Episodes

  • Grief & Insomnia: CBT-I Tools to Help You Sleep Again

    Grief & Insomnia: CBT-I Tools to Help You Sleep Again
    Apr 29 2026
    If you've been lying awake at night since someone died, you're not alone. Grief often disrupts sleep, making bedtime feel anxious, frustrating, or emotionally overwhelming. For many people, insomnia becomes one of the most exhausting parts of loss. In this episode of the GRIEF Ladies Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Larissa Tate to explore how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) can help. CBTI is an evidence-based approach that helps rebuild healthy sleep habits even during grief. We talk about: Why grief interferes with sleep How nighttime anxiety develops What CBTI actually involves Sleep hygiene myths The role of medication Why napping can worsen insomnia Small, manageable steps to improve your sleep Sleep struggles during grief are common and they're treatable. As always, we close with practical tools you can try this week, because grief changes your life — and you deserve support that helps you live inside that change. Related topics: grief and insomnia, CBTI for sleep, sleep problems after loss, nighttime anxiety during grief. Guest Bio: Dr. Larissa Tate is a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Momentum Behavioral Health, a private practice serving clients in New York, Maryland, North Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of sleep disorders, anxiety, and trauma, with particular expertise in working with professionals in high-stakes, high-pressure roles including caregivers, medical professionals, attorneys, first responders, military personnel, and others who are used to carrying a lot and rarely slowing down. Her work is grounded in science and evidence-based treatments and a practical, skills-focused approach. Dr. Tate helps driven individuals get out of survival mode, sleep better, manage stress more effectively, and build resilience in ways that are sustainable – without sacrificing their ambition or values. She has trained and worked in a range of medical and behavioral health settings, including sleep clinics, primary care, intensive outpatient programs, neurology clinics, and major military and VA medical centers. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Uniformed Services University and completed her residency at the University of Alabama-Birmingham VA Medical Center. In addition to individual and group therapy, Dr. Tate also provides diagnostic assessments and military psychological evaluations and is passionate about helping clients create meaningful, lasting change Connect with Larissa: www.momentumbehavioralhealth.com https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/larissa-tate-new-york-ny/1253112 https://cbti.directory/search-for-a-clinician/home-directory/usa/united-states-cbti-providers/836-larissa-tate-phd https://www.linkedin.com/in/larissa-tate-phd/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Larissa-Tate-PhD/61561150571404/ https://www.instagram.com/dr.larissa.tate/ GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.
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    38 mins
  • BONUS: Improving Communication When No One Understands (Full Live Workshop)

    BONUS: Improving Communication When No One Understands (Full Live Workshop)
    Apr 24 2026
    Feeling like no one around you really gets it? You're not alone and it's one of the most common and least talked-about parts of grief. In this bonus episode, Kelly Daugherty of Center for Informed Grief, LLC and Karyn Arnold from Grief in Common bring you the full recording of their free live workshop, Improving Communication: When No One Understands. This is the I in the G.R.I.E.F. Framework — Interacting — and it's one of the topics they hear about most from grieving people across their communities, groups, and individual work. In this episode, Kelly and Karyn cover: Why people in your life often don't know what to say — and why that can hurt so muchHow grief-averse culture affects the support you do (and don't) receiveWhy relationships shift after a loss — even ones you thought were solidHow to handle "How are you?" when the honest answer is complicatedWhat to say, what not to say, and who to say it toSetting boundaries without losing relationshipsWhat to do when communication with someone is no longer possibleThe free letter templates Kelly and Karyn created to help you put your needs into words Resources mentioned: Free Letter Templates (PDF fillable — color & black/white): https://payhip.com/GRIEFLadies Journals, workshops & meditations: https://payhip.com/GRIEFLadies Free Grounding Meditation: www.griefladies.com/grief-meditation Join the GRIEF Ladies Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Nd4DthFuc/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KFpXenXZ_XM Stay connected: 🎙 New podcast episodes every Wednesday at griefladies.com GRIEF Ladies: A Guide to What Comes Next — coming soon! GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.
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    57 mins
  • Anticipatory Grief & Alzheimer's: Coping While Caring for Someone Still Alive

    Anticipatory Grief & Alzheimer's: Coping While Caring for Someone Still Alive
    Apr 22 2026

    Grief doesn't always wait for death.

