Breaking the Silence on Grief: Tools and Insights for Processing Death & Loss

In this episode of Powered by Joy Podcast we have our first guest Dr. Annette Athy. It was my privilege to welcome her for a genuine discussion around grief and death. It can often be a taboo subject for all parties involved in processing the grief of a loved one passing away. 

You find yourself not sure what to say to someone in grief, don’t want to “bring it up” and upset them… On the other hand you don’t want to seem like you don’t care… It becomes the elephant in the room. You don’t know how to offer real help that they will receive. 

If you are the one in grief, you may want to talk about it but feel that others are over it or don’t want to hear about your loved one who passed or about your struggling emotions around dealing with life after they are gone? Maybe you don’t know how to ask for help because you are so overwhelmed or numb.

When there are children involved, which is often, we discuss helpful tips and tools that Annette has developed and used for years. In those years, she has found that the adults usually were never taught tools to openly discuss grief and all the emotions that are involved. Let alone dealing with day to day life after everyone has gone back to their normal routine. The secondary trauma that happens when suddenly mom who was home before and after school is no longer there. 

There are so many aspects of grief that are just not spoken about and it’s time we normalize speaking about death, grief, and all the emotions that come with it. How it shows up differently in all of us. When we know how our loved ones are processing their grief with tools like the Grief Storm Quiz (see below for the link to the quiz), it helps us to understand each other more. We also discuss how having small discussions about grief often is so much better than waiting for the child or person in grief to bring up the topic…which can lead to a big storm of emotions! 

No matter your age, experiencing the death of a loved one is a life altering event! We want to make sure you know there are tools available to help you. Most importantly, you are not alone or doing it wrong! There is no normal when it comes to grief, no correct timeline for moving on.

Below are some amazing resources and please connect with Dr. Annette Athy via links below if you are even slightly curious, or feel desperate for resources. I have personally experienced her genuine, warm, authentic guidance and wisdom, shared in easy and understandable ways. 

 

Resources to reach Dr. Annette Athy and regarding grief:

Main website: https://annetteathy.com/

Free Guides: Navigating Loss Together: A Parent's Guide to Talking with Kids! and  How to Answer "How can I help?"  https://annetteathy.com/guides

Grief Storm Quiz: https://griefstormquiz.com/

Dr. Annette Athy, a grief specialist and child development expert, has over 20 years of experience working with children and families. With a doctorate in counseling from the University of North Texas, she retired her clinical counseling license to better focus on empowering parents, educators, and professionals through grief education. Dr. Athy now runs an online coaching business, supporting parents of grieving children and offering resources to combat grief illiteracy. She also developed the Grief Storm Quiz to help parents understand and support their child's unique grief needs. Combining formal education with real-world parenting experiences, Dr. Athy provides impactful support for families navigating grief.  

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*Disclaimer-On this podcast I am sharing from my own personal experiences and what tools have helped me, it is not intended to and should not replace professional advice. My episodes should never replace professional advice of any kind. If you struggle with negative thoughts or depression please seek professional guidance.