Stories of others who have lost parents will inspire and support you. Read, listen and watch. Hope is the bridge between loss and recovery.
Losing a parent as an adult is one of the most common yet most minimized griefs there is. Here’s why it hits so hard, why the world often underestimates it, and how to grieve a mother or father without apology.
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Dear Family, There were so many things we didn’t get to do, and our time together was cut short. Physical and mental ailments prevented us from living out all the plans we made, but we still made the most of our time together. Y’all beat the odds and lived longer than anyone expected for people in your condition. God didn’t answer my prayers to take away the sicknesses, but He granted me favor through temporary healings and the blessing of extended time. You slowly slipped away. Year by year, month by month, and day by day, until I was somehow […]
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I may be the last person in the world who didn’t know the meaning of life-maxxing. Earlier this week, I came across it for the very first time in a social media post and realized the word embodied everything I believe in and have learned through my grief journey. Life-maxxing (or maxing) started as slang, and now I see it everywhere. On social media, it’s all about maximizing and optimizing mental and physical health, productivity, career, aspirations, and financial success. And yet this word triggers a much deeper meaning for me. It means living life to the fullest because my loved […]
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Father’s Day after loss can feel like a long, loud reminder of everything you no longer have. Whether you’re grieving your dad, your child, your partner, or another father figure, here are 8 compassionate, therapist-tested ways to cope with grief on Father’s Day, honor the man you loved, and find a quiet thread of hope on a tender day.
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There is a phone booth in the middle of the desert in Joshua Tree. It was installed by Colin Campbell and Gail Lerner in honor of their two children, Ruby and Hart, who died in a 2019 car crash. It lives out there amid the tall cholla cacti and the wind that sweeps circles into the salt and sand. I have been thinking about this telephone lately, of how few spaces we have to offload our grief. In her book, Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss, Hope Edelman offers a handful of events that she believes have the potential to change […]
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Mother’s Day after loss can feel like an emotional minefield. Whether you’re grieving your mother, a child, a sibling, or anyone you love, here are 9 compassionate, therapist-tested ways to cope with grief on Mother’s Day, honor your person, and find a quiet thread of hope on a tender holiday.
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I’ll be honest…I’ve been struggling what to say and write today. It’s because today is a day of celebration for so many, yet for so many others, this day comes packed with a punch to the gut and heart. Mother’s Day is about Sunday brunch, flowers, cards and family gatherings. It’s a day that’s filled with the celebration of life, love, happiness, gratitude, hugs and joy. But for some of you…it’s just another day living with a broken heart. There are so many different reasons (way too many for me to list in this blog) why this one day of […]
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Have you ever lost someone close, and in the brain fog of grief, wondered if you might forget some of the things you loved most about them? Their infectious belly laugh, extravagant generosity, or maybe their unconditional love for people? I get it. Since losing several of my closest and favorite family members- my beloved Mom, Dad, Nana, sister-in-love, Kay, and most recently, my “splendiferous” (his word) brother Mike, I’ve been trying to dig deep and remember exactly what it was that made each of their lives so memorable and magnificent. What if you could be the […]
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Death is the eternal mystery, a mystery that fills our souls with both awe and terror. The consequences of the death of one’s mother is not like any other ordeal in life. Daughters are often faced with resurrecting a new life without a road map, catapulted upon the ruins that remain, while enduring indescribable emotional pain. Based on my experience of my mother’s death, and the shared narratives with other daughters, I have spoken with, this journey is both courageous and terrifying. You will regain your balance, but you will not be the same person. I have never surrendered my […]
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Grief is part of the human experience; however, the grief of daughters whose mothers have died is significantly different than other losses. Research is needed that does not quantify or reduce the suffering women experience to only numerical findings, but includes tools for grief empowerment. According to the National Alliance on Caregiving, over 53 million baby boomers are now caring for their ailing parents, and 61 percent of caregivers are women caring for a female relative, most likely their mothers. Because caregiving is considered a “woman’s job” (i.e., unpaid), women often suffer emotionally and financially from what is referred to […]
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It happened in New York, April 10th, nineteen years ago. Even my hand balks at the date. I had to push to write it down, just to keep the pen moving on the paper. It used to be a perfectly ordinary day, but now it sticks up on the calendar like a rusty nail. —Donna Tartt, author of The Goldfinch There is a year nearly every daughter who has lost her mother describes as being very significant. This is the year when she becomes the age of her mother when she died. This was also true for me. When I […]
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Losing a father is one of the hardest experiences in life. It’s a loss that reshapes you, leaving an emptiness that never truly fades. The pain is deep, and the absence is felt in the quiet moments—the advice left unsaid, the laughter no longer shared, the steady presence that once grounded you. But in that grief, there is also transformation. The loss teaches us how fleeting life is, reminding us to cherish every moment, to be present, and to live with purpose. It gives us a kind of wisdom that only comes through pain—a deeper understanding of what truly […]