    When you're caring for someone with Alzheimer's, especially younger-onset Alzheimer's, you may find yourself grieving ongoing changes long before the end of life. This is anticipatory grief, and it can feel confusing, exhausting, and deeply isolating.

    In this episode (31 of the GRIEF Ladies), we met with Cheri Davies and Karen Sandone and explored:

    • What anticipatory grief feels like

    • The emotional realities of caregiving

    • Why building a support community matters

    • Self-care strategies that are actually realistic

    • Finding moments of connection and joy along the way

    Caregiving is love in action, and caregivers deserve care, too.

    As always, we close with practical steps you can try this week.

    Guest Bio: Cheri Davies is a clinical social worker based in upstate New York. After her husband, Chris, was diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer's in June 2019, Cheri became a strong advocate for the Alzheimer's Association as an Ambassador for the Alzheimer's Impact Movement. Cheri is also a founding member of Surviving the Now: Younger Onset Alzheimer's. Their mission is to provide support to spouses and caregivers a supportive community while going through younger onset Alzheimer's. Cheri is also an author in three collaborative books including Holistic Mental Health Vol 1 and 2, and The award winning Grief Experience, Tools for Acceptance, Resilience, and Connection.

    Karen Sandone is a member of the NFL Alumni community and a passionate Alzheimer's advocate. She holds a master's degree in Human Resources Development from Villanova University and has served as Director of Human Resources at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit since 2016.
    After her husband, Anthony, was diagnosed with Younger-Onset Alzheimer's at 55, Karen became a dedicated caregiver, volunteer for the Alzheimer's Association, congressional advocate for the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM), and founder of Surviving the Now, a supportive community for caregivers. Through her speaking and writing, she shares her family's journey to inspire awareness, strength, and hope.

    Connect with Cheri and Karen at:

    Surviving the Now Website: Survivingthenow.com

    Linktr.ee/cheridavies

    Linktr.ee/survivingthenow.endalz

    Instagram: Klsandone Anthony_vs_alzheimers

    CDaviesalz

    TikTok Ksandone Tonystok

    GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next

    If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you.

    🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/

    Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/
    Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/

    Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com

    Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/

    The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services.

    Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.
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    45 mins
  • Grief in the Body: Somatic Tools for Healing After Loss

    Grief in the Body: Somatic Tools for Healing After Loss
    Apr 15 2026

    Grief doesn't stay in your thoughts, it often shows up in your body.

    In this episode, we explore how loss can affect your identity, self-esteem, and physical health. Joined by somatic coach Jay Moon Fields, we talk about embodied grief, why physical symptoms like tension and stomach aches are common, and simple tools to help process emotions safely.

    You'll learn:

    • Why grief can impact your body

    • How loss reshapes self-identity

    • Practical somatic tools for emotional release

    • The "Of Course" validation technique

    • How to advocate for yourself during grief

    Grief changes you but it can also deepen your self-awareness.

    As always, we close with one practical step you can try this week.

    Guest Bio: Jay Moon Fields spent a good chunk of her life trying to be who other people needed her to be—and then made a career out of helping others stop doing that. She's a somatic coach, author and host of the Hey, Wait podcast, where she helps folks build real, healthy relationships with themselves, each other, and the forces shaping everyday life. Nearly a million people have taken her LinkedIn Learning courses, and her book Teaching People, Not Poses is required reading in yoga teacher trainings worldwide. Her latest book, Less Lost, guides readers to leave behind should's and supposed to's and find their way home to themselves. Jay has the degrees (Psychosocial Health and Human Movement from William & Mary; Integral Transformative Education from Prescott College) to back up her obsession with how humans tick—and how to quit working against ourselves. She lives in California with her husband and the cat who decided they were hers.

    Connect with Jay:

    At jaymoonfields.com and on Instagram

    Tune in to my podcast, Hey, Wait.

    https://jaymoonfields.com/yours-truly

    GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next

    If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you.

    🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/

    Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/
    Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/

    Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com

    Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/

    The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services.

    Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.
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    40 mins
  • Grief After Estrangement: Healing Complicated Relationships Through Ritual & Creativity

    Grief After Estrangement: Healing Complicated Relationships Through Ritual & Creativity
    Apr 8 2026

    What happens when someone you were estranged from dies?

    Grief after estrangement can bring layers of emotion including sadness, anger, relief, regret, gratitude and sometimes all at once. When a relationship is complicated, the grieving process can feel confusing and isolating.

    In this episode (GRIEF Ladies Episode #29), we talk with Sam Sundius about navigating the loss of her Mom after estrangement from her family, honoring both the hard and meaningful parts of a relationship, and using ritual and creativity as tools for healing.

    We explore:

    • How grief shows up when the relationship wasn't simple

    • Why grief and gratitude can coexist

    • The power of intentional rituals

    • Creativity as an outlet for emotional processing

    • Finding meaning without rewriting the past

    As always, we close with a practical step you can try because grief changes your life, and you deserve tools that help you live inside that change.

    Related topics: estranged parent grief, complicated relationships, ritual for grief, creative grief support.

    Guest Bio:

    Sam Sundius is a visual artist and creativity doula. In their coaching practice, Art of Undiscipline, Sam collaborates with neurodivergent artists and freelancers to build radically sustainable and impactful creative practices. Sam lives in NYC and teaches Food & Art at NYU.

    Connect with Sam: www.artofundiscipline.com

    GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next

    If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you.

    🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/

    Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/
    Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/

    Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com

    Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/

    The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services.

    Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.
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    41 mins
  • What to Do With a Loved One's Belongings After They Die (with Janine McDonald) | GRIEF Ladies

    What to Do With a Loved One's Belongings After They Die (with Janine McDonald) | GRIEF Ladies
    Apr 1 2026

    What do you do with your loved one's belongings after they die?

    Sorting through clothes, paperwork, furniture, and personal items can feel overwhelming — not just practically, but emotionally. In this episode of the GRIEF Ladies Podcast, Kelly Daugherty and Karyn Arnold are joined by decluttering specialist Janine McDonald to talk about the emotional and practical realities of going through a loved one's things.

    This conversation goes beyond "cleaning out a house." We explore how memories become attached to objects, why certain items feel impossible to let go of, and how to approach decluttering with empathy, patience, and intention.

    In this episode, we discuss:
    • Why decluttering after loss is about freedom, confidence, and wellbeing
    • How to sort belongings without rushing the process
    • What to do when you feel guilty letting items go
    • Creative ways to repurpose or honor meaningful possessions
    • How to involve family members in a supportive way
    • Why the memories matter more than the objects themselves

    If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin, this episode offers practical steps and emotional reassurance for navigating one of the hardest parts of grief.

    Guest Bio: Janine McDonald is a Decluttering Specialist and Organising Philosopher, bestselling author, and international speaker who helps people transform their lives by creating clarity in their homes, workspaces, and minds. Founder of Clear the Clutter Now and author of the bestselling Clear the Clutter Now: Streamline Your Life by Doing Just 3 Things, Janine is passionate about showing people that decluttering is not about "tidying up" – it's about freedom, confidence, and wellbeing.

    Her warm, empathetic style has resonated with audiences worldwide sharing her holistic approach to decluttering and organising.

    Connect with Janine:

    janine@cleartheclutternow.co.uk
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    43 mins
  • Grief, Trauma & the Nervous System: How to Feel Safe Again After Loss with Ramona Kossowan | GRIEF Ladies Podcast

