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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.

As the holiday season approaches, emotions around grief and trauma can intensify, especially during family gatherings. Tune into this episode with one of our favourite guests on the podcast, Rachel Tenpenny McGonigle (E1, E50 and E88) to gain insights into dealing with grief and trauma and explore effective ways to manage Christmas and grief. We will delve into how to navigate family gatherings when you as a member are dealing with recent loss and/or trauma. 

We aim to offer a safe space where you as the listener can find solace, learn, and empower yourself through shared experiences and professional guidance.

Helping people through grief is Rachel’s passion. After her twin baby daughters Aubrey and Ellie died in 2008, she made a promise to them that she’d learn how to heal after loss and share what she learned with everyone who wants to heal too. Rachel has spent over a decade making good on her promise and has helped hundreds of clients build a meaningful and purposeful life after loss.

Find out more on Rachel’s website: thegriefgal.com

Other episodes with Rachel:

•  S1 E1 Why and How Healing Is Possible 
• S5 E50 Cultivating Healing Versus Coping Mechanism
• S9 E88 Grieving Parents 10 Years Later

Support the show

Find support:

• Transforming Your Grief Course

Support the show:

• Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
• Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
• Download the FREE grief resource eBook
• Book a Discovery Call
• Leave a review

Follow on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Send us a text

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.

Welcome to a special series of podcast episodes in honor of the 10th anniversary of my first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple, published in 2014. To mark this milestone, I’m reconnecting with the same parents I initially interviewed for the book, offering a unique opportunity to revisit their stories and gain a deeper understanding of their journeys—now, with the perspective of a decade.
The month of October was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, this series is dedicated to showcasing how grieving parents have coped with their loss and trauma over the years. These episodes aim to offer a long-term view of life after the loss of a pregnancy or infant, providing comfort, insight and hope to those who may still be navigating their grief.
Additionally, I’m excited to offer Healing Steps, my audio course, at 25% off. I decided to extend this offer for another two months until the end of December. Use the coupon code HSOCT24 to access the course and begin your journey toward healing.

Alexa Bigwarte is Kathryn’s mother. 
Here is what Alexa shared in response to the biggest things that have changed about your grief over the 10 years: “Everything. My loss was relatively new when we first talked, now it's been almost 13 years. I see grief through a different lens. It's not raw anymore; my focus is completely on healing and continuing to heal, not staying stuck in the pain.”

Alexa Bigwarfe is an author, speaker, publishing consultant, and community builder. Her writing career began after her infant daughter passed away at two days old, and she turned to writing for healing. Her first book, Sunshine After the Storm, A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother, has helped thousands of grieving mothers. Her most recent tool for grieving mothers, Sisterhood of the Healing Hearts: Permission to Thrive, A 6-Month Guided Journal for G

Support the show

Find support:

• Transforming Your Grief Course

Support the show:

• Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
• Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
• Download the FREE grief resource eBook
• Book a Discovery Call
• Leave a review

Follow on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Send us a text

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.

I first encountered Tina Hedin through her poignant article 'We Didn’t Know It Was the Last Time' in The New York Times, where she shared the heart-wrenching story of her daughter Kiki's death. The raw emotion and profound grief expressed in her writing resonated deeply with me, touching a place of empathy and connection that few pieces ever have. Tina's ability to articulate the indescribable pain of losing a child, while also conveying a sense of resilience, left a lasting impact on me. Her story moved me personally and inspired me to invite her as a guest for the podcast.

Tina Hedin has reinvented herself many times. From punk rocker to textile designer, graphic artist to homeschooling mom, from entrepreneur to writer, she has let curiosity lead her evolution.
In the early 2000s, Tina, her husband Eric, and their young daughter Kiki, left suburban Florida to travel America. They lived and worked on the road for four years, eventually settling in New Hampshire.
In 2023, Kiki died at the age of 25 from a food allergy reaction. Following Kiki’s death, Tina closed her small business and focused on writing as a way to learn to live with grief.
Recently, Tina and Eric returned to a nomadic life, traveling the US full-time in an RV, and volunteering in state parks.
Tina has been published in the New York Times and writes about travel and learning to live with grief in her Substack newsletter Letters From Turkey Town.

