaker & Author, on the Paradox of GriefJulia Samuel’s book Grief Works contains a wealth of information and wisdom on the process of grief, grounded in years of experience as a Grief Therapist and with deep awareness of how grief can be for many people. In this inspiring conversation, Julia and Liz talk about the paradox of grief -  “The essence of grief is that we are forced, through death, to confront a reality we inherently reject’ and how we can best support ourselves and each other during the painful weeks, months and years that can follow the death of someone we love. Julia h...
2019-12-1648 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 36 Sheila Boland Part 1, When your Child Dies - Mindfulness & Spirituality as a ResourceOn September 30th 2014, Sheila and Barry Boland learned that their beloved 3 year-old son Oisín had an incurable brain tumour and had only weeks to live. Treatment could buy them some more time, but Sheila and Barry took a road less travelled and decided instead to focus on making every day special for their beloved boy. Five years later, Sheila opens up to Liz about the incredible experience that would follow; one filled with equal parts of devastation and beauty and how it would propel Sheila onto a spiritual path in a search of meaning in the m...
2019-12-031h 19Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 35 Helen Bohan on her beloved brother Ger who died in the sinking of the Honeydew IIOn January 10th 2007, just 24 hours after five men lost their lives in an Irish vessel called the Pere Charles, just a few miles down the coast, another boat was to run into difficulty resulting in the loss of two more lives. In this conversation, I speak with Helen Bohan who’s brother Ger Bohan was the skipper on that second vessel, the Honeydew II. Helen talks of the impact of this sudden and traumatic loss, how she coped in the weeks, months and years afterwards, the importance of acknowledging sibling grief, how it is not to retrieve your loved on...
2019-11-2758 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 34 Shapes Of Grief meets Grief Encounters - Venetia & Liz Share thoughts on Grief and LossBack in the Winter of 2018, when I was planning the launch of the Shapes Of Grief podcast, two other women in Ireland were doing the same.  Venetia Quick and Sasha Hamrogue launched the Grief Encounters podcast at the same time.  It was lovely to finally meet with Venetia (unfortunately Sasha wasn’t there that day) and share experiences of our past few months hosting the podcasts and what we’ve learnt from people about grief. Both Shapes Of Grief and Grief Encounters have been met with such support in Ireland and Abroad, with a common goal of openin...
2019-11-1935 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 33 Helen Culhane on Supporting Children at Times of GriefWhen Helen was 5, her baby brother Martin died in a cot death. She remembers his little white coffin being put into the neighbours car, her other brother, who was four at the time, remembers that car registration number to this day, over fifty years later. Decades later, Helen went on to found the Children’s Grief Centre in Limerick, supporting children who are grieving. In this conversation, Helen and Liz discuss children’ grief and draw on their experience as counsellors to discuss some of the important themes that can come up for children who are grieving and offe...
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Shapes Of GriefEp. 32 Dr Merran Cooper on widowhood, becoming a Doctor at 56 and changing how we dieAt just 23 years of age, Australian Palliative care doctor Merran Cooper became a widow when Mark, her childhood sweetheart and husband, died of leukaemia. Forced to move out of her home while still shell-shocked at her husband’s death, it would be three more decades until Merran followed her heart and studied medicine, becoming a palliative doctor to help change the broken system on how we approach dying and grief. In this moving account of loss and a complete rebuilding of the self, Merran introduces us to her newly developed Electronic End of Life Plan - she is...
2019-11-111h 14Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 31 Roy Remer of Zen Caregiving Project on dying & death in the Zen TraditionIt was wonderful to speak to Roy Remer, Executive Director of the Zen Caregiving Project (formerly Zen Hospice Project), talk about what brought him to be drawn to work with people at the end of their life and what he has learnt from accompanying hundreds of people through the dying process. Roy shares some great wisdom with Liz about how we might approach accompanying our dying loved ones and what really matters. As always, this is a rich and educational conversation.  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to e...
