By Nathalie Himmelrich
4.8
1616 ratings
The podcast currently has 92 episodes available.
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you!
For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.
About this week’s episodeI first encountered Mary Catherine McDonald through her powerful presence on social media, where she consistently shares insightful perspectives on trauma and healing. Her way of showing up with authenticity and clarity immediately drew me in. I was further captivated when I heard her speak in several podcasts and at a recent online trauma conference, where her depth of knowledge and her insights left a lasting impression. Mary Catherine’s ability to articulate the complexities of trauma while offering hope and practical guidance has encouraged me to invite her onto the podcast as a guest.
Her definition of trauma, which I love, is:
Trauma is an unbearable emotional experience that lacks a relational home.
Mary Catherine (MC) McDonald, PhD, is a research professor and life coach who specializes in the psychology of trauma, stress, and resilience. She has been researching, lecturing, and publishing on the neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience of trauma and stress for over a decade. She is passionate about destigmatizing trauma, stress, and mental health issues in general, as well as reframing our understanding of trauma in order to better understand and treat it.
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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you!
For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.
About this week’s episodeWelcome to today's episode of our podcast where we look at how to build resilience when dealing with grief, loss or trauma.
When people hear the word, they often think of strength, bouncing back quickly, or being unaffected by hardship. But in the context of grief, loss, and trauma, resilience can look very different—it’s not about avoiding pain or pretending that everything is okay.
What is Resilience?
Resilience is the ability to continue functioning, even when life feels overwhelming. It’s about adapting to change and hardship in a way that allows you to keep moving forward, even if it’s at your own pace. It doesn’t mean you won’t feel the sadness, anger, or pain. In fact, resilience means you allow yourself to feel those emotions and still find a way to live through them.
In this episode, I want to share with you five practical ways to continue building resilience, no matter where you are in your journey of healing. These are simple, easy-to-follow steps that can help strengthen that inner part of you that’s already doing the work of surviving, processing, and adapting.
Remember, building resilience is a process, and there’s no rush. Take it day by day, and trust that you have the inner strength to weather the storm.
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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you!
For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.
About this week’s episodeDeb Dana’s influence first started with her publications and her online workshops, through which she allowed me insights into Polyvagal Theory from a therapist's standpoint. Then, I had the privilege of meeting Deb personally during the Polyvagal Conference in Berlin, an experience that deeply impacted me personally and professionally. Her work on the Polyvagal Theory resonated with me profoundly, offering new insights into the connection between the nervous system and emotional well-being. Deb's compassionate approach and groundbreaking research helped me understand the importance of creating safety and connection in therapeutic settings. Her influence has shaped my practice, allowing me to support my clients more effectively, while also guiding my own journey towards greater self-awareness and emotional resilience.
In this episode, Deb shares how she dealt with the recent death of her husband Bob and takes us through how we can trust our nervous system to guide the way through grief.
About this week’s guestDeb Dana, LCSW, is a clinician, consultant, author and speaker. Her work is focused on using the lens of Polyvagal Theory to understand and resolve the impact of trauma. She delves into the intricacies of how we can use an understanding of the organizing principles of Polyvagal Theory to change the ways we navigate our daily lives. Deb is well known for translating Polyvagal Theory into a language and application that is both clear and accessible and for her significant contribution pioneering Rhythm of Regulation® methodology, tools, techniques and practices which continue to open up the power of Polyvagal Theory for professionals and curious people from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life.
Deb’s published work includes The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation, Polyvagal Practices: Anchoring the Self in Safety, the Polyvagal Card Deck, and Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory.
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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you!
For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.
About this week’s episodeWelcome to today's episode of our podcast. Inspired by a clip I saw on Instagram where Elizabeth Gilbert speaks about the two distinctly different experiences, I feel it’s important to say a bit more.
We’re going to dive into understanding the intricacies of emotional health, specifically focusing on the differences between grief and depression. These are often conflated, but they are distinct experiences that require different approaches for effective support and management.
I’ve personally wrestled with both grief and depression at different stages of my life. My journey through these challenging emotional landscapes taught me a lot, and I hope to share some of that insight with you today.
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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you!
For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.
About this week’s episodeToday I have the pleasure of speaking with Stephanie, who I know from a community we both are a part of. I also had the pleasure of reading her book on a specific form of grief, a topic that interests me due to personal reasons. So today we're going to dive into a very widely experienced topic, but not as widely spoken about or understood. Ambiguous grief stands for the grief that is experienced after the loss of a relationship with someone but not through death.
I can't wait to hear Stephanie telling us all she’s got to know since her own personal experience with ambiguous grief.
About this week’s guestStephanie Sarazin is a writer, researcher, and ambiguous grief guide, who aims to support those grieving the loss of a loved one who is still living, but no longer as they once were. Her work began with her own experience of mid-life trauma, which sparked an ambitious journey— spiritually and around the world—to understand, name, and heal the grief she found within her. Her efforts revealed a first-of-its-kind definition for “ambiguous grief,” whereby grief is onset by the loss of a loved one who is still living and wherein the experience of hope presents in the grieving process. She is the author of Soulbroken: A Guidebook For Your Journey Through Ambiguous Grief, which won the 2023 Nautilus Books Gold Award in the category of grief and loss.
