Jill and Linda were a happy couple. They went about their lives and built a strong family with their three adopted foster children. They both knew a bit about grief and loss — Jill did hospice grief work and grief therapy, and Linda was an emergency room nurse. So when Linda got diagnosed with breast cancer, and survived, and then a 100% fatal pulmonary disease, they knew what to do — anticipatory grief work and planning for the inevitable future.

Jill lost Linda. Shortly after, while ”not doing grief properly,” Jill remarried. Then Casper fell ill and died. Then Jill remarried again. Ricocheting back and forth from wife/partner to caretaker to widower and back again was a disorientating and challenging journey.

Learn how Jill navigated loss, effectively used her “grief card,” and intentionally became the version of herself she really wanted to be through post loss growth.

Talking Points:

- The most important things to focus on once your loss occurs.

- How a terminal diagnosis is about more than just one death.

- The widow rules.

- What does “go through grief and take them with you” mean when you lose someone?

- How to keep your loved ones with you after they’ve transitioned.

- The most amazing and beneficial possibility from grief and loss

- The difference between anticipatory grief, and life after loss grief

- How many people do you unexpectedly lose, by them walking away from you because of discomfort, when you have a death?

- The internal attitude you need to face mortality.

- The importance of understanding that your inner and outer support circles fluid

- The most important gift to capitalize on during the grief process

- The indignity of differential legal protections.

- The magic of the grief card

- How to move in and out of caregiver mode.

- What the “giving back” at the end of the grieving process is.

Bio

Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW is the CEO of Central Counseling Services in Riverside, Murrieta, and Corona California. She specializes in grief and loss, dementia, and trauma and speaks internationally to therapists, allied health professionals, associations for grief, the funeral industry, and community groups. Her career has included more than a decade with hospice as a medical social worker and as director of social workers, chaplains and grief staff.

Jill has authored several books for children and adults on grief and was a founding member of the Riverside Purple City Alliance. She also facilitates a monthly dementia support group in the community and a weekly FB live Grief Chat. Her most recent book release is “The Rebellious Widow,” which weaves some of her story into the book you need to prepare for a coming death, the dying process, and recovery. Jill teaches grief and dementia to therapists, and current courses are on her site.

You can find more about Jill at www.therebelliouswidow.com and www.jilljohnsonyoung.com