2019-11-041h 11Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 30 Dr. Kathryn Mannix and Liz on 'Dying is Everybody's Business', Compassion & Self-Care for Caring ProfessionalsI was delighted to be joined by Dr. Kathryn Mannix for another episode of Shapes Of Grief. In this episode, we discuss the #ihfforum 2019 'Dying is Everybody's Business', at which Kathryn was keynote speaker. We take a look at what it takes to be an effective caring professional, how to avoid burnout and, when someone is dying, how do we know when "enough is enough".  People who care for other people may find this episode particularly useful, so please do share it! We mention the Irish Hospice Foundation's 'Think Ahead' programme, details of which can b...
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Shapes Of GriefEp. 29 Ger Murphy, Psychotherapist & Poet, on Grief & Death and Climate GriefWhen Ger was 9 years old, he found his father dead at home. Unable to process his grief, it would be shut inside for many years until Ger found his way, as a young adult, into a caring profession and gradually began to address his own inner landscape and wounding. His early experience of his father's sudden death and unexpressed grief caught up with him eventually and he developed stomach issues which lead him to discover Somatic Psychotherapy, opening a door into working psychotherapeutically with others. Ger talks to me about his personal experience of grief, how it unfolded in...
2019-10-201h 06Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 28 Gretta Manners on recovering from Acquired Brain InjuryEight years ago, Gretta Manners had a full time career in teaching and was a busy (and exhausted) mother of three young children; Hazel, 4, Maria, 2 and Tadhg, 6 months. She began to feel unwell and eventually went to the Emergency Dept. of her local hospital to find out what was wrong with her. It would be almost a year before Gretta got home again. What followed was months in hospital due to a rapid onset brain injury of unknown cause. Gretta lost her ability to talk, to walk, to determine the difference between her conscious and sleeping mind. She was...
2019-10-151h 11Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 27 Declan Hammond on Parental Loss, a father's perspectiveThirteen years ago, Declan Hammond received a phonecall that is every parent's worst nightmare; his son had been involved in a mining accident abroad and was killed instantly.  Declan was spiralled into what felt like an alternative reality, his life would never be the same again. In this brutally honest account of his grief, Declan describes how, for a number of years, he felt mad with grief. It was in the company of other bereaved parents where he found understanding, as many of his former friends fell away, unable to tolerate his grief. Declan speaks about how his grief t...
2019-10-0754 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 26 Annemarie Brophy, Psychotherapist, on the disenfranchised grief of parenting a critically ill childFor many of us, we take it for granted that our text will read something like “a beautiful baby girl was born at 5.55am, 8.2lbs, mother and baby doing great”, but for Annemarie McCarthy and her husband, the reality was far from this. The 20 week scan showed anomalies that would render the rest of Annemarie’s pregnancy a constant source of stress and worry. When baby Ruth took her first breaths alone, her parents hoped that the worst was over and, once reparative surgery would be completed, they would take Ruth home and get on with their lives. Little did th...
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Shapes Of GriefEp. 25 Aisling Fitzgibbon and her search for meaning and purpose in her own life and in her mother's deathAisling Fitzgibbon and her mother Martha were inseparable. As well as mother and daughter, they were best friends and soul mates. Following a few years of depression in her early twenties, Aisling went on a journey of finding meaning and purpose in her life, accompanied every step of the way by her beloved mother Martha. When Martha suddenly became critically ill, all of Aisling's spiritual learnings were put to the test and she had to dig deep to be able to come to terms with her mother's impending death. Aisling takes us through that journey and talks about how...
2019-09-211h 10Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 24 Siobhan Overson on being orphaned at 2yrs old and a life-long grief for the parents & brother she doesn't rememberWhen Siobhan was two years old, both her parents, her older brother who was seven and her aunt all died in a drowning tragedy on Carlingford Lough. Siobhan, her  eleven month-old brother Terry and a nine-year-old sister Orla, were separated from each other and taken in by two sets of grandparents and were raised in a society that didn’t condone mourning or talk of grief.  Siobhan tells us about how she created an imaginary life for herself as a child and how this loss coloured her life experience and influenced her life choices. Decades later, Siobhan still feels anxi...
