Talking with Children/Tweens/Teens about Grief

The Edge of Grief in Gender Transition

In this episode, artist, educator and advocate, Nicklin Heap, shares the often overlooked aspects of grief that are part of the joyful transformation of gender transition. If you would like to support the Transgender community, you can do so through these organizations: TransEquality [https://transequality.org/ ] and/or Trans Life Line [https://give.translifeline.org/give/461718/#!/donation/checkout]. For more info about Nicklin's art and work, feel free to learn more here [linktr.ee/nicklinheap].

Ambiguous Loss - Child with Medically Complex Needs

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Elizabeth, Grief Support Specialist, talks with a mother of a young adult with complex medical needs and autism, who is also a social worker & therapist, and founder of No Apology Events [https://www.facebook.com/noapologyevents]. If you feel moved to make a small financial contribution towards spaces that are more inclusive for families and children/tweens/teens/young adults with unique abilities and special needs, please consider supporting this beautiful non-profit [https://www.instagram.com/Noapologyevents?fbclid=IwY2xjawRvV8ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETAxQldPcGtiS1lndmg5WmRsc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtOAtJj3j4Mrj2Oe4PlmnHEjrU4_RGM38Vls4kmdpcfLgqUyfZecxOLcoWmb_aem_b9Uu1comf6BVQfDAFnrmbQ].Please feel free to join HealingTogether444 for one of two remaining HealingCircles (online) [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grief-healing-circles-may-2026-tickets-1987364940034?aff=oddtdtcreator] for May. THURSDAY May 14th, 7pm CST/8pm EST/5pm PST on ZOOM (90 min) for anyone divorced or getting divorced, or post breakup of a romantic partnership, or end/change of a familial relationship or platonic friendship, or death of a loved one (specifically a spouse/partner) THURSDAY May 27th, 7pm CST/8pm EST/5pm PST on ZOOM (90 min) for any kind of grief, including death of a pet, or person, job loss, relationship change, change with aging or accident, change with a child/young adult, etc.

Men & Grief, AND Anticipatory Grief

Men often grieve differently than women. This episode focuses on men's grief, citing Men & Grief [https://www.alibris.com/Men-Grief-Carol-Staudacher/book/29359387?matches=15], by the late Carol Staudacher, who was also the author of Beyond Grief [https://www.alibris.com/Beyond-Grief-Carol-Staudacher/book/11372654?matches=13], and welcomes a guest, Phillip, to share about his anticipatory grief about his father's impending death. Here's the link [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grief-healing-circles-may-2026-tickets-1987364940034?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawRclWlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE3UmJvUWY2NlhRR2dzbHh5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmUCWhJ4apaQlaMLYda2wuXt1nLwpfuFOYjvvicWtMoXD8Akcx37bVGNMHEn_aem_MdMLNkRjFg13OYHl] for FIVE online Grief Healing Circles scheduled for May 2026. Here's the link [https://sites.google.com/view/gender-grief-gentleness/home] for the event for Men hosted by my dear friend, Daniel Roller.

Talking with Children/Tweens/Teens about Grief

Children, tweens, teens grieve, too. Death of a loved one, human or animal, grief after divorce, or other causes of grief are common. Many adults have little training about child development and strategies about talking with children about grief, and death. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Elizabeth, certified grief coach, shares some recommendations from: Motherless Mothers: How Losing a Mother Shapes the Parent You Become [https://www.alibris.com/Motherless-Mothers-How-Losing-a-Mother-Shapes-the-Parent-You-Become-Hope-Edelman/book/9970052?matches=34] by Hope Edelman How Do We Tell the Children?: A Step-By-Step Guide for Helping Children and Teens Cope When Someone Dies [https://www.alibris.com/How-Do-We-Tell-the-Children-A-Step-By-Step-Guide-for-Helping-Children-and-Teens-Cope-When-Someone-Dies-Dan-Schaefer-PhD/book/34363535?matches=15] by Dan Schaefer, Ph.D., & Christine Lyons A Parent's Guide to Raising Grieving Children: Rebuilding Your Family After the Death of a Loved One [https://www.alibris.com/booksearch?mtype=B&keyword=a+parent%27s+guide+to+raising+grieving+children&hs.x=0&hs.y=0] by Phyllis Rolfe Silverman, & Madelyn Kelly Five online Grief Healing Circles have been scheduled for May, targeted to different audiences, like people divorced, and women whose mothers have died. For information and registration, please visit: bit.ly/444HealingTogether [https://bit.ly/444HealingTogether]

Kids/Tweens Grieve, too; EPISODE for KIDS/TWEENS

This BONUS Episode is written FOR children/young people (8-12ish year olds). It's VERY similar to the 1st Episode, about the 6 learnings about grief, but less wordy and more interactive...inviting the listener to repeat after Dr. Sarah with some of the learnings (Grief is Normal, Grief is Unique, Grief isn't Linear, Grief is Love, etc). An 8 year old who heard it wrote to me, "Thank you for creating the grief podcast. It helped me control my grief and be calm. It makes me calm when you say, 'Grief is normal.'" A 4th grader referenced she found the rollercoaster reference to be helpful. A 6th grader wrote that the podcast taught them, "It's never bad to feel hurt or weak" and ended the letter with, "Please keep doing this." Sarah Elizabeth, Ph.D., has a Bachelor's in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, and Master's in Literacy Education and a Doctorate in Education. She has been teaching teachers for over 20 years. This BONUS episode, for children (and their caregivers/teachers), will hopefully help them and the adults in their lives, too. Please feel free to write to Dr. Sarah at 444HealingTogether444@gmail.com if you/your child found this helpful, and would like more BONUS tracks specifically for younger people.