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When we are children growing up, it usually never enters our mind that anything, or anybody in our lives will ever change. We envision our parents as being with us always. Our grandparents are a delight and we certainly can’t imagine our lives disconnected from them. Without a doubt, in our innocent thinking, we will sail into the beautiful sunset with all of our siblings. What a devastating wake-up call to find out that people die, that our lives forever change when the people we love the most go by way of the grave. When we lost extended and distant […]
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The last time that I saw my father, I was 7. He died when I was 28. But I truly lost him at 43 Grief. Such a complex topic—one that we do not speak about enough. Grief shows up in many situations; it is not only about the passing of a loved one. In reality, we are all faced with grief throughout our lives, often on a subconscious level. And we rush through those events without honoring them for what they truly are: rites of passage—moments that mark profound transitions and have the power to transform us completely. Running From […]
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Pregnant After My Mother’s Death I woke up screaming, as if I’d had a nightmare, only to realize this is my new reality. Screaming, crying, breathless, heart aching so deeply, I’m not sure it will ever heal. My stomach in knots feeling like I could puke or poop myself at any moment. My mom is dead. My dad and I found her yesterday. Today is my birthday. FUCK THIS! I don’t ever want to celebrate this day again. I can’t even think about eating, my world in shambles. Oh, by the way, I’m pregnant with my first child, not even […]
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When Both Parents Die May is when most people start to plan their summer vacations; May is the month my heart pounds louder than anything I have ever heard. It’s the month I lost my parents 9 years and 3 days apart. It’s the month my father-in-law passed away. In May 2023, my father and my husband’s father died 2 days apart, one day shy of Mom’s 9th death anniversary. I know, my story sounds like an episode from a horror show. There’s something peculiar about becoming parentless when you’re already “grown.” People assume it’s easier. People who haven’t lost both […]
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Nature and Grief Following the death of my eighteen-year-old daughter Jeannine in March of 2003, I embraced non-ordinary phenomena to help me develop new insights. One of the things that became clear to me was that we do survive death, and that our deceased loved ones communicate their ongoing existence to us. My willingness to understand the significance of signs and their underlying connections have allowed me to develop clarity and find my peace with Jeannine’s death. There are many individuals who don’t believe in signs or for whatever reason have not received them. However, there are different ways to […]
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Missing Mom on Mother’s Day My friend and I were recently having breakfast and talk turned to the upcoming Mother’s Day. Both of us have lost our mothers recently and a look of sadness and “I miss her” tears began to fill our eyes. As my thoughts drifted back to my years as a child, when I scurried to make Mom breakfast in bed and bring her flowers from the yard, I softly smiled. She pretended to be surprised and always ate my creations, whether they were tasty or not. Growing into a young woman, the gifts became more memorable […]
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When Your Father Dies Have you ever wondered why the good die young? I think about that all the time. It was a perfect Saturday. The couple went to the Bronx, walked around laughing and reminiscing. They went home watched a movie with their kids, but he couldn’t fall asleep. His chest was hurting, he didn’t feel well. Suddenly, he wasn’t breathing. That great man was my dad. How could a perfectly healthy man just suddenly not be there when you get home from school? The thought of what happened that night is always in my head. I wonder if […]
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“I’ve come to see the flag,” she declared. The flag waved outside a rehabilitation floor window. The woman parked her walker, sat down, and peered at the flag. “Look at that!” she exclaimed. “The flag is straight out.” Her husband served in the navy, she shared, and the flag reminded her of him. She came to see the flag many times, an object that linked her with her beloved husband, the man she loved and missed and admired so much. Objects that Link You Mother’s Day is coming, and if your mother has died, you may want to find items […]
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Embracing Mother’s Day without Mom Losing my mother is one of the hardest things I have gone through. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. That day, I lost the person who was my support, friend, mentor, and confidant. She was my mom, a strong, brave, and ambitious woman. I know that my strength and resilience are largely because of her. Her being such an amazing role model gave me the tools to overcome many challenges in my own life. For obvious reasons, since her loss, Mother’s Day has not been the same. The grief and challenges that […]
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Death, Advanced Directives, and Dad Jokes It was the best conversation we never wanted to have. I filled out an Advanced Directive with my dad. And it was fun! I had asked family members to fill out Advanced Directives a few times before. I know feelings about your mortality change and, thus, your view of care shifts. And they needed an update. I decided to complete an Advanced Directive, the Five Wishes Document, for myself before asking my dad to complete his. I am not sure that was the right decision. Often, my dad would ask me what I chose […]
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Seeking grief support? Join Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley with guest Rebecca Soffer, co-founder of Modern Loss—a global platform for creative and meaningful grief resources. She is the author of The Modern Loss Handbook and Modern Loss: Candid Conversation About Grief.
