Guide Through Grief

Welcome back to "Guide Through Grief". In this season, we will be joined by a host of guests, all letting us in on their own walk through grief.
In the second season of the podcast, we are making room for our community to open up as they discuss their personal stories. Through hearing how others have processed their grief, we hope to reinforce the message that you are not alone, no matter how lonely the road may feel.
The goal for this podcast has always been to create a safe place for people who are navigating their own grief journey to lean on one another and share their experiences. That is the purpose of this upcoming chapter.

In the tenth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom and his guests, Mike and Shane, continue to discuss their challenges, experiences, and milestones in each of their own unique grief journeys. These discussions give insight into each guests experience with loss, and what it means for each of their families, especially their children. Changing dynamics, distractions and faith are all discussed in the final episode of Guide Through Grief Season 1.
 
Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief
 
 About Guide Through Grief: Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this. #Grief #Grieving #Widower

In the ninth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom and his guests, Mike and Shane, discuss their challenges, experiences, and milestones in each of their own unique grief journeys. Although no two grief journeys are the same, the value of sharing perspectives holds fast. This episode is not about comparing each others personal experiences but observing and respecting all aspects of another persons loss. These discussions give insight into each guests experience with loss, and what it means for each of their families, especially their children. Changing dynamics, distractions and faith are all discussed in this powerful episode of Guide Through Grief Season 1.
 
Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief
 
 About Guide Through Grief: Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this. #Grief #Grieving #Widower

In the eighth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Dr. Ryan Stivers discuss the importance of asking for help in difficult times of grieving. In Tom's personal grief journey there where many moments of struggle and heartbreak. These moments materialized in many ways, some expected and some unexpected. By having conversations and vulnerability with Ryan, as well as others close to him, Tom was able to face some incredibly difficult challenges, and begin to heal. There is not often a clear path when journeying through grief, and things are bound to be difficult, but with vulnerability and the strength to ask for help, there is always a way forward.
 
Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief
 
 About Guide Through Grief: Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this. #Grief #Grieving #Widower

In the seventh episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Bob Woolsey discuss the loneliness that comes with grief. What was once a partnership between Tom and Lesley became a solo endeavor, creating challenges and heartache. Making weighty decisions on his own, such as where to live, how to raise their sons, and what to do next, now fell solely on Tom. Coping with this loneliness is an ever-developing struggle for Tom, but with support groups, friendships, and therapy, Tom has found strength in some of his hardest moments.
 
Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief
 
About Guide Through Grief: Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this.
 
#Grief #Grieving #Widower

In the sixth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Bob Woolsey discuss Tom's personal experience in navigating distractions. The need for healthy distractions, as well as the dangers of even the most innocent distractions becoming addictive, will all be tackled in this episode. From taking care of his sons, work, cleaning, and even travel, distractions are inevitable, and even necessary in coping with grief. However, the potential for unhealthy distractions is ever-present and difficult to catch and regulate. When distractions become addictive, it's important to be mindful and open to professional help. By sharing some of his personal experience, Tom hopes to illuminate some scenarios in which distractions can begin to shift from normal to potentially counterproductive in processing grief.
 
Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief
 
 About Guide Through Grief: Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this. #Grief #Grieving #Widower

In the fifth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Bob Woolsey discuss Tom's grief and the importance of embracing it. Grief is an emotion that the entire human race will feel at some point in their lives. With this in mind, reconciling and even having gratitude for the experience of grief is one of the hardest and most important challenges we all will face. When we are lucky enough to experience relationships that matter so much that the weight of their absence is unavoidable, it's hard to move forward. However, when we acknowledge the power of the word "AND" as we navigate life in grief, it brings us closer to experiencing the gratitude that can be found in grief.
 
Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief
 
 About Guide Through Grief: Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this. #Grief #Grieving #Widower

In the fourth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Dr. Ryan Stivers talk about the importance of therapy, not only concerning Tom's mental health journey, but also in general. For Tom, grief created a world where he felt guilty and ashamed of how he was grieving. Through meeting with Ryan, Tom discovered a safe space to share his struggles, thoughts, and goals moving forward. Therapy paired with meetings with Father Patrick, grief share groups, and church groups created a diverse approach to Tom's personal healing. The collaboration therapy facilitated for Tom was invaluable in his grief journey. In this episode, Dr. Stivers will share his experience and knowledge regarding grief therapy and the practical applications of therapy overall.
 
Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief
 
 About Guide Through Grief: Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this. #Grief #Grieving #Widower

In the third episode of Guide Through Grief,  Tom Van Ness and Father Patrick Smith talk through some of the spiritual challenges Tom has faced while processing Lesley's passing. Throughout Tom and Lesley's marriage, Father Patrick has played a large part in their story. He officiated their wedding, baptized their sons, and walked with Tom through the organizing of Lesley's funeral. Even since Lesley's passing, Tom and Father Patrick have maintained a strong fellowship, weaving together God's omnipresence with Tom's emotional and spiritual healing. 
Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief
About Guide Through Grief:
Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this.
#Grief #Grieving #Widower

In the second episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Bob Woolsey talk through the weeks following Lesley's passing. Tom reflects on the difficult challenges that awaited him as he traveled back home to Illinois. Telling his seven and eight-year-old sons that their mother had passed, organizing the funeral, and writing his wife's obituary were only some of the daunting tasks that Tom had to wrestle through. Through tears and heartbreak, Tom persisted and thoughtfully organized Lesley's funeral in a way that honored her incredible legacy of strength and compassion. With the support of his community, friends, and family, Tom began navigating the unthinkable. Laying his wife to rest.
Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief
About Guide Through Grief:
Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this.
#Grief #Grieving #Widower