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:

Reacting to the Boston Marathon Bombing

As Americans, we are again shocked and disturbed by the Boston Marathon bombing. It is unfathomable that such violence could be planned to disturb the annual patriots event in the city that is the very cradle of liberty. My heart goes out to those who have suffered losses and injury, as a bereaved parent I feel their pain. Families must grieve a loss while the world focuses on the “why” and “how.” It has been such a short time since the Newtown massacre, which makes for a very frightening world especially for those who have suffered past trauma. Here are […]

Newtown vs. San Francisco 49ers: How I Learned to Love Football-Dr Gloria

After two horrific days of watching the news and blogging for The Huffington Post and my site www.Opentohope.com and several Facebook sites, it was time to take a break and hang out with my husband, daughter, granddaughter, son-in-law and two grandsons. The men in the family are avid football fans. We live across the street from our daughter so I decided to join the fun and watch the much anticipated game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots. As I entered their family room I was enthusiastically greeted by the family dog, Maizy. The fireplace burned brightly under the […]

Holiday Gifts: The Gift of the Fire

After my son Scott and his cousin Matthew were burned to death in an automobile accident, I found the holidays to be extremely difficult. Anticipation of upcoming celebrations were often more difficult than the actual day. During those early years, holidays that used to be a time of joy and celebration filled me with regrets and memories of what I had lost. That first Thanksgiving and Christmas, I wanted to just hunker down in my bed and pull the covers over my head. However, I had family obligations, a husband and three daughters. Ignoring the days was not an option, […]

Mother’s Day Without Mother

For most people, Mother’s Day brings to mind bouquets of sunny flowers in pink hues, often-obligatory brunches, and lingering in the aisles trying to find the perfect greeting card to sum up gratitude for a lifetime of love and care. Mother’s Day is traditionally a celebration honoring mothers, motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. However for those of us who have suffered the loss of a mother, or a child, Mother’s Day can be a muddle of complex emotions. On the one hand we want to be mindful that it is a celebration, but it is […]

Spring Holidays: Getting Faith Back in Your Life

April in Paris. Chestnuts in blossom. April showers bring May flowers. Since I was a child Easter has always been a special time for me – a time of resurrection and renewal. I enjoyed the straw filled baskets, Easter egg hunts, frilly dresses with matching hats and black patent shoes. Boys looked so proud in ties and jackets dressed for church. Then one sudden tragic event would change my perception of the holiday. It was 1983. Easter was early that year, on April 2nd. We had taken our annual trip to Washington D.C. Scott, my son, and his cousin Matthew […]

Whitney Houston Reminds Me of My Friend

Although it has been many years since my friends and I graduated from high school, we meet once a year at my cottage on the Pacific Ocean. This year was a bit of a downer as one of my oldest friends was looking very fragile, and by the end of the first day and her third round of drinks, it became clear that she had a serious substance abuse problem. Her shaky behavior and stream of disconnected chatter took me back to my childhood memories. My father had ten brothers and sisters, and five of them were alcoholics. Two of […]

Getting the Routines Back in Your Life

February, with Valentine’s Day, is a great time to take a survey of where I stand on my love meter. Am I on the high or low side this year? In order to do that I have to take myself back to what I call Ground Zero. For me,Ground Zero was in April 1983 when my 17 year-old son Scott was killed in an automobile accident. That boy was the love of my life. At the time of his death I wondered if I would ever be happy again. As with my love meter your love meter may have been […]

Mother’s Day: Look for the Woodpecker

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, I would like to wish you all peace and harmony. If not peace, try distraction. I am a golfer and a couple of weeks ago was watching a match. After winning a sudden death playoff, one of the golfers was asked how he kept his focus under stress. He said that his golfing coach had given him the tip of looking into the distance at the trees and trying to find a woodpecker. Well, today, folks,I was walking home from Starbucks with my coffee cup in one hand and of course my cell phone in […]

Talking With Grandchildren About Loss

“Grandma, why are you crying?” This was the question, as a six-year-old, that I remember asking my beloved Grandma Jensen as she cleaned out her attic. Among the treasures we found sorting through the bows and arrows, large magnets, and an ancient violin were a number of pairs of white cotton gloves. My grandmother, being raised in lean times, had learned to deal with lack and thus learned to make soap, bottle and can fruit, and sew her own clothes. “Grandma,” I asked, “what are those white gloves for?” That was when grandma teared up. “Honey,” she said, “they were worn […]

How Do I Handle In-Laws After Death of Husband

Adrianne writes in: Do you have any audios in your archive that deals with how to handle your in-laws after your husband dies? My husband died 2 years ago from cancer. Prior to his passing, his siblings became angry with him because he set limitations on visits during his battle due to his chemo. They felt they should come and visit with him as much as they wanted. But it wasn’t what my husband wanted. So due to the anger of that situation other things were brought to the surface. By the time my husband was hospitalized he was finished […]

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.