Guest: Danelle Spence R.Psych

Danelle Spence is a Registered Psychologist based in Calgary and the co-author of Saving Maxine, a memoir chronicling her mother’s eighteen-month medical crisis and the profound impact it had on their family. Through that experience  -  navigating the year-long stint in the ICU, medical uncertainty, advocacy, anticipatory grief, and ultimately loss  - Danelle’s personal world and professional lens changed in lasting ways.

In her private practice, Root Psychology, she integrates brain-based approaches, attachment theory, EMDR, and developmental science to support her clients. But after living inside her mother’s medical journey, Danelle’s work deepened; she developed a clearer understanding of medical trauma, lived PTSD, the nervous system under prolonged stress, the complexity of family caregiving, and the quiet, enduring grief that shapes people long before and long after loss.

Topics Discussed: 

• Changes in hope and strength 
• Trauma in the body 
• The impact on the body and emotional challenges that happen when you are chronically in trauma
• Support and feeling heard/seen
• Understanding goals of care
• Mental toll that happen when being a caregiver
• Balancing and navigating healthcare systems
  
  

Visit Danelle's Websites

https://rootpsychology.com/

Read their Book Saving Maxine

Host: Kirsten White, R. Psych (Lark and Raven Wellness)

www.larkandravenwellness.com

Music by SoulProdMusic from Pixabay

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Guest: Shayleen Rozon, RPC, RCT, RPN

Shayleen is both a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) and a Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC) with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in supporting individuals and couples through fertility challenges, reproductive loss, pregnancy, and postpartum struggles. Combining her expertise as a nurse and therapist, Shayleen offers a unique holistic approach to care, addressing both emotional wellness and physical health.  Rocky Mountain Wellness was founded after Shayleen personally experienced fertility challenges, with the goal of providing a compassionate, supportive space for those seeking connection, guidance, and healing during this deeply personal journey.   

Shayleen is an active registrant with the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS), the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the Canadian Professional Counselling Association (CPCA),  the Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (ACTA) and the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta (CRPNA).

Topics Discussed: 

• Disenfranchised grief - fertility, pregnancy lost 
• Support for carrying partners and other family members
• Family building 
• Changing versions of hope - fertility
• Powerlessness of waiting
• Emotional stress of infertility 
• Approaches to mental health support and grief support
• Grief around loss of fertility 
• Anticipatory grief 
• Impact on other relationships
• Memorializing the loss

Visit Shayleen's Website

https://rockymountainwellness.ca/

Host: Kirsten White, R. Psych (Lark and Raven Wellness)

www.larkandravenwellness.com

Music by SoulProdMusic from Pixabay

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Guest: Alanna Knobben Author, Grief Mentor, Educator

Alanna Knobben is the founder of Carry You With Me. Alanna is an author, community builder, international speaker and grief mentor. She is dedicated to helping others transform their grief and cherish the love that remains after the death of a loved one.  

 Carry You With Me includes the treasured storybook, online community, meaningful mementos collection, live workshops, education and the Carry You With Me Online Program and grieving hearts support gatherings.  Alanna is a member of the Global Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance’s (PLIDA) leading the Member Engagement Committee and collaborates with various bereavement organizations across North America. 

Topics Discussed: 

• What is grief 
• Different kinds of support. 
• Giving support after experiencing grief. 
• Holding space for grief
• Challenges in supporting someone who is grieving
• Finding Community 
• Child Loss - the many experiences of losing a child.
• Labels and theory about finding certainty 
• Comparing in grief.
• Intentionality to each support we are offering.
• Writing a story book and sharing these grief expressions with others. 
• Loss of self

Visit Alanna’s Website

https://carryyouwithme.com/

The Bridge - Grief Group Support

“A six week online group session (over a three month period) to offer you support, reflection, tools and transformation as you explore and integrate your grief and love after the death of a loved one.”

https://carryyouwithme.com/thebridge

Carry You With Me Online Program 

https://carryyouwithme.com/cywm-program

Carry You With Me Storybook

“Carry You With Me is a heartfelt story written from a Mother’s perspective on love, loss, healing and hope. Messages that speak to all touched by the loss of a pregnancy, infant or child.”

https://carryyouwithme.com/mementos/p/cywm-storybook


Host: Kirsten White, R. Psych (Lark and Raven Wellness)

www.larkandravenwellness.com

Music by SoulProdMusic from Pixabay

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Episode 4: Kimberley Hansen, RMFT - Grief & Children

Guest: Kimberley Hansen, RMFT
Host: Kirsten White, R. Psych (Lark and Raven Wellness)
www.larkandravenwellness.com

Topics Discussed: Grief and Children
- Importance of language around death and loss.
- What not to say to children.
- How children and adolescents grieve & developmental considerations.
- How to talk about death and loss with children.

Music by SoulProdMusic from Pixabay
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Episode #3 : Tanya Thomlinson, Registered Massage Therapist - Grief Informed Massage

Guest: Tanya Thomlinson, Registered Massage Therapist
https://www.vivecamassage.com/
Host: Kirsten White, R. Psych (Lark and Raven Wellness)
www.larkandravenwellness.com

Topics Discussed: Massage and Grief
-Grief and stress in the body
-What it means to be grief informed and how it looks during a massage.
-Creating safety during massage therapist
-Body regulation and self care during grief
-Training suggestions for RMTs

Music by SoulProdMusic from Pixabay
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Episode #2 : Michelle Dyer, Registered Art Therapist, CCC - Grief & Art Therapy

Guest: Michelle Dyer, Registered Art Therapist, CCC
https://www.playpurposeart.com/
Host: Kirsten White, R. Psych (Lark and Raven Wellness)
www.larkandravenwellness.com

Topics Discussed: Art Therapy and Grief
- What Art therapy can look like and what it is
- Creating safe containers, mess-making, unknown, and emotional processing
- Different art-based mourning practices
- Using art as a self care practice and processing grief.

Music by SoulProdMusic from Pixabay
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Episode 1: Kimberley Hansen, RMFT - Grief Counselling & End of Life Care

Guest: Kimberley Hansen, RMFT
Host: Kirsten White, R. Psych (Lark and Raven Wellness)
www.larkandravenwellness.com

Topics Discussed: Grief Counselling and End of Life Care.
- Grief counselling and what this looks like
- Open communication and language around death
- Child and adolescent experiences with death and grief
- Hospice care, palliative care, and end of life misconceptions

Music by SoulProdMusic from Pixabay
Podcast policy & disclaimer