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:

Carla Sofka: Death, Dying and Grief in an Online Universe

The author of Death, Dying, and Grief in an Online Universe, Carla Sofka, talked with Dr. Gloria Horsley at the 2015 Association for Death Education and Counseling conference about her research and experience in the Digital Era. It’s aimed at therapists, and Dr. Horsley contributed to the content. The access to an online world has drastically changed our entire lives, including how we grieve and options for support networks. Today, many people share their grief publicly using social media. Dr. Horsley has heard of funeral photos being shared on Instagram, and that shocks some in older generations—however, they can often […]

Sharon Strouse: Healing Through Art

Dr. Gloria Horsley interviewed Sharon Strouse at the 2015 Association for Death Education and Counseling conference about Strouse’s book, Artful Grief: A Diary of Healing. Strouse lost her daughter to suicide and used art therapy herself to heal—today, she teaches others how to do the same. She was already an art therapist, but it took a year after her daughter’s death for Strouse to actively start using art in her own grieving process. “I should be doing what I offer to others,” she said, which is what kick-started her very first collage. “My whole world changed,” she said. As a […]

Peggy Sapphire: Disenfranchised Losses Can Thwart Grieving

The author of The Disenfranchised Loss, Peggy Sapphire, discusses this unique kind of loss with Dr. Gloria Horsley during the 2015 Association for Death Education and Counseling conference. There are many losses which aren’t acknowledged or are minimized in society, such as the loss of a pet or ex-spouse. This can make it very difficult for grievers to heal, especially if they feel like they can’t acknowledge their own grief or reach out to friends and family for support. When a loss is disenfranchised, it remains not understood and that can pause the healing process for a lifetime. Having no […]

Reverend Gregory Person: Where is God After Loss?

Hospice chaplain and minister Reverend Gregory Person talks to Dr. Gloria Horsley about where God is after a loss. The two connected at the 2015 Association for Death Education and Counseling conference, and the Reverend says that it’s tempting to think God is gone or has forgotten you when facing such a major loss—however, reminding yourself that God is always there can be a great source of comfort and healing. As a Christian and firm believer in Jesus Christ, the Reverend says one of his favorite stories to share with grievers is that of Jesus hanging on the cross. “My […]

Jesse Roberts: Child Grief

The author of Katie the Ladybug: Explaining Emotions of Grief to a Child, Jesse Roberts, discusses his own losses with Dr. Gloria Horsley at the 2015 Association for Death Education and Counseling conference. He helps children embrace honesty when talking about death, and points out that sensitive information can and should be concretely shared. Roberts lost both of his parents, and wrote the book as a creative way to explain grief. He was four when he lost his mother, and years later found there was little material out there to help adults talk about grief with a child. Whether it’s […]

Daniel Shemwell: Stigma After Loss

Together with Daniel Shemwell, Dr. Gloria Horsley discusses stigma surrounding some deaths. It exists on a continuum, explains Shemwell who’s currently a graduate student at Purdue University. It can occur in many ways, from socially avoiding the topic and ignoring it to outwardly and overtly shunning a person who’s going through a loss. Shemwell mentions a favorite book, The Reminder of Death, where the small reminders of death are seen as a trigger for a stigma. These triggers are avoided because they can remind people of death, and it’s important to note that triggers can be a person, too. An […]

Anne M. Carson: Writing Poems about Death of Beloved

Dr. Gloria Horsley interviews Anne M. Carson, a poet from Australia, at the 2015 Association for Death Education and Counseling conference. Carson lost her husband, which is what directed her latest work. However, she was a poet before this loss. In Australia, it’s a ten year apprenticeship to release a book of poetry, which Carson had already completed before her husband’s death. Her latest work, which she reads to Dr. Horsley, focuses on bereavement, her husband’s illness, and the fact that Western societies aren’t very “good” at grieving. Carson’s book of poetry, Removing the Kimono, features a middle section dedicated […]

Lara Krawchuk: Grieving for Dad

Dr. Gloria Horsley discusses grieving for dad with Lara Krawchuk, a clinical social worker in Pennsylvania. She lost her father, paternal grandmother, and was handling becoming a new mother all at once. As a specialist in oncology therapy and an adjunct professor in the grief and loss field, Krawchuk is a strong believer in discovering meaning in grief. She points out that her father died too young and simply at the wrong time. Having two children is difficult enough without losing a grandparent, but she realized she saw hope in her children’s faces every day. Today, she knows her father […]

Pastor Ron Ritter: Telling Your Story After the Death of a Loved One

During the 2015 Association for Death Education and Counseling conference, Dr. Gloria Horsley interviewed Pastor Ron Ritter about storytelling after a loved one’s death. Pastor Ritter holds an MD and Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Drexel University in Philadelphia and completed his seminary training at Concordia Theological Seminary in Illinois. Ordained a pastor within the Lutheran Church in Missouri Synod in 1970, he’s a Baltimore native and served in the US Marine Corps Reserve for five years in the 1960s. His military career includes serving as the Navy Chaplain for an additional six years after reserve duty. During this […]

David Goldblatt: The Process of Funeral to Cemetery

Dr. Gloria Horsley discusses the funeral to cemetery journey with David Goldblatt during the 2015 Association for Death Education and Counseling conference. He’s with Beth Israel Cemetery in New Jersey, and knows firsthand just how confusing the funeral and cemetery planning process can be for those in bereavement. While death is of course common, it’s not necessarily common to be the person in charge of handling all of the details. For many bereaved, it’s their first time and they need a compassionate professional to help them understand the process. As the Family Service Manager, Goldblatt works with families of all […]

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.