Grief + Its Many Forms

When people hear the word grief, they often think about the death of a loved one. And while losing someone you love is one of the most profound and life-altering experiences, grief isn’t just about death.

Grief is the emotional response to any significant loss. There are over 40 different grief-induced life experiences—yes, 40! And I’ve worked with so many of them, beyond the loss of a person.

But here’s the thing: I often talk about the grief of losing a person because that’s my biggest loss. The death of my husband, Eric, shattered my world. It’s what drove me to become a grief coach and create The Heartwork. But just because I market my work around that specific kind of grief doesn’t mean it’s the only type I help people with. Far from it.

Let’s talk about the other kinds of grief that can weigh on your heart—and how I can help you navigate them, too.

Grief shows up in all kinds of ways, often when you least expect it. Maybe you didn’t even realize you were grieving until the feelings of loss, sadness, or anger became too heavy to ignore.

Here are just some of the grief-inducing experiences I’ve worked with:

1. Infidelity: The betrayal of trust in a relationship can feel like the death of the life you thought you had. It’s not just about the act—it’s the loss of safety, connection, and the future you envisioned.
   
   

2. Divorce: The end of a marriage is a huge loss. It’s not just the person you’re grieving—it’s the dreams, the routines, the shared life you built together.
   
   

3. Childhood Trauma: When you’ve experienced abuse, neglect, or loss as a child, it creates a deep well of unresolved grief that can follow you into adulthood.
   
   

4. Murder and Suicide: These devastating losses come with layers of trauma, guilt, and questions that may never be answered. The grief here is often tangled with shock, anger, and disbelief.
   
   

5. Romantic and Friendship Breakups: Losing someone you love—whether a romantic partner or a close friend—can leave you feeling untethered and heartbroken.
   
   

6. Estrangement: When a relationship becomes distant or broken, it creates a unique kind of grief. You’re mourning someone who’s still alive, which can feel confusing and isolating.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

I focus my marketing on the grief that comes from losing a person because it’s my story. It’s the loss I know inside and out.

When Eric died, it felt like my world was ripped apart. Everything changed—the way I saw myself, the way I showed up for my daughters, the way I viewed my future. That experience shaped me, not just as a person, but as a grief coach.

But just because that’s my biggest loss doesn’t mean it’s the only grief I understand. The tools, techniques, and insights I’ve gathered for The Heartwork apply to all types of grief. Why? Because grief, at its core, is about loss.

The work I do isn’t about slapping a bandage on your pain and pretending it doesn’t exist. It’s about honoring your grief, processing your emotions, and giving you tools to live alongside your loss without being consumed by it.

Through The Heartwork, we dive deep into the unresolved emotions and thoughts tied to your grief—whether it’s from death, divorce, betrayal, or any other loss. Together, we’ll explore the past, confront the trauma of what happened, and acknowledge the future that will never be. All the painful what-ifs and should-haves get the space they deserve. It’s not an easy process to face it this directly, but at the same time, it is—and it’s absolutely worth it.

And if you’ve already done that Heartwork and are ready to rebuild, my ReBeginning Program can help you intentionally recreate your next chapter. Whether you’re rediscovering who you are after a divorce or finding purpose after the death of your person, ReBeginning helps you design a life that feels aligned with your values and dreams.

Grief doesn’t come with a playbook - that's why I made The Grief Playbook Podcast.


Seriously though - there’s no checklist that says, “This is grief, and this isn’t.” If you’ve experienced a loss that’s weighing on your heart—no matter what kind of loss it is—your grief is valid.

You don’t have to compare your pain to someone else’s. You don’t have to minimize it or justify it. Loss is loss. And if it’s affecting your ability to live the life you want, I’m here to help. The Heartwork is exactly what you need!

So, whether you’re grieving the death of a person or the loss of a relationship, trust, or even a version of yourself, know this: you’re not alone. Grief can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be.

If you’re ready to stop carrying the weight of your loss alone, reach out. Let’s do the heartwork together and help you move forward with a sense of peace, purpose, and aliveness.

Because no matter what kind of grief you’re facing, you deserve to feel whole again.

Let’s talk.

Grief touches all of us in different ways, but healing is possible for any kind of loss. You just have to be willing to take the first step.

You don’t have to do it alone. I’m here when you’re ready. ♥️