• Substack: Letters From Turkey Town
• FB: www.facebook.com/tina.hedin.7/

• Colin Campbell: What Losing My Two Chil

Support the show

Find support:

• Transforming Your Grief Course

Support the show:

• Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
• Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
• Download the FREE grief resource eBook
• Book a Discovery Call
• Leave a review

Follow on socials:

• Instagram
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• Website

Send us a text

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.

I first connected with today's podcast guest Whitney through her heartfelt and courageous posts on Instagram. Her vulnerability in sharing her journey through grief deeply resonated with me because we both realized, through our own traumatic experiences, that there isn’t enough conversation around grief and trauma. Like her, many of my clients aren’t prepared for the overwhelming emotions they face, making the process even harder. This shared understanding fuels my work every day—I show up to talk about grief because I don't want anyone to feel the same sense of isolation or confusion that so many do. And so does Whitney. Both of us are passionate about creating more space for these conversations and ensuring others know they aren’t alone in their journey.

Whitney Lyn Allen is first and foremost mama to her sons, Jackson (6) and Leo (2). She practiced law as a medical malpractice defense attorney for ten years before her husband had a severe reaction to a bee sting and sustained a severe brain injury, subsequently resulting in his death. Whitney decided to turn her pain into purpose and followed her new calling to serve others who are also experiencing grief and trauma and share her vulnerable and personal grief journey with others. She is the author of the book about grief and life after loss titled, Running in Trauma Stilettos, an Amazon Best Seller. Whitney is also a certified grief educator and provides grief coaching to those ready for their transformation and growth after loss. She shares the empowering message that there is so much beauty in life, even after losing a loved one. 

• Website: whitneylynallen.com
• IG: @whitneylynallen
• TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@whitneylynallen

Whitney's upcoming book (published in 2025):

Support the show

Find support:

• Transforming Your Grief Course

Support the show:

• Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
• Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
• Download the FREE grief resource eBook
• Book a Discovery Call
• Leave a review

Follow on socials:

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• Website

Send us a text

Welcome again to the How to Deal With Grief and Trauma Podcast Season 10.

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.

Today marks a significant milestone as we step into the 10th series of the podcast, and this season we celebrate a landmark achievement—our 100th episode! 

Let's have a look back at the most popular episodes so far:

1. E4 Turiya Hanover | The Loss of Significant Partners in Life
2. E51 James Fish Gill | Bringing Loving Awareness To Your Pain Part 1
3. E1 Rachel Tenpenny | Why and How Healing Is Possible
4. E64 Turiya Hanover | Grief, Trauma, Essence, Connection and Safety
5. E40 Nathalie Himmelrich | Trauma and Its Impact on the Nervous System

This season, we’re welcoming back grieving parents who shared their stories with me over a decade ago during the interviews for my first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple. That book recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, and as we hear from these parents again, we’ll learn how their journeys have evolved over the years and how they continue to live with loss and love.

This season, I’ll explore how our nervous system processes traumatic loss and what happens when grief and trauma intertwine. I'll share some more insights from Polyvagal Theory and how this understanding can help you partner your body to regulate itself. 

Season 10 of the podcast will restart next Monday with episode #91. If you'd like to receive updates to never miss an episode and receive special invitations, only sent out to newsletter subscribers, please sign up for the weekly newsletter on nathaliehimmelrich.com.

Thank you for your support and please rate and follow the show.
Blessings, 
Nathalie Himmelrich
Your Podcast Host

Support the show

Find support:

• Transforming Your Grief Course

Support the show:

• Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
• Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
• Download the FREE grief resource eBook
• Book a Discovery Call
• Leave a review

Follow on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Send us a text

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.

Welcome to a special series of podcast episodes in honour of the 10th anniversary of my first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple, published in 2014. To mark this milestone, I’m reconnecting with the same parents I initially interviewed for the book, offering a unique opportunity to revisit their stories and gain a deeper understanding of their journeys—now, with the perspective of a decade.
In recognition of October being Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, this series is dedicated to showcasing how grieving parents have coped with their loss and trauma over the years. These episodes aim to offer a long-term view of life after the loss of a pregnancy or infant, providing comfort, insight and hope to those who may still be navigating their grief.

Additionally, I’m excited to offer Healing Steps, my audio course, at 25% off this month. Use the coupon code HSOCT24 to access the course and begin your journey toward healing.

Kiley Hanish is Norbert’s mother.
Kiley shares with us: “Ten years ago, I was just at the beginning of my healing journey. Everything has changed since then. I have processed my loss, integrated into my being, found community with other loss parents, and become an advocate for change through Return to Zero: HOPE.” (Check out the link.)

