"In a place where I have always felt alone, I'm not alone."
Hello! Welcome to Peers to Pillars, a podcast where we share stories of support and recovery after suicide. Our very first episode! We are joined by Nikki Alonso-Scott, Board President of Pillar, who lost her mom to suicide 25 years ago. She takes us back to those very early days of grief and walks us through the ups and downs, bringing us to where she is today...which involved a total career change! At age 47 she went back to school and is now working as a therapist in the Nashville, TN area, specializing in complex trauma, grief/loss, suicide loss survivors, attachment trauma, relational trauma, BIPOC/AANPI, and LGBTQIA+ issues: https://www.opendoorcounselingtn.com/
Other supports local to the Nashville area:
https://tspn.org/
https://www.fcsnashville.org/
https://namidavidson.org/
National resources:
https://www.pillar-peer.org/
https://988lifeline.org/
https://www.crisistextline.org/
https://allianceofhope.org/
https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/
Andrea Gibson poem:
"It is absolutely possible
to make a clearing of the fog.
Keep asking yourself
the question -
'What love can I make
of this loss?'"
In this episode:
00:00 Introduction to Peers to Pillars Podcast
03:55 The Importance of Sharing Stories
06:15 Nikki's Personal Journey of Loss
11:40 Finding Support and Community
16:22 Navigating Grief and Trauma
21:50 The Role of Therapy in Healing
27:30 The Power of Connection in Therapy
32:47 Combining Peer Support and Professional Help
34:48 The Role of Medication in Healing
36:19 Understanding Therapy and Finding the Right Fit
38:18 Cultural Considerations in Therapy
39:45 The Importance of Connection in Therapy
41:07 Building Trust and Rapport with Therapists
44:00 The Power of Peer Support
45:52 Navigating Grief and Loss
47:15 The Journey of Healing and Self-Discovery
53:48 Words of Comfort for New Survivors
57:33 Honoring Our Loved Ones and Their Legacy
01:02:10 Introduction and Acknowledgments
01:02:19 Local Resources and Support
01:02:47 Future Episodes and Community Engagement
Follow Pillar!
Instagram: @pillar_peer
Facebook: Pillar - Peer Support After Suicide
YouTube: @Pillar-Peer
Please support this podcast by subscribing and sharing with others who have experienced suicide and need to know they are not alone. We are so glad you are here with us so that we can move along, forward, together.
