GRIEF Ladies: A Guide to What Comes Next

Mindfulness for Grief: How to Find Peace When Your Mind Won't Stop

Mindfulness for Grief: Finding Peace and Healing After Loss, Grief can pull you into the past or push you into fear about the future. Mindfulness invites you back to the present moment. In this episode, we talk with Holly McNeill about how meditation and mindful awareness can support healing after loss. We explore the P.E.R. L.O.V.E. framework, the role of gratitude in grief, and how acceptance helps create peace — even when life feels shattered. You'll hear: * How mindfulness changes your relationship with grief * Why meditation builds emotional resilience * The connection between gratitude and healing * How to practice presence during pain * Healing through grief is not about forgetting — it's about learning to be here now. * As always, we close with practical steps you can try this week. Guest Bio: Once designing hospitals and now designing peace of mind, Holly McNeill—known as The Mindfulness Architect—vowed at a personal low point to walk a more conscious path. Drawing from over two decades of study in neuroscience, quantum physics, psychology, spirituality, and Buddhism, she developed the P.E.R.L.O.V.E. Formula: a practical blueprint for transforming suffering into self-awareness, agency, and peace. After navigating profound personal loss and the unraveling of her identity, Holly came to see grief not as something to escape, but as a sacred gateway to transformation. Today, she helps others understand how their minds work so they can move through pain with clarity, compassion, and intention. Connect with Holly: Holly McNeill - The Mindfulness Architect [https://www.hollymcneill.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollymcneillofficial Instagram: https://instagram.com/hollymcneillofficial/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hollymcneillofficial Podcast – Pay Attention: https://www.hollymcneill.com/podcast Email: holly@mindfulnessblueprints.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollymcneill/ GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ [https://www.griefladies.com/] Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ [https://www.kellydaugherty.com/] https://www.instagram.com/kelly_daugherty Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ [https://www.griefincommon.com/] Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com [https://www.griefladies.ccom] Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/] The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.

What Does a Funeral Director Really Do? Grief, Family Dynamics & the Power of Pre-Planning

What does it really mean to be there for a family in their most vulnerable moment? In this episode (34) of the Grief Ladies podcast, Karyn and Kelly sit down with Brittany DeMarco-Furman, a licensed funeral director, to explore the deeply human side of the funeral industry. Brittany opens up about why interacting with grieving families is at the heart of everything she does — and how meaningful connection can make all the difference during one of life's hardest chapters. From the importance of pre-planning as a final gift to your loved ones, to navigating complicated family dynamics, to creating personalized memorials that truly honor a life lived — this conversation is full of wisdom, warmth, and practical guidance. You'll also hear how music, storytelling, and community support can become powerful tools for healing, and why it's never too late to hold a service or celebrate a legacy. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why pre-planning your funeral relieves stress for the people you love most * How funeral directors support families as guides, not just service providers * Creative ways to honor and celebrate a loved one's life * Why open conversations about death are an act of love * How sharing stories and memories can be part of the healing process "It's the last gift you can give your family." — Brittany DeMarco-Furman Whether you're in the midst of grief, supporting someone who is, or simply want to be better prepared, this episode reminds us that honoring a life well-lived is one of the most healing things we can do. Guest Bio: Brittany DeMarco-Furman, Licensed Funeral Director, is a fourth-generation licensed funeral director at Glenville Funeral Home, where she brings compassion, integrity, and meaningful storytelling to families during life's most vulnerable moments. Raised in the funeral home, Brittany learned the importance of dignity and service at a young age, becoming part of her family's more than 100-year legacy of care. She is a 2009 graduate of Burnt Hills–Ballston Lake High School and earned her Bachelor's Degree with honors from the University at Albany in 2013. After a period of personal exploration, Brittany returned home to pursue her calling in funeral service, completing her Mortuary Science Degree at Hudson Valley Community College and earning licensure after passing her National Board and New York State Law Exams. Brittany believes every life deserves to be honored with intention, personalization, and compassion—not only for the deceased, but for the loved ones left behind. Her work extends beyond the funeral home through education, advocacy, and community engagement. She played a key role in organizing and recruiting members for the Capital Region Nurses Honor Guard, with Glenville Funeral Home serving as a foundational partner in establishing the chapter. She is also the co-author of The Grief Experience: Tools for Acceptance, Resilience, and Connection and the creator and host of the podcast Buried in Conversation, where she leads honest, accessible discussions about grief, legacy, death care, and what it truly means to live well while acknowledging mortality. Deeply committed to community service, Brittany is an active Glenville Rotarian and regularly participates in charitable initiatives and educational programming throughout the Capital Region. Above all, Brittany considers her most meaningful role to be that of a mother. GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ [https://www.griefladies.com/] Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ [https://www.kellydaugherty.com/] https://www.instagram.com/kelly_daughertyKaryn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ [https://www.griefincommon.com/] Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com [https://www.griefladies.ccom] Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/] The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.