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Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley interview singer-songwriter Tiffany Thompson about how her father’s passing shaped her music, inspiring themes of grief and hope. She releases tracks from her album Found Love on her website on a monthly basis. The show closes with “Teachers,” a song favored by her father. You can connect with her on: Substack https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tiffany-Thompson_-From-Heartbreak-to-Harmony-Finding-Hope-in-Music-After-a-Fathers-Death.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Feeling isolated during your grieving process,; consider joining Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley as they welcome guest Corry Chaplin. Following the loss of her father, Ms. Chaplin’s sister died by suicide. She is the founder of Wild Words for Grief, an online community that provides mindfulness practices, journaling opportunities, and live sessions to support individuals coping with grief. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Corry-Chaplin_-Wild-Words-Wounded-Hearts-Writing-Through-Grief-and-Isolation.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Struggling with grief? Join Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley as they speak with Marie Crews—bereaved mother, coach, and author—about finding growth after loss. Marie created The Nautilus Way: Write Your Way Free, a process for emotional breakthroughs, and wrote the best-selling Even When… She Rose. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Marie-Crews_-Rising-Through-Grief-Finding-Meaning-Voice-and-Growth.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Struggling with unresolved issues after the death of a loved one? Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley welcome Nancy Gershman, LCSW, to discuss coping with an obsessive-compulsive mother and finding forgiveness after her passing. Nancy created Dreamscaping therapy and Prescriptive Memories in Grief and Loss. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Nancy-Gershman_-Unfinished-Business-Healing-After-the-Death-of-a-Difficult-Parent.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Looking for online grief support? Join Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley with guest Enya Flack, bereaved spouse and actress, as they discuss Infinity Garden—a customizable virtual memorial created by Tamark Berry for grieving families. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Enya-Flack_-A-Living-Tribute-Creating-Virtual-Gardens-of-Remembrance.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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If you are grieving and need practical coping strategies, join Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley as they talk with Lara Krawchuk LCSW, clinical director of Healing Concepts, LLC and co-owner of Healing Perspectives. Lara shares how she and her family managed her father’s death and found strength to move forward. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Lara-Krawchuk_-When-a-Parent-Dies-Tools-and-Hope-for-the-Healing-Journey.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley welcome guest Ian Ziskin, President of Exec Excel Group LLC, who lost his father early in life, and more recently his mother and brother. He authored Lives Lost and Leadership Found: Lessons from Special Somebodies. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Ian-Ziskin_-Exploring-the-Transformative-Power-of-Grief-1.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Looking for a creative way to remember a loved one? Join Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley with guest Ian McCartor, hospice nurse and certified grief counselor, as they discuss creative and counseling approaches to remembering loved ones through The Ash Rose Foundation, a nonprofit supporting grief management. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Ian-McCartor_-Carrying-Their-Memory-Forward.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley interview Lauren Schneider, a leading expert in Child & Adolescent Grief who has directed the Children’s Programs at OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center for 23 years. Lauren co-produced the Emmy-winning HBO documentary “One Last Hug…and a few smooches” and its upcoming sequel. She also has a private practice in Los Angeles focused on grief and loss. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lauren-Schneider_-Grief-Support-6Lw5WkuCMco.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Did you experience early parental loss? Join Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley as they speak with B.R. Duray, a filmmaker who discusses his childhood grief and its effects on his life today. He authored “The Mood Swing,” a whimsical children’s picture book. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/B-R-Duray_-Father-Loss-Through-the-Lifespan-k7WWOtbQgx4.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Are you feeling overcome by grief? Join Dr’s Heidi and Gloria Horsley and their guest Dr. Mary-Francis O’Connor to learn about the physical nature of grief and ways that you can understand your body and learn ways to manage your responses. Dr. O’Connor is the author of The Grieving Brain and The Grieving Body: How the stress of loss can be an opportunity for healing. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Mary-Frances-OConnor_-Healing-Through-Grief.