    Grief, Trauma & the Nervous System: How to Feel Safe Again After Loss with Ramona Kossowan | GRIEF Ladies Podcast
    Mar 25 2026
    Why does grief feel traumatic? Why does your body feel on edge after someone dies? In this episode of the GRIEF Ladies Podcast, Kelly Daugherty and Karyn Arnold talk with Ramona Kossowan about the connection between grief, trauma, and the nervous system. We explore why emotional safety matters after loss, how trauma can show up in sleep disturbances, hypervigilance, and identity shifts, and what "gentle trauma release" really means. You'll learn: • Why grief can feel like trauma • How the nervous system responds to loss • What emotional safety actually looks like • The role of movement and self-care in grief • Practical steps to begin feeling safer in your body This conversation is especially helpful if you've been wondering why you still feel on edge, numb, or overwhelmed long after the death. Guest Bio: Ramona Kossowan is a Gentle Trauma Release Practitioner and empowerment coach who supports individuals navigating both acute loss and long-standing traumatic grief. She distinguishes between grief — a natural and necessary process — and trauma, which can keep the nervous system looping and stuck long after the loss has occurred. Through gentle, body-based work with the unconscious nervous system, Ramona helps clients experience restorative relief: a settling in the body that allows grief to move rather than remain frozen. In the early days of loss, this may mean stabilization and grounding — creating enough safety to function and feel supported. In more chronic or traumatic grief, her work focuses on releasing the patterns that interfere with healing, not to erase what happened, but to restore resilience, self-trust, and the capacity to experience meaning, connection, and even joy again. With years of experience coaching women in sustainable movement and nourishment, Ramona brings a deep understanding of physical, emotional, and nervous system well-being to the rebuilding process. Her approach helps clients lay a solid, embodied foundation for their next chapter — one rooted not in forced positivity or "moving on," but in feeling safe, worthy, and open to life again. Connect with Ramona: Ramona's Free Download: When Grief Feels Stuck: When Grief Feels Stuck Ramona's free download "Is it trauma?" (self guided Gentle Trauma Assessment) https://ramonakcoaching.com/gentle-trauma-assessment/ Links: ramonakcoaching.com gentletraumacoach.com ramona@ramonakcoaching.com facebook.com/ramonakcoaching instagram.com/ramonakcoaching https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramona-kossowan-380ba66a/ https://www.youtube.com/@RamonaKCoaching Books: Confident You - The Raw Conversations (New bestseller): https://a.co/d/0hOSaoMp Paperback (Canada) https://a.co/d/0ikwm8UF Kindle (Canada) https://a.co/d/0hOSaoMp Paperback (U.S.) https://a.co/d/06Y3yLXF Kindle (U.S.) Life Lit Up bestseller https://www.lulu.com/shop/mary-holland-and-sophia-manarolis-koulikas-and-jamie-beringer-and-donald-dy/life-lit-up/paperback/product-emnj85.html?page=1&pageSize=4 GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.
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    34 mins
  • Can You Still Communicate With Someone Who Died? What IADC Therapy Actually Is with April Hannah

    Can You Still Communicate With Someone Who Died? What IADC Therapy Actually Is with April Hannah
    Mar 18 2026
    Many grieving people wonder whether it's possible — or even healthy — to feel connected to someone who has died. After-death communication is a topic that brings curiosity, comfort, and sometimes skepticism. In this episode (26) of The GRIEF Ladies Podcast, Karyn Arnold and Kelly Daugherty are joined by licensed therapist April Hannah to explore Induced After-Death Communication (IADC) therapy and its role in grief work. We discuss how IADC developed, what the process involves, and how some individuals experience meaningful connection through this therapeutic approach. In this conversation, we explore: What Induced After-Death Communication (IADC) therapy is The science and therapeutic foundations behind the method Why connection can be an important part of grief adaptation How continuing bonds fit into modern grief theory Staying open-minded while honoring your own beliefs This episode connects to the Finding trail marker in our G.R.I.E.F. Framework — focusing on figuring out what comes next and discovering how connection can evolve after loss. Whether you are curious, cautious, or already familiar with IADC, this episode invites thoughtful exploration of how people continue bonds in deeply personal ways. Guest Bio: April Hannah is the founder of the I AM brand and a guide for holistic entrepreneurs and bereaved individuals navigating grief, identity shifts, and life's biggest transitions. With over 26 years as a mental health therapist and having supported more than 13,000 people, April helps people dissolve negative self-talk, reconnect with their true selves, and transform pain into purpose. Her work blends mindset, spiritual practice, and affirmation-based tools to support deep identity transformation. April believes no one should walk change or loss alone. If you're ready to reclaim your identity and move forward with clarity and confidence, connect with April at iamaprilhannah.com or join her Patreon community. Connect with April: https://www.iamaprilhannah.com/ https://linktr.ee/AprilAnneHannah GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.
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    43 mins