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  • 038: Grief Recovery in the Workplace: Healing Beyond Loss with Michele Mariscal
    2025/09/29

    Welcome back to the Feel Free Again Podcast! In today’s episode, I’m joined by grief recovery specialist Michele Mariscal, who brings over 8 years of experience helping people process grief through the Grief Recovery Method. We dive deep into her unique journey—from molecular biology to esoteric philosophy—and how these experiences shaped her approach to grief and healing. Michelle shares how her personal grief journey inspired her to become certified in grief recovery and how she uses powerful tools like HeartMath to help people heal from emotional trauma in both personal and workplace settings.

    Connect with Michele:

    https://energym.org/

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelemariscal-phdgrief/

    https://www.facebook.com/michele.mariscal/

    https://www.amazon.com/GROWING-THROUGH-GRIEF-Alchemy-Healing/dp/1791800246/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1

    Grief is often misunderstood, and we’re shedding light on its far-reaching impacts—especially in the workplace. Employers and coworkers often fail to recognize the daily grief events that impact productivity, mental health, and relationships. Michelle shares how grief recovery can support employees in overcoming unresolved grief, helping them process not only personal loss but also unspoken disappointments, broken relationships, and unmet expectations. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand grief beyond the obvious and learn about the transformative tools that can change the way we communicate and heal, whether in our personal lives or at work.

    Tune in as we explore the often-overlooked concept of "emotional maintenance," how unresolved grief impacts workplace dynamics, and why it’s crucial for employers to integrate grief recovery into their employee wellness programs. Whether you’ve experienced personal loss or are navigating unresolved emotions in your workplace, this episode offers valuable insights on how to heal and move forward.

    Chapters:

    00:00 - Introduction to the Episode

    00:06 - Michelle Mariscol’s Background and Grief Recovery Work

    01:50 - From Molecular Biology to Esoteric Philosophy

    03:43 - Michelle’s Personal Grief Journey and the Catalyst for Certification

    06:01 - Finding the Grief Recovery Method in 2017

    08:25 - The Power of the Grief Recovery Method as a "Template"

    10:36 - The First Steps in Michelle's Grief Recovery Practice

    12:57 - Grief in the Workplace: A Hidden Epidemic

    15:23 - The Importance of Emotional and Mental Health for Employees

    17:50 - How Grief Recovery Can Prevent Workplace Conflict

    21:15 - Addressing Unmet Expectations and Grief in Career Development

    23:33 - Understanding “Emotional Maintenance” in the Workplace

    27:00 - How Grief Recovery Tools Strengthen Employee Relationships

    31:12 - The Role of Grief Recovery in Post-Trauma Communities

    34:02 - HeartMath and Grief Recovery: A Powerful Combination

    38:21 - Wrapping Up and Michelle’s Final Thoughts on Grief

    41:09 - Where to Find Michelle and Connect with Her Services

    44:00 - Conclusion and Call to Action: Share This Episode

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    56 分
  • 037: Military's Grief Recovery Challenges: Sandy Wheeler's Journey Through Grief and PTSD
    2025/09/15

    In this episode of the Feel Free Again podcast, host Cole James interviews Sandy Wheeler, a Vietnam veteran and creator of the Life's Final Thoughts app. The conversation explores the importance of emotional communication, especially in the context of grief and loss. Sandy shares his personal experiences with PTSD and the impact of unresolved grief, particularly in military settings.

    The app aims to help individuals record video messages for their loved ones, preserving their voices and messages for future generations. The discussion emphasizes the need for emotional debriefing, the role of family in healing, and the significance of leaving a legacy through meaningful communication.

    Connect with Sandy: https://www.lifesthoughts.com

    Chapters:

    00:00 - Introduction to Sandy Wheeler and His Mission

    06:12 -Sandy's Journey Through Grief and PTSD

    12:24 - The Impact of Technology on Grief Recovery

    18:03 - Creating Lasting Memories Through Video Messages

    23:51 - The Importance of Emotional Communication

    29:51 - Collaborative Efforts in Grief Recovery

    35:42 - Technical Difficulties and Transition

    36:56 - The Military's Grief Recovery Challenges

    40:26 - The Impact of Grief on Individuals

    42:34 - Communication and Emotional Intelligence

    44:56 - Understanding the Warrior's Experience

    48:45 - The Power of Personal Videos

    51:32 - Navigating Estranged Relationships

    55:12 - Final Thoughts on Love and Legacy

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    1 時間 6 分
  • 036: Healing from Church Hurt: How Grief Recovery Transforms Communities
    2025/09/02

    In this powerful episode of the Feel Free Again podcast, I chat with Amy Diane Ross, a Grief Recovery Method Specialist and Bible teacher, about her transformative journey through grief and healing. Amy's story is deeply personal – she started this work as a way to help others but ended up healing her own heart in ways she never anticipated. From dealing with childhood trauma to navigating complex relationships, she found profound freedom through the Grief Recovery Method. Her experience proves that emotional healing is not just about overcoming loss, but about learning how to process grief to live fully in the present.