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Worried about your grieving kids? Join Dr’s Gloria and Heidi Horsley and their guest Maria Georgopoulos, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Fellow in Thanatology, whose work focuses on grief, loss, and trauma. Maria conducts training for mental health professionals nationally and maintains a private practice in New York. She is the founder of Roulas Kids. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Maria-Georgopoulos_-Helping-Grieving-Children.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Struggling with change? Join Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley with guest Dr. Katie Eastman for practical tools on resilience and personal growth after loss. Dr. Eastman is the author of Uplifting: Inspiring Stories of Loss, Change, and Growth and co-author of Percolate: Let Your Best Self Filter Through. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Dr-Katie-Eastman-Transforming-Life-After-Loss.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Curious about how faith can heal grief? Join Dr. Gloria Horsley and Cindy Brinker Simmons, who lost her mother Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly Brinker at 12 and her husband 36 years later. She is the author of Restored: Reconnecting Life’s Broken Pieces. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cindy-Brinker-Simmons_-Spirituality-and-Overcoming-Challenges.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Looking for your own pathway to dealing with grief? Join Dr’s Gloria and Heidi Horsley and their guest Carla Fernandez. Carla is the co-founder of The Dinner Party, a national network of peer-support circles for young adult grievers and the author of Renegade Grief an indispensable resource for people at any stage of the grieving process. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Carla-Fernandez_-Grief-Care-Practices-and-Rituals.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Seeking support after a parent’s loss? Join Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley with guest Kate Spencer, whose mother died of cancer when she was 27. She authored the bestselling novel In a New York Minute, One Last Summer, and the memoir The Dead Moms Club. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kate-Spencer_-The-Dead-Moms-Club.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Looking for an opportunity to express your grief? Join Dr’s Gloria and Heidi Horsley and their guest Elizabeth Coplan playwright and author of Grief Dialogues: The Play and Grief Dialogues: The Experience for a timely conversation about death, dying and grief. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Elizabeth-Coplan-Conversations-on-Loss-and-Grief.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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How do we understand bereaved children and support them after a loss? Join host Dr. Gloria Horsley, and her co-host and daughter Dr. Heidi Horsley, with their guests: Dr. Dan Wolfson, and Jordan Gross and learn techniques for helping children. Dr. Dan Wolfson is a licensed Clinical Psychologist, and the Senior Clinical Director of Experience Camps Adult Grief Retreat; he is an Adjunct Researcher and Professional Education Trainer at Columbia University’s Center for Prolonged Grief. Dr. Dan’s mother died of cancer when he was 18 yrs. old, and he is the author of; My Whole Grief. Jordon Gross is a […]
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The death of a parent is an identity loss. Who are we without our mother and/or father on this earth? Join host Dr. Gloria Horsley, and her daughter and co-host Dr. Heidi Horsley, and their guest to talk candidly about parent loss. Dr. Dan Wolfson is a licensed Clinical Psychologist, and the Senior Clinical Director of Experience Camps Adult Grief Retreat. He is also an Adjunct Researcher and Professional Education Trainer at Columbia University’s Center for Prolonged Grief. Dan’s mother died of cancer when he was 18 yrs. old, and he is the author of; My Whole Grief. Elizabeth Devita-Raeburn […]
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How do we help teens and young adults navigate their changing world after a death? Join host Dr. Gloria Horsley, and her daughter and co-host Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with their guests Jordon Gross, Dr. Dan Wolfson, and Elizabeth Devita-Raeburn for an informative and honest conversation about this topic. Jordon Gross is a licensed Clinical Social Worker, and a staff psychotherapist at Wolfson Therapy. He is a training specialist for the New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center. Jordan has extensive experience providing support to Grief Camps such as Camp COPE, and is the author of; My Whole Grief. Dr. Dan […]
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How do men navigate manhood without their dads? Tune in as Dr. Gloria Horsley and her co-host and daughter, Dr. Heidi Horsley speak openly about father loss with their guest Dr. Eric Brewer. Eric is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Transform Church Ministries, and author of From Grief To Growth; A 31 Day Journey Of Healing And Renewal Through Love And Loss. Dr. Brewer founded and leads a national weekly support group for Black widowers. His Doctoral dissertation was on; Healing Hidden Wounds: The Resilience of Black Men and the impact of their spirituality upon their grief recovery.
