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:

The 5 Stages of Grief and Coping Strategies

At some point in each of our lives, we will experience grief — sometimes, more than once. And, when we do, each grief experience is unique to us, as individuals. We have our own perspective, beliefs, and feelings that impact the length of the grieving process. And, we each have personal triggers that can bring that grief back to the surface. However, one of the existing theories on grief provides a good framework for understanding the overall grieving process. Developed by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, the five stages of grief model continues to be the go-to framework for understanding how grief moves […]

The Coronavirus and Grieving the Fear of Your Own Death

The Coronavirus, also known by its scientific name of COVID-19, is most likely on all of our minds. With so much coverage about how it can spread to epidemic proportions if not addressed proactively, the fear about it grows. Many may even call to mind some of those movies like “Contagion.” These types of movies dramatize the impact a virus can have on the world. Fear Grows Already, we see how our viewers are reacting to media coverage. We’ve receive more questions and concerns about the Coronavirus. Even though we covered it previously, it’s important to revisit it, which was […]

The Death of Gianna Bryant Can Trigger Sibling Loss

On this episode of Open to Hope Conversations podcast, we respond to a listener’s question. The listener said that they had a sister who was killed in an accident several years ago. But, the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna has really set her back. She is having trouble sleeping and concentrating on her studies. It’s natural to be impacted by the loss of celebrities. But, it’s even worse when we have lost someone ourselves like a sibling because it triggers those emotions that all come flooding back again. You expect your sibling to be there so you […]

When Grief Resurfaces: How News of the Coronavirus Brings Back Anxiety About Death

The news about the rapid spread of the Coronavirus, including quarantines and regularly updated statistics about the dead and the infected, is enough to cause anyone anxiety. However, we recently had someone share their anxiety about how this news has brought back the death of their mother. Despite losing her mother a year ago from pneumonia, this new global health threat has stirred up her grief once more. In today’s Facbook Live video, we addressed her concerns about how to address this anxiety about death and dying. Certainly, it’s common for triggers to bring grief back to the surface. In […]

Remembering Kobe Bryant

The sudden death of Kobe Bryant, revered basketball legend, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, along with his daughter, Gianna, hit a wide range of people hard. The shock and sadness, amplified by media coverage, created a rush of sadness and loss for him, his daughter, and their family. Even if you were not a basketball fan, hearing this horrible news may have also triggered feelings that reminded you of your own personal losses. Heidi and I addressed celebrity death and how to cope with what you may be feeling during a Facebook Live event. Celebrity Deaths You may wonder why a celebrity’s death […]

Coping With Violent Events

At lunch today, a friend asked me if we go to disaster areas when there has been a shooting. I explained to her that disasters are a time that communities come together. The immediate response can be overwhelming and outsiders can be more of a burden than help unless invited to come in as a special expert. Part of coping with the event is for the community to come together. It has been my experience that when events are planned by outsiders you end up with the out of towners presenting to and supporting one another. Families and friends tend […]

Muriel Williams: Hospice and Donor Organizations in Bermuda

Muriel Williams is a Bermuda native who specializes in organ donation, hospice care and bereavement, serving the country of 65,000 residents and many expatriates who have flocked to the country in search of paradise. “We (the country) have one hospital,” says Williams, along with one organization that provides information and education on organ and tissue donation. She has a partnership with a New England-based organization, working together to optimize organ donation between the US and Bermuda. Williams attended the Open to Hope annual conference in 2015 and shared her passion project with Dr. Gloria Horsley. Dr. Horsley asked Williams if […]

Illene Cupit: Grief Camp

The President of the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), Illene Cupit, found time to speak with Open to Hope’s Dr. Gloria Horsley during ADEC’s 2015 conference. Cupit is also at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, which she uses to bolster a grief camp for kids. “I started a grief camp at my university ten years ago” because kids who suffer a loss often need “permission” to be a child again, says Cupit. She loved camps herself as a child, and found the perfect opportunity to marry two of her passions. As a professor, Cupit works with college […]

Open To Hope Inspired by Horsley Family Tragedy

Dr. Gloria Horsley is the founder of the Open to Hope Foundation. She created the non-profit organization after losing her son, Scott, in 1983. “We thought we would never survive,” she recalls, as her family was completely devastated. At the time, there wasn’t as much support and resources available as there are today. However, with the love of so many others, she was able to find hope again. The Open to Hope Foundation is an online community of support featuring videos, articles, a radio show, YouTube channel, and forums so the bereaved can “lean on our hope until you find […]

Kathie Supiano: Caring Connection

Dr. Kathie Supiano heads the Caring Connections at the University of Utah, and was recently interviewed by Dr. Gloria Horsley during the Association for Death Education and Counseling 2015 conference. As part of the university’s school of nursing program, Caring Connections is unique amongst the industry. “We are the only large, comprehensive bereavement program based in a college of nursing in the United States,” Dr. Supiano explains. With comprehensive backing from the university and state of Utah, Dr. Supiano says, “We have a wide variety of grief support groups that we offer.” There are options for those who have lost […]

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.