Shapes Of Grief

This week I speak to Dr Kathryn Mannix, palliative care pioneer, about the dying process. Like birth, there are certain stages of death which Kathryn hopes to demystify in her book ‘With the End in Mind’. Kathryn does a wonderful job in normalising this process which we all face and looks at how we can take the fear out of this natural and inevitable stage of life. Kathryn oozes compassion and humanity, offering ways in which we can approach this often-feared topic in a whole new light. We discuss ways in which we can support our loved ones who are facing death and also how we can make our own deaths easier for our loved ones.  Kathryn’s wisdom goes a long way in normalising death and dying, this really is a must-listen for all of us! Dr Kathryn Mannix will be the keynote speaker at the Forum 2019 “Dying is everyone’s business” in Dublin Castle on Thursday 24th October, tickets can be bought here https://hospicefoundation.ie/programmes/public-awareness/forum-on-end-of-life-2019/. About Shapes of Grief: S

In this conversation with Liz, Hayley speaks about the multiple miscarriages that she experienced, the devastating decision that herself and husband Charlie had to make when they found out that their baby had Turner's Syndrome and how, after four miscarriages and a medical termination, she continues to try to find the balance between loss and hope.  Miscarriage remains a taboo subject and if often a source of deep loneliness and grief for those who experience it. Because it is a subject avoided by many, the signs and symptoms of miscarriage often cause unnecessary additional distress and can be a deeply shocking and confusing time for the parents' experiencing this loss.   I am aware that Hayley has a living child and that some listeners do not have a living child; I  wish to acknowledge this possible trigger of pain. Hayley's candid and heartfelt approach to the subject provides a much-needed insight into what it means to endure multiple pregnancy losses and also a glimpse of the devastation p

Dr Helen Greally is a psycho-oncologist with Cancer Care West. Helen has over forty years experience working with people through grief and loss, following diagnosis. Her PhD focused on spousal bereavement and she has collected a host of grief experiences from people of all ages throughout the country. In this episode of Shapes Of Grief, Helen talks about the shock that can come following a difficult diagnosis, theories of grief and why the 5 stages is usually not that useful, as well as some of the ways in which she works with grief, trauma and forging continuous bonds with our deceased loved ones. Helen provides us with a wealth of wisdom and empathy, it is a total privilege to have had Helen as a guest on Shapes Of Grief. About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise n

In 2011, Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds got the knock at the door that no parent ever wants; their 22 year old son Joshua had been killed in a road accident while travelling in Vietnam. From that moment on, their life changed fundamentally, forever. Jane, a psychotherapist & filmmaker and Jimmy, also a filmmaker, embarked on a voyage of active grief during the following years, using their creative backgrounds to explore the new territory of parental bereavement. This lead them on a road trip throughout the U.S., an homage to Joshua who died travelling, to meet other bereaved parents and to try to de-stigmatise the conversations around parental loss. Their documentary “A Love That Never Dies” is a product of their grief journey and a testament to their enduring love for Joshua. It is a ‘much watch’ for anyone who seeks to better understand grief, in any shape.  The documentary sold-out to a packed audience in Dublin last week, hosted by the Irish Hospice Foundation. Following the screening, Jane and Ji

When Gary’s wife Joy died suddenly in 2017 from sepsis, he turned to his daily practice of doodling to express his grief and help him to process the reality of widowhood and parenting two young, bereft children. The series of heartfelt illustrations soon caught the attention of the public and quickly became a viral sensation.  Liz had the pleasure of speaking with Gary for the Shapes Of Grief podcast and what ensued was a heartwarming conversation about love, parenthood, surrendering to grief & finding hope for the future. Don’t miss this one!  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving any type of loss. With a curriculum that has been meticulously developed

Robert A. Neimeyer, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology, at the University of Memphis, where he also maintains an active clinical practice. Bob is an international speaker on grief and loss, bringing a great wisdom to the field. In this episode of Shapes Of Grief, Bob talks to Liz about how his father's suicide when he was 12 was to shape his later choices.  He talks about why meaning making is important throughout life, not just in grief and has some fascinating perspectives on grief and how we might navigate it. We discuss how to help those who are grieving as well as looking at how to identify what our needs are in grief, how we might go about getting those needs met and how we might maintain a continuous bond with our deceased loved ones.  The sound quality is hampered at times, due to Liz being on a steep learning-curve of podcast editing and some builders who were hard at work in the background of this interview; please excuse this, we hope you agree that the content of the interview more than

In this episode, Madeleine talks to Liz about three successive family bereavements and how her inability to grieve resulted in significant illness and a near-death experience. Madeleine went on to complete a Masters in Bereavement Studies at the Irish Hospice Foundation in an attempt to better understand and heal her own unresolved losses. Madeleine's story will no doubt resonate deeply with many people who have experienced grief in their lives, particularly those of us who have, for some reason, shut away our grief and not felt safe to express it.  This is an important conversation about bereavement and unresolved grief that will hopefully inspire people in the knowing that it really is never too late to talk about grief and find healing and integration.  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips

Shapes of Grief had a lovely conversation with Dr. Susan Delaney of the Irish Hospice Foundation. Susan is the bereavement services manager there and has been instrumental in bringing awareness to Prolonged Grief (formerly complicated grief) to Ireland. In this conversation, Susan paints a very clear picture of what grief can look like, what can be involved when we go through grief and how sometimes, when our grief fails to integrate, we can go on to develop prolonged grief. Susan also talks about childhood bereavement and how children must be included in the grieving process.  If you want a 'Grief 101', this is the podcast to listen to!  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved,

Ruth Fitzmaurice's life changed when her husband Simon was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. In this candid conversation, Ruth shares how, as a mother of five, she coped with Simon's long illness and eventual death through writing and daily immersion in the cold, Irish sea. Ruth speaks with exquisite honesty and generosity about her inner journey living with ongoing loss and how she is finding meaning in life again. Apologies for the poor sound on the podcast, but the content is oh-so worth a listen! About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving any type of loss. With a curriculum that has been meticulously developed to include the most comprehensive evidence-based materi

Deirdre takes us through a beautiful story of how her little dog Charlie came into her life, the connection they made and how his presence enhanced her life. Deirdre tells an important message of how our pets become our family, particularly if we are single in the world and how their death can have a truly devastating impact. She describes how her spiritual practice helped her to cope with the loss.  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving any type of loss. With a curriculum that has been meticulously developed to include the most comprehensive evidence-based material available, Shapes Of Grief stands out as the only program to feature contributions from internatio

Art therapist Emily McCullough talks about the sudden, ambiguous death of her brother when she was sixteen, followed by her father's death a few years later. The suppressed grief, both personal and in the family, would take its toll for many years. Emily talks about how her grief has impacted her adult life, her relationships and her ongoing fear of loss. We talk about how her prolonged grief still manifests and how she managed to begin the process of healing, many years later.  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving any type of loss. With a curriculum that has been meticulously developed to include the most comprehensive evidence-based material available, Shapes

Friends for over four decades, when Jack Gleeson's best friend died by suicide, the loss for Jack was huge. In this interview, Jack talks about friendship, love and loss.  About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving any type of loss. With a curriculum that has been meticulously developed to include the most comprehensive evidence-based material available, Shapes Of Grief stands out as the only program to feature contributions from international grief experts. The award-winning online programme offers different levels of training to accurately meet the needs of each learner. Don’t wait to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most, sign-up HERE for our FRE