How to Support Grieving Children; Insights from a Child Life Specialist

When Grief Won't be Quiet: Practical Ways to Process Loss

In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Dr. Jerry L. Woodbridge—educator, author of children's books on grief, and widow—talks about her journey through loss after the death of her husband in 2004. With honesty and wisdom, Dr. Woodbridge shares how grief showed up in unexpected ways and how she learned to navigate the emotional "buzz" that often accompanies profound loss. One of the most powerful tools in her healing process was writing. She describes her thoughts and emotions as "bees buzzing" in her mind—constant, overwhelming, and difficult to quiet. Through writing, she found a way to give those feelings shape, focus, and release. What began as a personal coping mechanism eventually grew into meaningful work helping others, especially children, understand and express their grief. Dr. Woodbridge also offers compassionate guidance for those walking their own grief journey. Her approach is gentle, practical, and accessible—reminding listeners that grief does not have to be faced alone or without tools for expression. In this episode, you'll hear: * How grief can feel overwhelming and disorganized, especially in the early stages * The role of writing as a therapeutic and spiritual practice in processing loss * How personal grief experiences can shape meaningful work and ministry * Two simple, practical suggestions for navigating grief in daily life Whether you are grieving, supporting someone who is, or serving in a caregiving role, this conversation offers both validation and practical insight for the journey. To learn more about Dr. Woodbridge please visit her website here; Dr. Jerry L. Woodbridge [https://www.drjerrylwoodbridge.com/] Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice: * Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/HospiceHarbor]. Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BeaconHarborHospice]. * For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.com [https://www.harborhospice.com/] * For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.life [https://www.beacon.life/] * For more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.com [https://www.myharborcare.com/] * Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com [jfenter@harborhcs.com].

Practical Tips on How to Support Grieving Children

In this episode, host Jerry Fenter welcomes Katie Ransdell, a certified child life specialist and founder of Grief Garden, for a thoughtful conversation about supporting children through grief. Katie shares the personal and professional journey that led her to create Grief Garden, a space designed to help children process loss in developmentally appropriate and compassionate ways. Drawing from her expertise, she explains how children of different ages understand death and grief, and why their responses can look very different from those of adults. A key part of Katie's work is play therapy, which allows children to express emotions they may not yet have the words for. She offers insight into the tools and techniques she uses, as well as how her virtual playroom extends support to children who cannot meet in person. This innovative approach creates safe, interactive opportunities for healing regardless of location. Katie also provides practical guidance for adults—parents, caregivers, chaplains, and professionals—on how to better support grieving children. She highlights the importance of recognizing that children grieve differently than adults and recommends a helpful video from Child Bereavement UK that illustrates these differences. Films, books and resources | Child Bereavement UK [https://www.childbereavementuk.org/Listing/Category/books-films-and-resources] The conversation also explores often-overlooked grief experiences, such as when a child is mourning someone outside their immediate family, like a friend or neighbor. Katie emphasizes the importance of validating these losses and not minimizing their impact. One powerful takeaway is Katie's perspective on how children struggle with emotional regulation when confronted with hurtful comments. She challenges the common expectation that the grieving child should be the one to forgive, encouraging adults instead to model accountability and advocate for appropriate apologies. This episode offers valuable insight and practical tools for anyone walking alongside children in grief. Learn more about Katie's work at griefgarden.com [https://www.griefgarden.com]. Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice: * Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/HospiceHarbor]. Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BeaconHarborHospice]. * For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.com [https://www.harborhospice.com/] * For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.life [https://www.beacon.life/] * For more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.com [https://www.myharborcare.com/] * Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com [jfenter@harborhcs.com].

