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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It All Starts With Self Care with Nichole Stangel
February 27, 2020
Nichole Stangel, MA, MS, LPC, NCC, CT, is the Bereavement Coordinator/CISM Coordinator at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Chair of the Southeast WI Grief Network, a leader and educator for Traumatic Incident Resource, a non-profit who provides supportive services to first responders. Published author and frequent presenter at local, state and national conferences. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/It-All-Starts-With-Self-Care-with-Nichole-Stangel.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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‘Grief Fills Up the Room’ of an Absent Child
February 21, 2020
Excerpted from When Every Day Matters: A Mother’s Memoir on Love, Loss and Life (Simple Abundance Press), available on Amazon. In my end is my Beginning. ~Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots 1542-1587~ The life that I knew, the life that I had dearly loved, died when my daughter Katie died. Today is the start of another. Katie was not only my daughter; she was my hero. This narrative is about her. I invite you to get to know Katie; I invite you to get to know me. Katie died of a brain tumor. When she left my world and this […]
Parenting Teens Through the Grief Process with John Duffy
January 30, 2020
Dr. John Duffy is a clinical psychologist specializing in parenting, teens and relationships. He is a nationally-known speaker, podcaster, radio personality and media expert. His new best-selling book, “Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety”, was released in September. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Parenting-Teens-Through-the-Grief-Process-with-John-Duffy.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Unanswered Emails
December 8, 2019
In the poem, “Note,” Ellie Schoenfeld writes that she is still sometimes surprised and angry that she receives no calls or emails from the dead. Death should be a place you go for a while and then you come back. Death is supposed to be like going to England. Eventually, you come home. “The trouble with the dead/ Is that they stay dead.” I used “Note” as a prompt in a writing workshop I co-lead every week in a medical center. Like everyone in the group, I never know where the prompt will take me on the page, what I’ll […]
Healing After Multiple Losses with Larry Barber
December 5, 2019
Larry M. Barber is a minister, licensed professional counselor, and certified thanatologist (specialist in the study of death, dying and bereavement). His interest in the field of death and bereavement comes from his own personal grief journey. In May 1993 Barber’s 37 year-old wife and two year-old daughter were killed in a multi-car accident in Arlington TX. Barber currently works as a Therapist with Taylor Counseling Group in Dallas Texas. Barber formerly served as director of GriefWorks in Dallas, Texas at ChristianWorks for Children for 12 years. The support group ministry serves children ages 5-18 and their adult family members […]
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Gold Star Families Grieving with Jill Stephenson
November 28, 2019
Jill Stephenson speaks nationwide advocating for veterans, organ donation and Gold Star families. Through her adversities she has found hidden blessings and made it her mission to instill positivity and hope to all whom she encounters. She grasps what life has thrown at her to build character and superlative wisdom. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gold-Star-Families-Grieving-with-Jill-Stephenson.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Rejoice Even in Times of Sorrow
November 15, 2019
Some years ago I was given a candle for Christmas called, “ Fallen Snow.” When I lit it, the scent was nothing like the clean, crisp smell of real snow, but something better. The fragrance triggered something intangible within me. Somehow it reached into the memory of the happy years before our son’s death. The aroma was comforting, even joyful. I decided to try to find more of these candles. The search proved futile, and after many inquiries, I gave up. So I lit the candle sparingly, to make it last longer in my early morning quiet time. The lovely […]
Episode 176: How Does the Grief Expert Handle Grief? with David Kessler
November 13, 2019
On this show, Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley interview David Kessler, about how the grief expert handles grief. David is a world renowned expert on grief, whose 21 yr. Old son David died of an accidental overdose. He has authored 5 bestselling books two with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, and one with Louise Hay. His most recent book is Finding Meaning, the Sixth Stage of Grief. The show will close with Meghan Pulles singing Darkness into Light.
Episode 175: Finding Meaning, The Sixth Stage of Grief with David Kessler
November 13, 2019
On this show, Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley interview David Kessler, about how the grief expert handles grief. David is a world renowned expert on grief, whose 21 yr old son David died of an accidental overdose. He has authored 5 bestselling books, two with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, and one with Louise Hay. His most recent book is Finding Meaning, the Sixth Stage of Grief. The show will close with Meghan Pulles singing the song, How?