    Amy's passion for emotional wellness within the Christian community is contagious. She discusses the importance of offering healing tools in church settings and how they can help create healthier, more compassionate congregations. With years of ministry and outreach work, Amy shows us that meeting people where they are emotionally – without judgment – is key to real transformation. Whether you are dealing with grief from personal loss or church hurt, Amy shares how these methods can help you find peace and forgiveness. If you're struggling with emotional pain or unfinished grief, this conversation is a must-listen.

    Amy’s approach emphasizes the power of self-disclosure, vulnerability, and using grief recovery tools to create lasting healing in our lives and communities. Tune in and discover how grief recovery can restore your emotional health, strengthen your relationships, and deepen your faith journey.

    Connect with Amy:

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amydianeross/

    Website: https://www.bethechurchministry.com/

    Timestamps with Titles:

    00:00 - Introduction to Amy Diane Ross and Her Journey Cole and Amy dive into her background and the work she does with Grief Recovery.

    02:10 - How Amy Found the Grief Recovery Method Amy shares the emotional journey that led her to discover grief recovery, after losing her father.

    04:40 - The Power of a Listening Heart: Amy’s Personal Healing Experience Amy describes the transformative impact of being truly heard during her grief recovery process.

    07:10 - Grief Recovery in Christian Communities: A Missing Link Why this method is essential in helping the Christian community heal from emotional pain.

    09:40 - The Importance of Emotional Healing in Churches Amy explains why churches need tools like grief recovery to help people emotionally process loss.

    13:00 - Church Hurt and Unresolved Grief: How It Affects Congregations Exploring how grief and pain are often overlooked in church communities and the damage that can cause.

    16:20 - How Grief Recovery Builds Trust and Vulnerability in Relationships The crucial role that emotional openness plays in building deeper, authentic relationships.

    19:00 - Emotional Health for Pastors: Why They Need Grief Recovery Too Amy discusses the importance of pastors and leaders undergoing grief recovery to avoid burnout.

    22:30 - Why Grief Recovery Should Be the First Step in Discipleship The benefits of starting with grief recovery before diving into Bible-based counseling.

    30:00 - Practical Tools for Dealing with Grief and Trauma Amy talks about how the grief recovery tools provide a systematic approach to healing emotional pain.

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    1 時間 4 分
  • 035: How to Help Student Athletes Handle Pressure & Emotions with Coach Caelyn Caulfield
    2025/08/18

    When I sat down with Caelyn Caulfield, I knew this conversation would hit home for so many coaches, parents, and athletes. As a varsity basketball head coach and future school counselor, she’s bringing the grief recovery tools she’s learned into the gym, the classroom, and her everyday life with students. What stood out most to me is how intentional she is about giving her team space to process emotions—not just run plays.

    Too often, coaches and parents expect kids to "shake it off" or hide their feelings when they miss a shot, lose a game, or face personal struggles. But as Caelyn shared, those unresolved emotions don’t disappear—they follow kids into the next practice, the classroom, and even into adulthood. By creating weekly team meetings that focus on themes like trust, she’s building stronger athletes and healthier young women who know it’s okay to feel and process life as it comes.

    This episode is a call to action for every coach, teacher, and parent: emotions aren’t a distraction from the game—they’re the foundation of growth. Whether you’re on the field, in the dugout, or at home cheering in the stands, we all have a responsibility to model emotional health for the next generation. I think you’ll walk away from this conversation inspired to lead with more compassion and intentionality—on and off the court.

    Chapters:

    00:00 - Introduction to Unresolved Emotions

    01:39 - Caelyn Caulfield's Journey to Certification

    04:09 - Applying Emotional Tools in Coaching

    08:23 - Creating a Safe Space for Emotions

    12:24 - The Importance of Vulnerability in Sports

    16:11 - Building Trust and Team Dynamics

    20:34 - The Work Behind Emotional Coaching

    24:37 - Navigating Change and Grief in Teams

    33:19 - Navigating Emotions in Youth Sports

    36:09 - Building Relationships and Accountability

    39:28 - Understanding Grief in Young Athletes

    43:41 - The Impact of Unfinished Business on Coaching

    48:05 - Connecting with Students in Detention

    54:40 - Emotional Engagement in Coaching and Life

    Cole James, President of the Grief Recovery Institute, shares about the Power of Grief Recovery! Cole is dedicating his life to help people with grief. Now, grief is much more than just losing someone. Did you know that? You've probably heard of the Five Stages of Grief, right? Well, this goes much deeper than you think. Let me explain. Everyone has some type of grief in their lives, some haven't yet, but it's part of life. We can't escape it, BUT we can work through it. And you don't have to do it alone. Let's talk about it.