2019-09-021h 00Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 23 Siobhan Daffy on bereavement overload; when it seems like everyone is dyingIn 2000, a bus carrying 7 young tourists in Bolivia crashed into a ravine killing all of the 9 passengers on board; the driver had fallen asleep. Among them were two young Irish sisters. In this episode, Musician and Poet Siobhan Daffy, talks about the sudden death of her best friend, the importance of getting the girls home to Ireland and how community and poetry supported her in coming to terms with her bereavement. Two years later, Siobhan’s little brother Donnacha died suddenly, leaving a bereft family. They were barely coming to terms with their grief when their father also died.  Sio...
2019-08-2456 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 22 Bebhinn Ramsey on her search for a 'cure' for grief and how a spiritual path helped her to navigate her lossAuthor of "Love's last gift" Bebhinn Ramsey recounts the sudden death of her husband Alistair while on holidays in San Francisco, leaving her widowed at 31 with a baby and a toddler. At the age of thirty-one Bébhinn had lost her soulmate, the father of her two young sons, but also her faith in life.Bebhinn tells of how the weight of her grief made her feel like a 'cornered rat' and how she went on a search for the cure for grief. That search lead her to The Work of Byron Katie, which provided her with a map t...
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Shapes Of GriefEp. 21 Helen Lambe on accompanying her husband through cancer and untimely widowhoodHelen Lamb, owner and founder of the Dublin Wellness Centre, takes us on an intimate journey through her experience of grief following the death of her beloved husband when their baby boy was just months old. Listeners who have accompanied loved ones through cancer will resonate deeply with some of the experiences that Helen shares. She talks about the acute loneliness of grief and the importance of friends who ‘get’ exactly what you’re going through. Helen describes how grief changed her and how she approached loving again after losing ‘the love of her life’.  About Shapes of Grief:
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Shapes Of GriefEp. 20 Cath Monaghan on sibling bereavementCatherine Monaghan talks to Liz about life after the sudden death of her brother, what the grief of losing a sibling was like for her and how Tony’s death affected every part of her life. To read Cath’s article in the Irish Times, click here https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/my-brothers-were-inseparable-until-one-died-1.3878482%3fmode=amp About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips indi...
2019-07-091h 03Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 19 Beatrice Caffrey on multiple miscarriage and the death of her baby son JoshuaFor those of you who listened to last week's episode with Justin Caffrey, this is your opportunity to now listen to Beatrice Caffrey's perspective on the life and death of their beloved baby son Joshua. Having endured three miscarriages, Beatrice and Justin were delighted that this pregnancy was going well. When Beatrice was 25 weeks pregnant, they took a much-needed holiday to the south of Spain, when Beatrice was woken by her waters breaking, 15 weeks early.  Several days later in hospital, Joshua was born and immediately needed the care of the neonatal unit where he was not expected to live t...
2019-07-031h 24Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 18 Justin Caffrey on how the death of his baby son forced him to reconstruct himself to survive his griefFrom high-flying banker to kangaroo parenting, Justin Caffrey takes us through a searingly honest account of his experience when his second son Joshua was born fifteen weeks early and life as they knew it stopped for the rest of the family. Forced to live in the south of Spain near the NICU unit where their son battled for survival, their son’s ongoing dance between life and death would change Justin’s perspective on almost everything in his life. After Joshua’s death, just short of his first birthday, Justin’s suppressed grief would eventually scream to be addressed, forcing...
2019-06-261h 28Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 17 Dr. Ciara Kelly on the deaths of her parents & her journey with griefFrom twenty years in general practice to a full-blown transition to journalist and broadcaster, Dr. Ciara Kelly takes us through her experience of grief following the very sudden death of her father several years ago and then the more recent and prolonged death of her mother just under two years ago. Ciara speaks candidly with Liz about the different experiences, what surprised her about their deaths and how the experience of deep grief changed her as a doctor and as a person. We also hear about her first experience as a doctor, having to break the news to a...
2019-06-201h 11Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 16 Treacy O'Connor, Interfaith Minister, on continuous bonds and how grief is woven throughout our lives in every change we makeMore like a conversation between friends, Liz and Interfaith minister Treacy O’Connor talk about a variety of topics related to loss, personal growth, separation, as well as the dance between spirituality and the corporate world. Treacy discusses how her relationship with her father became deeper through the continuous bonds she forged with him after his death. She takes us through her personal journey from a young, searching woman to corporate life and eventually to the role of interfaith minister. We talk about the spiritual aspect of growth, as well as spiritual bypassing, childbirth, the grief of relationship breakdown an...