How Children Grieve: Supporting Kids (and Yourself) After a Loss

Grief doesn't look the same at every age. In this episode (33) of the GRIEF Ladies, we're joined by clinical social worker Jennifer Kimlingen to talk about how children process loss, why grief can resurface at different developmental stages, and how adults can create safe, supportive environments for grieving kids. You'll hear: * How children express grief at different ages * Why routine and structure help during acute loss * The role of self-compassion for caregivers * Storytelling as a powerful way to honor loved ones * Why it's okay not to have all the answers No child should ever grieve alone — and caregivers deserve support, too. As always, we close with practical steps you can try this week. Guest Bio: Jennifer Kimlingen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose passion is helping to create a more compassionate and accepting culture towards those who are grieving. Jennifer believes that humans can benefit from removing the fear and barriers around death and death education! She cares deeply about improving children's grief and bereavement experiences and presents on the topic every chance she gets! She is a Trauma-Thriver and hopeful to help as many other people as she can to develop their own meaning of survival and resilience, after facing some of the worst this life has to offer. Jennifer credits her father for her strong values and ethics, which led to her social work education and completion of her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Adelphi University in 2014. Her career background includes medical social work, grief and bereavement counseling and private practice. Jennifer currently provides grief education for mental health clinicians through the Agents of Change Continuing Education online platform. Her specializations include grief and bereavement, trauma and traumatic grief and loss. Jennifer is currently employed as a bereavement counselor with Choices Health (Hospice & Community Care & Hospice of Central Pennsylvania) and lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children. Connect with Jennifer: Direct Office # 717-598-4343 Email- jkimlingen@choiceshealth.org https://www.hospiceofcentralpa.org/our-services/bereavement/ [https://www.hospiceofcentralpa.org/our-services/bereavement/] Grief Education and Webinars with Agents of Change: https://agentsofchangeprep.com/continuing-education/live-ce-event-grief-therapy-recent-developments-and-applications/ [https://agentsofchangeprep.com/continuing-education/live-ce-event-grief-therapy-recent-developments-and-applications/] https://agentsofchangeprep.com/continuing-education/course-detail/childs-grief-journey/ [https://agentsofchangeprep.com/continuing-education/course-detail/childs-grief-journey/] GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ [https://www.griefladies.com/] Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ [https://www.kellydaugherty.com/] https://www.instagram.com/kelly_daughertyKaryn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ [https://www.griefincommon.com/] Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com [https://www.griefladies.ccom] Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/] The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.