    We have trained Grief Recovery Method Specialists, who help heartbroken people, in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, Central America, South America, and North America. The Grief Recovery Method Certification Program is taught and available in multiple languages including: English, Spanish, Swedish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, and Russian. Our home office is in the United States and serves English-speaking nations and populations around the world, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Commonwealth Nations. In addition, we have international affiliate offices in Sweden, Australia, Mexico, and Hungary.

    Our goal is to help as many people as possible, which is why our books have been translated into over 30 languages including: Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Ukrainian, Russian, and many more.

    For more information visit: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/

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    1 時間 6 分
  • 034: Finding Purpose After Losing Loved Ones - It is possible with Laylani Colibri
    2025/08/04

    In this episode of the Feel Free Again podcast, host Cole James engages in a heartfelt conversation with Laylani Colibri, formerly known as Laura Jack. Leilani shares her transformative journey through grief after the sudden loss of her mother, which catalyzed her path towards becoming a grief recovery specialist.

    Connect with Laylani:

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laylanicolibri/

    Websites: https://linktr.ee/lsjack?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

    She discusses her discovery of the Grief Recovery Method, her experiences in training, and the evolution of grief recovery training into the digital age. The conversation also delves into Laylani's courageous decision to change her name and live authentically, emphasizing the importance of making personal choices that align with one's true self.

    Throughout the episode, Laylani's passion for helping others navigate their grief and find healing shines through, making for an inspiring and insightful discussion. In this conversation, Laylani Colibri shares her journey of navigating parental expectations, the impact of grief on her identity, and the importance of self-acceptance.

    She discusses how her mother's death influenced her relationship with her father and her struggle with people-pleasing. The dialogue explores the nuances of emotional responsibility in relationships and the significance of compassionate communication. Laylani introduces her book, The Compassion Code, which aims to help individuals support others through their challenges while also taking care of themselves.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 - Introduction to Laylani Colibri

    02:10 - Laylani Colibri's Journey Through Grief

    09:36 - Discovering the Grief Recovery Method

    12:21- Becoming a Grief Recovery Specialist

    19:10 - The Evolution of Grief Recovery Training

    25:10 -Living Authentically: Laylani Colibri's Name Change

    28:11 - Empowering Others Through Personal Choices

    28:50 - Navigating Parental Expectations and Personal Freedom

    31:14 - The Impact of Grief on Identity and Relationships

    35:18 - The Journey of Self-Acceptance and Loving Choices

    39:58 - Understanding Emotional Responsibility in Relationships

    53:11 - The Compassion Code: Bridging Grief and Compassionate Communication

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    1 時間 4 分
  • 033: Challenging Myths About Child Loss & Finding the Right Support
    2025/07/21

    In this episode of the Feel Free Again podcast, host Cole James speaks with Kira Pertuit, a certified grief recovery method specialist, about her personal journey through grief after losing her daughter. Kira shares her struggles with traditional grief support and how she discovered the grief recovery method, which helped her heal and transform her life.

    They discuss the common myths surrounding grief, particularly the belief that time alone heals, and emphasize the importance of taking action to process grief. Kira highlights the possibility of finding joy and fulfillment in life despite the pain of loss, and they explore the emotional complexities of grieving, especially in the context of losing a child.

    The conversation aims to challenge misconceptions about grief and encourage listeners to seek support and healing. In this conversation, Cole James and Kira Pertuit explore the complexities of grief, the importance of finding the right support systems, and the transformative power of grief recovery methods. They discuss personal experiences with loss, the challenges of navigating grief in community settings, and the impact of unresolved grief on relationships and mental health.

    Kira shares her work in the Montana Women's Prison, highlighting the effectiveness of grief recovery tools in helping incarcerated women process their grief and find healing. The discussion emphasizes the need for emotional completeness in relationships and the importance of addressing grief in a constructive manner.

    Connect with Kira:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aspensangelsmt

    Website: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/grms/kira-pertuit

    00:00 - Introduction to Grief Recovery

    01:03 - Kira's Personal Journey with Grief

    03:14 - The Impact of Time on Grief

    05:42 - Navigating the Loss of a Child

    08:45 - Finding Joy Amidst Grief

    10:50 - Understanding Sadness vs. Pain

    11:44 - The Process of Grieving

    15:54 - Timing in Grief Recovery

    18:32 - The Role of Identity in Grief

    20:50 - The Balance of Emotions in Grief

    22:01 - Challenging Myths About Child Loss

    24:52 - Navigating Grief: Finding the Right Support

    32:28 - Understanding the Impact of Loss on Relationships

    36:25 - Empowering Change: Grief Recovery in Prisons

    42:56 - Tools for Emotional Completeness in Daily Life

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    55 分
  • 032: Helping Children Heal: A New Approach to Grief in Schools - with Deborah Brown
    2025/07/07

    In this heartfelt episode, Cole James interviews Deborah Brown, founder of GIFTS (Grief Information for Teachers and Services), a UK-based initiative focused on supporting children through grief using the Grief Recovery Method. Deborah shares her deeply personal journey through grief, beginning with the death of her mother in 2013 and then her sister in 2016. Both losses were profound and compounded by the pressure to “stay strong” for her children, which led Deborah to suppress her own emotions and carry the weight of unprocessed grief.