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What does grief look like when the person who raised you is gone? Join host Dr. Heidi Horsley and her guests Zaneta Gileno and Kim Burditt Bartlett as they talk about grieving the death of a parent. When Zaneta Gileno was just 10 yrs. old her Dad died of a heart attack, and in 2023, her Mom died of lung issues. Zaneta has a private practice called Hope Rising Psychotherapy & Wellness. She is an adjunct professor at Columbia University, and currently serves as Senior Mental Health Advisor and Board Member for Repatriate Our Patriots. In addition, she previously worked […]
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How do we transform our loss through purpose and meaning? Join Dr. Gloria Horsley and her co-host and daughter Dr. Heidi Horsley with their guests Dana Lerner, Georgia Lavey, and Casey Mulligan Walsh to discuss finding purpose and meaning after a loss. Dana Lerner is a psychotherapist in NYC, and the founder of Cooper Stocks Way, and co-founder of Families for Safe Streets. Georgia Lavey is a licensed clinical social worker, and the Clinical Program Director at Our House Grief Support Center in New York City, where she oversees the design and implementation of grief support programs. Casey Mulligan Walsh […]
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When you have suffered a loss, what is the role of faith? Join Dr. Gloria Horsley and her co-host and daughter Dr. Heidi Horsley and their guests; Casey Mulligan Walsh, Dana Lerner, and Georgia Lavey as they discuss faith and the role it played or didn’t play after their losses. Casey Mulligan is a the author of the award winning memoir; The Full Catastrophe: All I Every Wanted, Everything I Feared, and has written for the NY Times, Modern Loss, and Huff Post. Dana Lerner is a psychotherapist in NYC, and the founder of Cooper Stocks Way, and co-founder of […]
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The death of a loved one often brings up an array of feelings. How do we manage expectations and anger in grief? Join host Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with her guest Dr. Sweta Vikram, as she speaks openly about how she managed expectations and anger after the death of her beloved family members. Dr. Sweta Vikram lost her father and father-in-law, this was nine years after the death of her mother. Sweta is the best-selling author of 14 books, including her latest; The Loss That Binds Us; 108 Tips on Coping with Grief and Loss. Sweta was voted as “one […]
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How do we navigate life after the death of a parent? Join host Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with her guest Dr. Sweta Vikram, as she speaks openly about how she navigated life without her parents. Dr. Sweta Vikram lost her father and father-in-law, this was nine years after the death of her mother. Sweta is the best-selling author of 14 books, including her latest; The Loss That Binds Us; 108 Tips on Coping with Grief and Loss. Sweta was voted as “one of the most influential Asians of our time,” and the winner of the “voice of the year” award. […]
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Does it feel impossible to find a new normal after a loss? Join host Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with her guest Dr. Sweta Vikram, as she speaks openly about how she navigated the death of her beloved family members. Dr. Sweta Vikram lost her father and father-in-law, this was nine years after the death of her mother. Sweta is the best-selling author of 14 books, including her latest; The Loss That Binds Us; 108 Tips on Coping with Grief and Loss. Sweta was voted as “one of the most influential Asians of our time,” and the winner of the “voice […]
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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.