Grief & Insomnia: CBT-I Tools to Help You Sleep Again

If you've been lying awake at night since someone died, you're not alone. Grief often disrupts sleep, making bedtime feel anxious, frustrating, or emotionally overwhelming. For many people, insomnia becomes one of the most exhausting parts of loss. In this episode of the GRIEF Ladies Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Larissa Tate to explore how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) can help. CBTI is an evidence-based approach that helps rebuild healthy sleep habits even during grief. We talk about: * Why grief interferes with sleep * How nighttime anxiety develops * What CBTI actually involves * Sleep hygiene myths * The role of medication * Why napping can worsen insomnia * Small, manageable steps to improve your sleep Sleep struggles during grief are common and they're treatable. As always, we close with practical tools you can try this week, because grief changes your life — and you deserve support that helps you live inside that change. Related topics: grief and insomnia, CBTI for sleep, sleep problems after loss, nighttime anxiety during grief. Guest Bio: Dr. Larissa Tate is a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Momentum Behavioral Health, a private practice serving clients in New York, Maryland, North Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of sleep disorders, anxiety, and trauma, with particular expertise in working with professionals in high-stakes, high-pressure roles including caregivers, medical professionals, attorneys, first responders, military personnel, and others who are used to carrying a lot and rarely slowing down. Her work is grounded in science and evidence-based treatments and a practical, skills-focused approach. Dr. Tate helps driven individuals get out of survival mode, sleep better, manage stress more effectively, and build resilience in ways that are sustainable – without sacrificing their ambition or values. She has trained and worked in a range of medical and behavioral health settings, including sleep clinics, primary care, intensive outpatient programs, neurology clinics, and major military and VA medical centers. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Uniformed Services University and completed her residency at the University of Alabama-Birmingham VA Medical Center. In addition to individual and group therapy, Dr. Tate also provides diagnostic assessments and military psychological evaluations and is passionate about helping clients create meaningful, lasting change Connect with Larissa: www.momentumbehavioralhealth.com [https://www.momentumbehavioralhealth.com] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/larissa-tate-new-york-ny/1253112 [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/larissa-tate-new-york-ny/1253112] https://cbti.directory/search-for-a-clinician/home-directory/usa/united-states-cbti-providers/836-larissa-tate-phd [https://cbti.directory/search-for-a-clinician/home-directory/usa/united-states-cbti-providers/836-larissa-tate-phd] https://www.linkedin.com/in/larissa-tate-phd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/larissa-tate-phd/] https://www.facebook.com/people/Larissa-Tate-PhD/61561150571404/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Larissa-Tate-PhD/61561150571404/] https://www.instagram.com/dr.larissa.tate/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr.larissa.tate/] GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ [https://www.griefladies.com/] Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ [https://www.kellydaugherty.com/] https://www.instagram.com/kelly_daugherty Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ [https://www.griefincommon.com/] Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com [https://www.griefladies.ccom] Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/] The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.

BONUS: Improving Communication When No One Understands (Full Live Workshop)

Feeling like no one around you really gets it? You're not alone and it's one of the most common and least talked-about parts of grief. In this bonus episode, Kelly Daugherty of Center for Informed Grief, LLC and Karyn Arnold from Grief in Common bring you the full recording of their free live workshop, Improving Communication: When No One Understands. This is the I in the G.R.I.E.F. Framework — Interacting — and it's one of the topics they hear about most from grieving people across their communities, groups, and individual work. In this episode, Kelly and Karyn cover: * Why people in your life often don't know what to say — and why that can hurt so much * How grief-averse culture affects the support you do (and don't) receive * Why relationships shift after a loss — even ones you thought were solid * How to handle "How are you?" when the honest answer is complicated * What to say, what not to say, and who to say it to * Setting boundaries without losing relationships * What to do when communication with someone is no longer possible * The free letter templates Kelly and Karyn created to help you put your needs into words Resources mentioned: Free Letter Templates (PDF fillable — color & black/white): https://payhip.com/GRIEFLadies [https://payhip.com/GRIEFLadies] Journals, workshops & meditations: https://payhip.com/GRIEFLadies [https://payhip.com/GRIEFLadies] Free Grounding Meditation: www.griefladies.com/grief-meditation [https://www.griefladies.com/grief-meditation] Join the GRIEF Ladies Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Nd4DthFuc/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Nd4DthFuc/] Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KFpXenXZ_XM [https://youtu.be/KFpXenXZ_XM] Stay connected: 🎙 New podcast episodes every Wednesday at griefladies.com GRIEF Ladies: A Guide to What Comes Next — coming soon! GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ [https://www.griefladies.com/] Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ [https://www.kellydaugherty.com/] https://www.instagram.com/kelly_daughertyKaryn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ [https://www.griefincommon.com/] Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com [https://www.griefladies.ccom] Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/] The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.