Gloria Horsley

Dr. Gloria Horsley is an internationally known grief expert, psychotherapist, and bereaved parent. She started "Open to Hope" to help the millions in the world with grief. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Nurse Specialist, and has worked in the field of family therapy for over 20 years. Dr. Horsley hosts the syndicated internet radio show, The Grief Blog which is one of the top ranked shows on Health Voice America. She serves the Compassionate Friends in a number of roles including as a Board of Directors, chapter leader, workshop facilitator, and frequently serves as media spokesperson. Dr. Horsley is often called on to present seminars throughout the country. She has made appearances on numerous television and radio programs including "The Today Show," "Montel Williams," and "Sallie Jessie Raphael." In addition, she has authored a number of articles and written several books including Teen Grief Relief with Dr. Heidi Horlsey, and The In-Law Survival Guide.

Articles:

Seven Steps to Decuttering Your Grief: The Spark Joy Approach

Okay! I did it. I cleaned out my closet this morning. I got rid of all the things that didn’t fully bring me joy. This Christmas my husband gave me the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. It is not a big book, but it is a significant book in that is challenges us to free ourselves of unneeded stuff. Following the author’s instructions I went to my closet took out all my cloths and laid them on my bed. I then proceeded to pick up each item and ask, “Does this spark joy?” If the […]

Loss of an In-law

The web developer for the Open to Hope Foundation, Christopher Conlan, interviews the founder of the Foundation, Dr. Gloria Horsley. As the author of The In-Law Survival Guide, Dr. Horsley takes a unique approach to talking about in-laws—she doesn’t write about surviving your relationship with them, but rather the loss of your in-laws. A lot of people struggle with their in-laws, and it’s commonly problems that aren’t discussed. Talking about the loss of your in-laws isn’t common. The loss of a beloved in-law, who was like a mother or father to you, can feel just like losing a parent. That […]

Susan Coyle: Hospice and End of Life

From the National Alliance for Grieving Children conference, Dr. Gloria Horsley talks with Susan Coyle about how you can help friends and family if they’ve experienced a loss. Coyle is a bereavement counselor and end of life care manager for St. Charles Hospice in Bend, Oregon. “Be patient” is the number one tip Coyle can give people—because most people (who haven’t undergone a loss) don’t know what to say or do. You should also be patient with yourself if you’re the one who suffered a loss. Keep in mind that grief is a journey, and it’s one you may be […]

Marci Servizi: Death of a Father

During the National Alliance for Grieving Children, Marci Servizi connects with Dr. Gloria Horsley to tell her about the death of her father. Based in Seattle, Servizi works with Safe Crossings, which raises money to give to other organizations that serve those who experienced a loss. Her father died on her 12th birthday. As the youngest of ten children, she had a lot of support in her Catholic family. Still, the entire family was grieving at the same time. There wasn’t the same kind of support then that there is now. When she lost her father, when people said, “What […]

Andy McNiel: Giving Children Space to Grieve

Dr. Gloria Horsley connects with Andy McNiel at the National Alliance for Grieving Children conference. Giving children space to grieve after a loss is critical, although many adult caregivers push children to grieve in a way they see fit—which is usually how adults more often heal. Children heal and grieve in bursts and might not be fond of talking. They might communicate via play, sports, music, or by talking in very comfortable surroundings. Don’t assume that a child isn’t grieving just because they’re not talking to you, their parent (or don’t seem to be talking at all!). However, if a […]

Sara Daren: Grief Camp for Boys

Dr. Gloria Horsley talks with Sara Daren about operating grief camps for boys. She operates Experience Camps in Maine and New York. Her work began when she saw her husband working at grief camps designed for all kids. She realized there was a disparity for boy’s camps, as boys grieve very differently than girls. Now, seven years later, she’s beginning to offer camps just for girls, too. The bereavement camps are for children nine through 16 who have experienced any significant loss. There are also camps in California—and all camps are free. Bus transportation is available, and the kids are […]

Josh Robinson: Expressing Grief Through Music

The Open to Hope Foundation’s Dr. Gloria Horsley talks with musician John Robinson about his work with grief and loss. He had a powerful experience playing music by his grandfather’s bedside in the hospital. After a heart attack, Robinson and his family found they didn’t have words to express how they felt. With music, Robinson began to communicate through the drums. It drowned out the background noise, and slowly families began to seek out Robinson to play privately for their own loved ones. Nurses also took note of Robinson’s work, and saw that it was a great way to heal—for […]

Andy McNiel: National Alliance for Grieving Children

At the National Alliance for Grieving Children conference, Dr. Gloria Horsley discusses grieving children with Andy McNiel. McNiel is with the National Alliance, and explains that this organization was founded in 2004 by professionals in the bereavement field who wanted to connect around issues related to childhood bereavement. There was a belief that there was a misunderstanding about kids and their support network. They’ve been gathering for 11 years, offering symposiums to help those in the industry as well as adult caregivers. The Alliance also offers online support and helps people connect with in-person organizations in their community. If you’re […]

Julie Lockhart: Helping Kids After Parent Loss

While at the National Alliance for Grieving Children conference, Dr. Gloria Horsley connected with Julie Lockhart, who operates a non-profit in southern Oregon called Winter Spring. This organization helps parents tend to their children after a parent loss. Father loss comes with a host of issues. Kids who lose a father lose a sense of their identity. The remaining parent or guardians don’t know how to deal with that kind of grief. Lockhart recommends honesty and openness to what your child is experiencing. Children grieve in doses, and often try to protect the remaining parent. Kids often don’t show their […]

Donna Shuurman: Never Too Late to Heal

Meeting at the National Alliance for Grieving Children, Dr. Gloria Horsley and Donna Shuurman meet to talk about healing after a loss. Schuurman is the executive director of The Dougy Center in Portland, Oregon, and lost a sister before she was born. Shuurman worked in bereavement for 15 years, and never knew why she was drawn to the work. Years later, she found out that her parents (18 and 19 at the time) had a child who was a girl. She died five days after birth. Every June, her mother would get depressed and her father would say, “It’s about […]

Open to Hope is an online community offering inspirational stories of loss, hope and recovery. We believe hope is the bridge between loss and recovery.