2019-06-031h 05Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 15 Kevin Toolis on 'My Father's Wake' - what we can learn from the Irish about Love, Life and DeathKevin Toolis is a BAFTA winning film maker and writer of the acclaimed death guide My Father’s Wake: How the Irish Teach Us to Live, Love and Die.  Toolis has reported on famines, wars and plagues all over the world for The New York Times and The Guardian. As a documentary maker he has filmed in the middle east and directed the Emmy-nominated Cult of the Suicide Bomber television history series. He is also producer/director of a compelling new stage work Wonders of the Wake that revives the lost art of Irish keening and celebrates the ancient rit...
2019-05-271h 02Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 14 Donna Schuurman of the Dougy Centre on Children's Grief, a professional perspectiveDonna tells us about the work of the Dougy centre in Portland Oregon and gives us some insight into what support children may need to help them through times of grief. The Dougy centre have some really useful resources for supporting grieving children and adolescents, which can be found here https://www.dougy.org. We also mention the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network who are a great resource for childhood bereavement in Ireland, details can be found here https://www.childhoodbereavement.ie. About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization d...
2019-05-2038 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 13 Edy Nathan, Psychotherapist & Author, on cumulative grief, overcoming agoraphobia & sexual abusePsychotherapist and author Edy Nathan joins me on Shapes Of Grief this week to talk about the grief she endured through sexual abuse and bullying at a young age, which lead to the debilitating condition of agoraphobia. Edy’s experience would later shape her career choice, leading her to study the creative arts therapies, sex therapy and grief support. In this conversation, Edy takes us through her early experiences, how they shaped her and how she eventually came to integrate her grief and become a support for other people also experiencing cumulative grief and trauma.  Edy is off...
2019-05-1349 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 12 Dr Kathryn Mannix demystifying the dying process & how to prepare for a good deathThis week I speak to Dr Kathryn Mannix, palliative care pioneer, about the dying process. Like birth, there are certain stages of death which Kathryn hopes to demystify in her book ‘With the End in Mind’. Kathryn does a wonderful job in normalising this process which we all face and looks at how we can take the fear out of this natural and inevitable stage of life. Kathryn oozes compassion and humanity, offering ways in which we can approach this often-feared topic in a whole new light. We discuss ways in which we can support our loved ones...
2019-05-081h 09Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 11 Hayley Manning, Advocate, on Miscarriage, Turner's Syndrome & living with Loss & HopeIn this conversation with Liz, Hayley speaks about the multiple miscarriages that she experienced, the devastating decision that herself and husband Charlie had to make when they found out that their baby had Turner's Syndrome and how, after four miscarriages and a medical termination, she continues to try to find the balance between loss and hope.  Miscarriage remains a taboo subject and if often a source of deep loneliness and grief for those who experience it. Because it is a subject avoided by many, the signs and symptoms of miscarriage often cause unnecessary additional distress and can b...
2019-05-061h 00Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 10 Dr Helen Greally on grief following diagnosis & grief theoriesDr Helen Greally is a psycho-oncologist with Cancer Care West. Helen has over forty years experience working with people through grief and loss, following diagnosis. Her PhD focused on spousal bereavement and she has collected a host of grief experiences from people of all ages throughout the country. In this episode of Shapes Of Grief, Helen talks about the shock that can come following a difficult diagnosis, theories of grief and why the 5 stages is usually not that useful, as well as some of the ways in which she works with grief, trauma and forging continuous bonds with our...
2019-04-2952 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 9 Jane Harris, psychotherapist, on parental bereavement & the powerful documentary A Love That Never DiesIn 2011, Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds got the knock at the door that no parent ever wants; their 22 year old son Joshua had been killed in a road accident while travelling in Vietnam. From that moment on, their life changed fundamentally, forever. Jane, a psychotherapist & filmmaker and Jimmy, also a filmmaker, embarked on a voyage of active grief during the following years, using their creative backgrounds to explore the new territory of parental bereavement. This lead them on a road trip throughout the U.S., an homage to Joshua who died travelling, to meet other bereaved parents and to...