How to Support Grieving Children; Insights from a Child Life Specialist

In this episode, we sit down with child life specialist Katie Ransdell to explore how children experience grief and how hospice professionals can better support them. Katie shares her journey into the field of child life, practical insights for working with grieving children, and meaningful stories from her work that highlight the power of presence and connection. About Our Guest Katie Ransdell is a certified child life specialist dedicated to supporting children and families through serious illness, grief, and loss. Her work focuses on helping children express emotions, understand complex experiences, and feel seen and supported during difficult times. Episode Summary What does it look like to truly support a grieving child? Child life specialist Katie Ransdell joins us to share her expertise in helping children navigate serious illness, loss, and grief. With compassion and clarity, Katie explains how her role developed, what child life specialists actually do, and how hospice teams can provide developmentally appropriate, emotionally attuned care to children. Whether you are a chaplain, social worker, nurse, or volunteer, this conversation offers practical tools and heartfelt encouragement for engaging children during some of life's most difficult moments. What You'll Learn * How Katie Ransdell became a child life specialist and what drew her to this work * The role of a child life specialist in supporting children through illness, death, and grief * Common misconceptions about how children understand death at different developmental stages * Practical ways hospice professionals can show up for grieving children with confidence and compassion * The importance of play, language, and presence in helping children process loss * Memorable stories from Katie's work that illustrate the impact of simple, meaningful connection Key Takeaways * Children grieve differently than adults, and their understanding of death evolves with age and development * Honest, age-appropriate communication builds trust and reduces fear * Presence matters more than having the "right" words * Small interactions—through play, art, or conversation—can have lasting impact * Hospice teams can support both children and their caregivers by modeling openness and emotional safety You can learn more about Katie and her organization, Grief Garden, at Grief Garden | Children's grief support | Omaha, NE, USA [https://www.griefgardenne.com/] Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice: * Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/HospiceHarbor]. Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BeaconHarborHospice]. * For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.com [https://www.harborhospice.com/] * For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.life [https://www.beacon.life/] * For more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.com [https://www.myharborcare.com/] * Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com [jfenter@harborhcs.com].

How to Preserve a Loved One's Legacy Using Modern Technology

In this episode, Dawn Delaloye returns to talk about Reflekta, a digital platform designed to help people preserve memories, stories, and legacies of the people they love. Dawn shares the origin story of Reflekta, the need the founders saw, and the mission that continues to shape their work: giving people a meaningful way to remember, honor, and stay connected with loved ones through story and intentional reflection. Dawn walks us through how Reflekta works and how individuals and families can use it to collect and store legacy information about loved ones—whether they are still living or have already died. Reflekta allows users to gather photos, videos, audio clips, written stories, and even voice recordings in one secure online space, creating a living archive of memory and meaning that can be revisited and shared over time. A significant part of the conversation focuses on the role of technology and AI in grief support. Dawn and Jerry acknowledge the concerns many people have about AI and new digital tools, especially when it comes to something as tender as loss and remembrance. Together, they explore how technology, when thoughtfully designed and ethically used, can actually enhance our ability to remember, reflect, and connect across generations—not replace human connection, but support it. Listeners will hear practical ideas for using Reflekta: * Inviting family members to share stories and upload media to build a collective memory space * Recording or uploading voice messages to preserve the unique sound and presence of a loved one * Using prompts and reflections to help process grief and keep bonds alive through storytelling If you are supporting someone who is grieving, working in end-of-life care, or simply wanting to be more intentional about preserving your own family's stories, this episode offers a hopeful look at how digital legacy tools like Reflekta can become part of a compassionate, human-centered approach to grief and remembrance. You can learn more about Reflekta by visiting their website at Reflekta.ai [https://www.reflekta.ai]. Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice: * Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/HospiceHarbor]. Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BeaconHarborHospice]. * For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.com [https://www.harborhospice.com/] * For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.life [https://www.beacon.life/] * For more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.com [https://www.myharborcare.com/] * Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com [jfenter@harborhcs.com].

Anticipatory Grief: How to Cope Before the Loss

In this episode of Lighting the Path, grief and bereavement specialist Dawn Delaloye, PhD, shares the story of how she was drawn into walking alongside people in seasons of deep loss. She gently introduces the idea of anticipatory grief—the kind of grief that shows up before a death or major loss—and talks about when it can surface for patients, caregivers, and families who know that change is coming. Dawn names some of the common signs of anticipatory grief, like feeling on edge, tearful, exhausted, distracted, or "not like yourself," and reassures listeners that these are normal responses, not personal failures. From there, Dawn talks about how grieving before a loss feels different from grieving after a death, especially when you are still caregiving, making big decisions, and trying to hold on to small, meaningful moments at the same time. She offers kind, practical suggestions for how caregivers and family members can navigate this season—putting words to their emotions, making space for rest, creating memories with their loved one, and reaching out for support instead of trying to be "the strong one" all the time. The conversation closes with a list of resources and places to find help, so no one has to walk through anticipatory grief alone. To learn more about Dawn, visit her website at Sunrise Coaching [https://www.sunrisecoachingservices.com]. Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice: * Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/HospiceHarbor]. Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BeaconHarborHospice]. * For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.com [https://www.harborhospice.com/] * For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.life [https://www.beacon.life/] * For more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.com [https://www.myharborcare.com/] * Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com [jfenter@harborhcs.com].