Hope after Loss... Gentle conversations for grieving hearts

Can Dreams Bring Hope? My Journey

Can Dreams Bring Hope? My Journey Can dreams bring comfort after the loss of someone we love? In this deeply personal episode, I share a dream that forever changed my understanding of grief—and ultimately led me to write my book, Lost No More. I explore how dreams can become a source of hope, healing, and connection during our darkest seasons. Whether you believe dreams are spiritual experiences, messages from our subconscious, or simply part of the grieving process, my hope is that this conversation encourages you to remain open to the many ways love continues to reach us. In this episode, we'll explore: *  Why dreams often become more meaningful after loss.  *  My own life-changing dream and what it meant to me.  *  Different ways grieving people experience connection—through dreams, signs, memories, music, or an unexpected sense of peace.  *  How to remain open without feeling pressured to believe any one explanation.  *  Why every grief journey is unique.  No matter where you are in your grief, I hope this episode reminds you that love doesn't always end when a life does. Thank you for allowing me to walk beside you. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2604797/fan_mail/new] Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief. If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.  If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,  you’re welcome to email me at [your email]. While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,  I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode  so others may feel less alone.

Moving Forward Without Moving On: Learning to Coexist with Grief

How do we move forward after losing someone we love without feeling like we're leaving them behind? In this episode of Hope After Loss, Marilyn Burns, M.S., L.P.C.C., explores one of the most common fears grieving people face: the belief that healing means forgetting. The truth is, grief isn't something we "get over." Instead, we learn how to carry our loss alongside our love, memories, and hopes for the future. Marilyn shares insights from both her personal journey as a bereaved mother and her decades of experience as a mental health counselor. Together, we'll discuss how grief changes over time, why joy and sorrow can exist together, and how finding a "new normal" doesn't mean letting go of the people we miss. If you've ever felt guilty for laughing again, making plans, or rediscovering happiness after loss, this episode is for you. You don't have to choose between honoring your loved one and living your life fully—you can do both. I'd love to hear from you. What has helped you move forward while keeping your loved one's memory alive? Share your thoughts, questions, or experiences at hopeafterlosspodcast@gmail.com. You may hear your question featured in a future episode.  If this episode touched your heart, please subscribe, follow, rate, and review Hope After Loss. Sharing this podcast with someone who is grieving can be a powerful act of kindness.  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2604797/fan_mail/new] Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief. If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.  If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,  you’re welcome to email me at [your email]. While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,  I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode  so others may feel less alone.

Episode 7 Signs From Our Loved Ones: Coincidence, Comfort, or Connection?

Signs From Our Loved Ones: Coincidence, Comfort, or Connection? After a significant loss, many people report experiences that leave them wondering whether their loved one is still near. In this episode, Marilyn Burns explores the common signs people describe after loss, including dreams, meaningful coincidences, familiar scents, songs, animals, and moments of unexpected peace. Through personal stories and professional insight, Marilyn offers a compassionate conversation about connection, hope, and the enduring bond of love. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2604797/fan_mail/new] Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief. If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.  If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,  you’re welcome to email me at [your email]. While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,  I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode  so others may feel less alone.

Faith After Loss Finding Strength in Something Greater Than Your Pain

Episode 6: Faith After Loss: Finding Strength in Something Greater Than Your Pain Grief has a way of shaking not only our hearts, but our beliefs. In this episode of Hope After Loss, Marilyn Burns, M.S., L.P.C.C., explores what happens when loss leaves us questioning faith, meaning, and the very things that once grounded us. Whether your comfort comes through God, prayer, spiritual connection, nature, the universe, or simply the hope that something greater exists beyond your pain, this conversation offers gentle encouragement for the grieving heart. If you’ve ever asked:  Why did this happen? Where was God? How do I keep going when life no longer makes sense? This episode is for you. Healing does not require perfect faith—only a willingness to remain open to comfort, meaning, and light. 💛 Questions around faith inspired Marilyn’s children’s book, Where Are You, God? Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2604797/fan_mail/new] Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief. If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.  If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,  you’re welcome to email me at [your email]. While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,  I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode  so others may feel less alone.

Who Am I Now? Identity After Loss

Grief doesn't just change our lives--it can change our sense of self.  In this episode of Hope After Loss, Marilyn Burns M.S., L.P.C.C. explores the deep sense of identity loss that often follows grief. When we lose someone we love, we don’t just lose the person — we also lose the parts of self connected to them, the roles we carried, and the life we once knew. Through compassionate reflection and emotional insight, Marilyn discusses the importance of embracing the changes happening within and around us. Although grief changes us forever, learning to walk through life without our loved one can slowly shape a new version of ourselves — one built from love, resilience, growth, and healing. This episode is a gentle reminder that becoming “someone new” after loss is not betrayal… it is part of surviving. grief may quietly reshape who we are becoming. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2604797/fan_mail/new] Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief. If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.  If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,  you’re welcome to email me at [your email]. While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,  I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode  so others may feel less alone.