Show Notes
Grief Encounters was set up with one clear goal, which was to open up the conversation around loss for Ireland(and beyond)’s bereaved community. There weren’t nearly enough conversations on record offering support to those in the midst of their grief, and what a better medium to begin one, then a podcast. Unbeknownst to the Grief Encounters team, while we were busy plotting the opening sequence of podcast episodes to take us through January and February, this weeks guest was also spending her free time in a very similar way.
Liz Gleeson is an experienced grief therapist and also the host of the excellent podcast Shapes Of Grief, which came out in January 2019. Her podcast hosts conversations with people about their experience of loss and grief in their lives, looking at important topics such as losing a partner to illness, complicated & disenfranchised grief and finding meaning after loss.
In this episode, her and Venetia spark some incredibly interesting conversation about their learnings so far, and what drove them to both start their own outlet for grief. Liz also shared her really interesting opinions on vocalising sympathy for someone who is grieving, stating that If you are unsure of what to say, it’s often worth taking the risk because the sentiment is usually the most important matter in the conversation.
If you're looking for a safe haven to express how you feel, Share articles, photos, memories and more, Join the Grief Encounters Facebook Group, A place for support, compassion and empathy for those grieving
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GriefEncounters/
Music by: Nctrnm
To check out more of Liz’s work visit here website Shapes Of Grief. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Grief Encounters
Séamas O’Reilly is a Derry born writer for The Observer and The New York Times, who speaks to Sasha and Venetia about his mother Sheila, who passed away three weeks before his sixth birthday in October 1991. Driving back from the Belfast hospital on the night of her death, his father was faced with the mammoth task of raising 11 children as a loan parent for the first time.
This week's Grief Encounters is a little bit different than usual. Regular listeners of the podcast know that we often focus an episode on the life and loss of someone dear to our guests.
One of the most difficult things a person can experience in their lifetime is hearing the news that a loved one has died both prematurely and unexpectedly.
This week’s guest recently described grief as “the companion you never wanted”, a sentiment that is shared by all of the team involved in making this podcast series. Amanda Grace is the daughter of Brendan Grace, one of Ireland's all-time legendary figures in comedy and entertainment, who’s death in July 2019 saw a special public outcry of grief and love, in a way that very few people garner. Amanda is a former 'rock school rebel' turned spiritual guide. Her offerings in contemplative journaling, coaching & community teach women to marry the powers of creativity and intuition, surrender the never ending pursuit of trying to 'fix' themselves & commit instead to a more intentional healing path, on which they can be unapologetically true to who they are. Her relationship with her father still remains incredibly strong, albeit a different form of relationship since his passing. She discusses carrying on this relationship within your grief, and the importance of speaking about your loved one in the present.
This week’s guest, Justin Caffrey and his wife Beatrice have gone through something no parents should ever have to deal with in their lifetime. The loss of a child.