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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you!
For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.
About this week’s episodeIn this episode, I will highlight commonly used metaphors for grief and trauma. Metaphors can offer a way to articulate complex emotions and experiences and offer a unique perspective to support those coping with loss and trauma.
Of the 10 most commonly used metaphors, I describe five in more detail this week and the remaining five can be found in episode 81.
Which one of the grief metaphors described do you relate to the most and why?
Do you have any other metaphors that helped you navigate your grief and trauma? Let us know! Write a comment here on the blog.
The Top 10 Metaphors for Understanding Grief:
· IG Post about the Grief Crystal: bit.ly/GriefCrystal
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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you!
For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.
About this week’s episodeIn this episode, I will highlight commonly used metaphors for grief and trauma. Metaphors can offer a way to articulate complex emotions and experiences and offer a unique perspective to support those coping with loss and trauma.
Of the 10 most commonly used metaphors, I describe five in more detail this week and the remaining five in the next episode 82.
Which one of the grief metaphors described do you relate to the most and why?
Do you have any other metaphors that helped you navigate your grief and trauma? Let us know! Write a comment here on the blog.
The Top 10 Metaphors for Understanding Grief:
· IG Post about the Grief Crystal: bit.ly/GriefCrystal
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How to Deal with Grief and Trauma - 2nd Anniversary Special
Celebrating Two Years of Healing Conversations
Key Takeaways:
1. Milestones: Celebrating 80 episodes over the past two years.
2. Noteworthy Guests: Highlighting episodes with Turiya Hanover, Chris Young, Fish James Gill, Julia Samuel, Dr Mary-Frances O'Connor, and David Kessler.
3. Community Impact: Acknowledging the invaluable support and engagement from listeners.
4. Future Plans: Announcing exciting new topics and episodes for the upcoming year.
Suggestions on How to Implement Further:
- Visit Podcast Website: Find all episodes and guest information here.
- Share the Podcast: Encourage friends and family to listen and subscribe.
- Rate and Review: Leave a review on your podcast platform to help others discover the podcast.
- Engage on Social Media: Follow and interact with the podcast for updates and discussions.
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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you!
For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.
About this week’s episodeI have known Trish for a couple of years. From the beginning, it was obvious: that Trish and Mr. Benjamin had a deep connection. Benjamin was part of everything and everywhere she went. He supported her in every way possible. They were inseparable. It comes as no surprise that Benjamin's death just five months ago left her in despair. Trish’s heart was broken, and her life was missing the most essential ingredient: Her most trusted friend and companion, Golden Retriever Benjamin.
About this week’s guestPatricia A. Muehsam, MD, a pioneer in the synthesis of science, holistic health, and contemporary spirituality, has been a thought leader in the alternative medicine movement. She forged new ground that led to the establishment of the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health in the USA, endeavors that transformed the landscape of healthcare options today.
Dr. Trish has distinguished herself as a practitioner, educator, research scientist, and award-winning author. She founded the American Medical Colleges’ first initiative in alternative medicine, leading medical schools throughout the United States and the world to add courses in the field. Her original bioelectromagnetic research investigated distant healer phenomena and homeopathy.
Dr Trish’s award-winning book, Beyond Medicine: A Physician’s Revolutionary Prescription for Achieving Absolute Health and Finding Inner Peace, has been hailed as the “only health and healing book you may ever need.”
She offers health consultations, mind-body healing sessions, online courses, and communities of support.
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HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you!
For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.
About this week’s episodeI know Joshua from being the host of his podcast called Grief Dreams where you can find him talking to numerous people about their grief dreams that they had after one of their deceased loved ones passed, as well as pets. I found the topic of grief dreams fascinating as I had my own series of grief dreams following the death of my mother which came one after, not every night, but every so often and they were like different episodes in the series on Netflix, and they lasted for months. And maybe we're going to talk about this a little bit more, but I'm interested in what Joshua can tell me about his view and his research about it. If you haven't heard of Joshua, don't worry because in today's episode, I'm going to ask him all the questions that you might interested in as well. Let's see where this takes us today.
About this week’s guestJoshua Black, PhD, is a grief and bereavement researcher, speaker, and host of the Grief Dreams Podcast. Most of his published work has focused on dreams and continuing bonds after loss, including prenatal and pet loss. As one of the leading academic experts in grief dreams, which can be dreams of the deceased, Dr. Black has directed his efforts to raise awareness about this fascinating phenomenon through media interviews, speaking engagements, and workshops. In addition to his website (Griefdreams.ca), you can find him active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@griefdreams). Dr Black currently works as the Bereavement Initiative Manager for the BC Centre for Palliative Care, where he is leading bereavement-related research. His long-term research goals are to continue to serve and raise awareness of those who are bereaved and who are not being provided the necessary grief support.
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