Dr. Sharon interviews grief advocate Susan Whitmore, who shares how her personal loss led her to found the nonprofit organization griefHaven® and create resources for others. Susan defines grief as a normal, organic response to the death of something loved, including non-death losses (e.g., health, home, freedom, divorce, infertility), and notes pet loss can be profound. She challenges myths that grief is linear or defined by the “five stages,” that the goal is to “get over it,” and that bereaved parents’ marriages usually end in divorce. The discussion includes common emotional and physical grief reactions, the value of community, and how to provide practical support.

Susan Whitmore, BS/BM, CGC is the founder and CEO of griefHaven®, a nonprofit organization she established in 2003 following the death of her only child, Erika, at age 32 from cancer. Unable to find the kind of grief support that resonated with her needs, Susan transformed her personal loss into a mission: to ensure that no one has to navigate grief alone—and to provide a comprehensive, integrative understanding of grief that helps individuals recognize how loss impacts them emotionally, physically, cognitively, and behaviorally, so they can better understand and process their experience. A nationally recognized leader in grief support and education, Susan has been featured on numerous radio and television programs and is the recipient of the KNX Radio Hero of the Week Award. She has contributed to publications, consulted on film scripts, and authored a wide range of articles and booklets addressing meaningful and often overlooked aspects of grief. Susan is the creator of the griefHaven® Method™, a comprehensive and integrative approach to grief support that combines emotional, physical, and scientific understanding of how grief impacts the brain and body. She has trained a skilled team of therapists and counselors who lead grief groups both in person and online, providing deeply compassionate and effective support.