• The Land After Loss metaphor appears in another episode (E81 and 82) and is part of my audio-guided course Healing Steps (https://bit.ly/HealingSteps). 

Support the show

Find support:

• Transforming Your Grief Course

Support the show:

• Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
• Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
• Download the FREE grief resource eBook
• Book a Discovery Call
• Leave a review

Follow on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Send us a text

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.

Welcome to a special series of podcast episodes in honour of the 10th anniversary of my first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple, published in 2014. To mark this milestone, I’m reconnecting with the same parents I initially interviewed for the book, offering a unique opportunity to revisit their stories and gain a deeper understanding of their journeys—now, with the perspective of a decade.
In recognition of October being Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, this series is dedicated to showcasing how grieving parents have coped with their loss and trauma over the years. These episodes aim to offer a long-term view of life after the loss of a pregnancy or infant, providing comfort, insight and hope to those who may still be navigating their own grief.
Additionally, I’m excited to offer Healing Steps, my audio course, at 25% off this month. Use the coupon code HSOCT24 to access the course and begin your journey toward healing.

Martina Sandles is Hannah’s mother, who would have been 39 years old this year. Here is what she shares with me all these years later: “Quite a few of my friends had weddings or became grandparents and are involved with a little once again. I am grieving the lost dream of all those milestones we didn't get to experience with her, and I still wonder what kind of woman she would have been and what path in life she would have chosen. We could see characteristics emerging and loved her personality, traits I feel we need in the world. It is more a dream of the 'what ifs' and wishing that her siblings would have had a big sister to go to or who would have modelled things for them. Hannah, and my/our living with her till her death, has shaped me and my development so much, I wonder what parts of me would have lived on in her. Not that this is passed on consciously, but by living with each other, sharing values and ways of livin

Support the show

Find support:

• Transforming Your Grief Course

Support the show:

• Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
• Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
• Download the FREE grief resource eBook
• Book a Discovery Call
• Leave a review

Follow on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Send us a text

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.

Welcome to a special series of podcast episodes in honor of the 10th anniversary of my first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple, published in 2014. To mark this milestone, I’m reconnecting with the same parents I initially interviewed for the book, offering a unique opportunity to revisit their stories and gain a deeper understanding of their journeys—now, with the perspective of a decade.
In recognition of October being Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, this series is dedicated to showcasing how grieving parents have coped with their loss and trauma over the years. These episodes aim to offer a long-term view of life after the loss of a pregnancy or infant, providing comfort, insight and hope to those who may still be navigating their own grief.
Additionally, I’m excited to offer Healing Steps, my audio course, at 25% off this month. Use the coupon code HSOCT24 to access the course and begin your own journey toward healing. (https://www.griefandtraumaacademy.com/healing-steps-course)

Helping people through grief is Rachel’s passion. After her twin baby daughters Aubrey and Ellie died in 2008, she made a promise to them that she’d learn how to heal after loss and share what she learned with everyone who wants to heal too. Rachel has spent more than a decade making good on her promise and has helped hundreds of clients build a meaningful and purposeful life after loss.

Other episodes with Rachel: 

•  S1 E1 Why and How Healing Is Possible 
• S5 E50 Cultivating Healing Versus Coping Mechanism 

Support the show

Find support:

• Transforming Your Grief Course

Support the show:

• Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
• Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
• Download the FREE grief resource eBook
• Book a Discovery Call
• Leave a review

Follow on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Send us a text

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.

I 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.

• Website: alchemycoaching.life
• IG: @mc.phd
• TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mc.phd

• Episode with Deb Dana: bit.ly/PodDeb
• Episode with Dr Mary-Frances O'Connor: bit.ly/PodMary
• Episode about Grief Dreams: bit.ly/PodJoshua

Support the show

Find support:

• Transforming Your Grief Course

Support the show:

• Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
• Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
• Download the FREE grief resource eBook
• Book a Discovery Call
• Leave a review

Follow on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Send us a text

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.

Welcome 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. 

• Episode 40: Trauma and Its Impact on the Nervous System

Support the show

Find support:

• Transforming Your Grief Course

Support the show:

• Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
• Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
• Download the FREE grief resource eBook
• Book a Discovery Call
• Leave a review

Follow on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website