2019-04-0954 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 8 Gary Andrews on Love, Widowhood & The Doodle DiariesWhen Gary’s wife Joy died suddenly in 2017 from sepsis, he turned to his daily practice of doodling to express his grief and help him to process the reality of widowhood and parenting two young, bereft children. The series of heartfelt illustrations soon caught the attention of the public and quickly became a viral sensation.  Liz had the pleasure of speaking with Gary for the Shapes Of Grief podcast and what ensued was a heartwarming conversation about love, parenthood, surrendering to grief & finding hope for the future. Don’t miss this one!  About Shapes of Grief: Shap...
2019-03-2956 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 7 Dr. Robert Neimeyer on Meaning Making after lossRobert A. Neimeyer, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology, at the University of Memphis, where he also maintains an active clinical practice. Bob is an international speaker on grief and loss, bringing a great wisdom to the field. In this episode of Shapes Of Grief, Bob talks to Liz about how his father's suicide when he was 12 was to shape his later choices.  He talks about why meaning making is important throughout life, not just in grief and has some fascinating perspectives on grief and how we might navigate it. We discuss how to help those who are g...
2019-03-2054 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 6 Madeleine Grant, Nurse & therapist, on bereavement overload, prolonged grief & how grief can make you sickIn this episode, Madeleine talks to Liz about three successive family bereavements and how her inability to grieve resulted in significant illness and a near-death experience. Madeleine went on to complete a Masters in Bereavement Studies at the Irish Hospice Foundation in an attempt to better understand and heal her own unresolved losses. Madeleine's story will no doubt resonate deeply with many people who have experienced grief in their lives, particularly those of us who have, for some reason, shut away our grief and not felt safe to express it.  This is an important conversation about bereavement and unresolved g...
2019-03-1148 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 5 Dr Susan Delaney on the essence of grief, prolonged Grief, resilience and hopeShapes of Grief had a lovely conversation with Dr. Susan Delaney of the Irish Hospice Foundation. Susan is the bereavement services manager there and has been instrumental in bringing awareness to Prolonged Grief (formerly complicated grief) to Ireland. In this conversation, Susan paints a very clear picture of what grief can look like, what can be involved when we go through grief and how sometimes, when our grief fails to integrate, we can go on to develop prolonged grief. Susan also talks about childhood bereavement and how children must be included in the grieving process.  If you want a...
2019-03-041h 09Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 4 Ruth Fitzmaurice, author of 'I Found My Tribe', on living with ongoing lossRuth Fitzmaurice's life changed when her husband Simon was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. In this candid conversation, Ruth shares how, as a mother of five, she coped with Simon's long illness and eventual death through writing and daily immersion in the cold, Irish sea. Ruth speaks with exquisite honesty and generosity about her inner journey living with ongoing loss and how she is finding meaning in life again. Apologies for the poor sound on the podcast, but the content is oh-so worth a listen! About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is...
2019-02-261h 06Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 3 Deirdre Ahern, Mindfulness teacher, on pet lossDeirdre takes us through a beautiful story of how her little dog Charlie came into her life, the connection they made and how his presence enhanced her life. Deirdre tells an important message of how our pets become our family, particularly if we are single in the world and how their death can have a truly devastating impact. She describes how her spiritual practice helped her to cope with the loss.  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by P...
2019-02-111h 02Shapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 2 Emily McCullough, Art Therapist, on prolonged, disenfranchised griefArt therapist Emily McCullough talks about the sudden, ambiguous death of her brother when she was sixteen, followed by her father's death a few years later. The suppressed grief, both personal and in the family, would take its toll for many years. Emily talks about how her grief has impacted her adult life, her relationships and her ongoing fear of loss. We talk about how her prolonged grief still manifests and how she managed to begin the process of healing, many years later.  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization d...
2019-01-3156 minShapes Of Grief
Shapes Of GriefEp. 1 Jack Gleeson talks about grief following the suicide of his best friendFriends for over four decades, when Jack Gleeson's best friend died by suicide, the loss for Jack was huge. In this interview, Jack talks about friendship, love and loss.  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving any type of loss. With a curriculum that has been m...
2019-01-201h 00