Open to Hope Articles
Do you want to read stories of others who have been where you are? Are you looking for bereavement help, and advice? Look no further. We offer over 3,000 articles written by our Open to Hope authors.
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The Soul Knows When It’s Time to Go
December 20, 2025
Trying to make sense of suicide is a fool’s errand, and I’ve been that fool ever since my son Rob died. Losing any relative to suicide is traumatic, but it’s particularly devastating for parents, who feel like a failure in the most important job of their lives. I tortured myself for the better part of two years, asking the same questions over and over again—is there anything we could’ve done to prevent Rob from doing what he did? In the days and weeks after his death, the answer seemed obvious: yes! For God’s sake, I was with him […]
Episode 261: Transforming Sorrow into Strength: The Role of Art in Healing After Death.
December 17, 2025
How do you transform sorrow into strength after a death? Join host Dr. Gloria Horsley, and her co-host and daughter, Dr. Heidi Horsley along with their guests Sharon Strouse and Dr. Sarah Vollmann to talk about the role of art in healing after a death. Sharon is a bereaved parent, and licensed clinical professional art therapist. She is the Associate Director for The Portland Institute, and the author of; Artful Grief: A Diary of Healing. Sharon is also the co-founder of the Kristin Rita Strouse Foundation. Sarah is a bereaved sibling, registered board-certified art therapist, and faculty member of The […]
Episode 260: Artful Healing: Beyond the Trauma of Loss
December 16, 2025
How do you restore balance after a traumatic loss? Join host Dr. Gloria Horsley, and her co-host and daughter, Dr. Heidi Horsley to talk with their guest Sharon Strouse about her family’s journey beyond the trauma of loss, after the suicide of her 17 year old daughter Kristin. Sharon is a board certified and licensed clinical professional art therapist. She is the Associate Director for The Portland Institute, and the author of; Artful Grief: A Diary of Healing. Sharon is also the co-founder of The Kristin Rita Strouse Foundation.
Love Isn’t Enough
December 15, 2025
Thanks mainly to the Beatles, I always thought that love was all you need. Love was the answer, I knew that for sure. As I’ve said many times and will continue to say, I’ve never loved anyone the way I loved my older son Rob and I never will. I’m sure you feel the same way about your child. That’s the deal when you become a parent—the amount of unconditional love you feel for your children is so enormous and overwhelming that you didn’t and couldn’t possibly have known that you had it in you to give. There’s […]
Episode 255: Post Traumatic Growth and Transformation Through Grief
December 11, 2025
How do you experience post traumatic growth and transformation through grief? Join host Dr. Heidi Horsley and her guests John Santoro, Shari O’Laughlin, and Andy McNiel as they discuss how you can grow after a loss. John Santoro’s daughter Paula died from the hidden effects of hyper-rare genetic syndrome. He has served The Compassionate Friends as a trustee on the Foundation, and on the National Board of Directors. John co-founded the Paula Rosina Santoro Foundation, which funds and advises community service projects in New Jersey. Shari O’Laughlin is the Chief Executive Officer of The Compassionate Friends. Her 14 yr. old […]
Kelly and Mark Parrish Grieving Together: Love Through Loss
December 4, 2025
Concerned about your marriage after a loss? Join Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley with grief counselors Kelly and Mark Parrish, who lost their daughter Kaytryn Dianna Parrish in 2012. They offer practical advice on coping with grief. Kelly is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Camberwell Grief Sanctuary. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Kelly-and-Mark-Parrish-Grieving-Together-Love-Through-Loss.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Myra Sack: Grief Support
November 27, 2025
Feeling alone in your grief? Join Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley as they talk with Myra Sack, who founded E-Motion after losing her daughter, Havi to Tay-Sachs at age 3, and Sally Rowland, E-Motion’s Managing Director. Myra is also the author of Fifty Seven Fridays. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Myra-Sack_-Grief-Support.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Episode 254: Profound Losses in Childhood and Adulthood
November 14, 2025
Have you, or has someone you know had a profound loss in childhood or adulthood? If so, join host Dr. Heidi Horsley and her guests Andy McNiel, John Santoro, and Shari O’Laughlin to learn adaptive coping skills after profound loss. Andy McNiel is the Senior Advisor of Youth Programs at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). He is a consultant for The Compassionate Friends, and co-founder of The Satori Group. He is Co-Author of Understanding and Supporting Bereaved Children: A Practical Guide for Professionals. John Santor’s daughter Paula died from the hidden effects of hyper-rare genetic syndrome. He has […]
Episode 253: Grief Supportive Workplace Practices that Support Greater Productivity
November 14, 2025
Are you looking for grief supportive workplace practices that support greater productivity? Join host Dr. Heidi Horsley, with her guests Shari O’Laughlin, Andy McNiel, and John Santoro to discuss grief in the workplace. Shari O’Laughlin is the Chief Executive Officer of The Compassionate Friends. Her 14 yr. old son Connor was killed in a plane crash, and her sister died earlier in her life. Shari is the author of the book; Life From the Ashes; Finding Signs of Hope After Loss. Andy McNiel is the Senior Advisor of Youth Programs at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). He […]