    Her turning point came after a colleague gently encouraged her to seek support, helping her realize that staying busy wasn't healing. That moment prompted her to explore resources, though she struggled to find a grief tool that actually helped—until she encountered the Grief Recovery Method. Deborah later became a certified specialist and began teaching the Helping Children with Loss course to educators, health professionals, clergy, and others who work with children.

    Through her experiences, Deborah recognized that unresolved grief in children is often overlooked—especially when it comes to losses like divorce, terminal illness in the family, or even the death of a pet. In response, she developed the Lessons in Loss journal series to give kids a safe outlet to process emotions. These include guides for specific events such as losing a parent, suicide, imprisonment of a loved one, and more. Each journal is paired with an adult support guide to equip parents, teachers, and caregivers with practical tools to engage with grieving children.

    The episode emphasizes the urgent need for adults to do their own grief work so they can model healthy emotional processing for children. As Cole notes, “We can't help kids grieve well if we haven't done it ourselves.” Both he and Deborah challenge leaders and parents to be courageous in facing their own pain—because dysregulated adults can’t support dysregulated children.

    Deborah ends by encouraging listeners to reflect on what might be holding them back from healing and to take action. Her final words: “You need to be able to complete with that… Put yourself first, and don’t take anything except the absolute best for you.”

    Connect with Deborah: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mrs-Deborah-Jane-Brown/author/B0CCZW3KTZ?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=d7124efd-a0c2-4833-a155-a528ab5481a8

    Timestamps:

    00:00 – From Grief to Purpose: Deborah’s Story Begins

    03:35 – The Loss That Changed Everything

    06:45 – A Second Blow: Losing Her Sister Too Soon

    10:01 – When Staying Busy Becomes a Mask

    13:45 – Anger, Denial, and the Misuse of Grief Stages

    17:05 – Grieving Children Are Everywhere—and Often Missed

    22:00 – The Power of the Grief Recovery Method

    25:41 – Teaching Teachers to Heal: The HCWL Course

    29:25 – Why We Must Equip Adults Before We Can Heal Children

    33:50 – Lessons in Loss: Journals That Give Kids a Voice

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    1 時間
  • 031: How Grief Affects Your Health with Doctor Emőke Sarungi
    2025/06/30

    In this episode of the Feel Free Again podcast, Cole James interviews Dr. Emőke Sarungi, a psychiatrist and the leader of the Grief Recovery Institute in Hungary.

    They discuss Dr. Emőke personal journey with grief, the establishment of the Grief Recovery Institute, and the importance of addressing grief in living relationships. Dr. Emőke shares her experiences with college students and how the grief recovery method has transformed her life and the lives of others. The conversation emphasizes the significance of emotional communication and creating a supportive community for grievers.

    In this conversation, Cole James and Dr. Emőke Sarungi explore the profound impact of relationships on emotional health, the journey of navigating cancer, and the importance of grief recovery. Dr. Emőke shares her personal experiences with cancer and how the grief recovery method has helped her cope with her emotions and maintain connections with loved ones.

    Connect with Dr. Emőke Sarungi:https://sarungi.hu/index.php/bemutatkozas/

    The Grief Recovery Method® originated in the USA in the 1970s from the Grief Recovery Institute founded and led by John W. James and Russell Friedman. Since then, centers that use the method and train grief recovery method specialists have been established and are operating in several countries and in Hungary. Under the leadership of Andrea Herke Dahlgren, a grief recovery method specialist trained in Sweden and Los Angeles, the method has been taught in Hungary since 2009 at the Grief Recovery Method® Hungary center, both in groups and individually, to help grieving people and people who have experienced a variety of emotional losses (divorce, breakup, job loss, loss of trust, moving, etc.). Based on the feedback from hundreds of participants so far and the results of the research conducted at the center so far, the self-help method can be effective in processing a variety of emotional losses and in preventing physical and mental health damage caused by unprocessed grief.

    The professional director of the center since 2012 is Dr. Emőke Sarungi, an adult and child psychiatrist, group analytical psychotherapist, and Grief Recovery Method® Trainer. She completed the Grief Recovery Specialist training at the Grief Recovery Institute in Los Angeles/Sherman Oaks in 2011 and 2015 with Russell Friedman, one of the developers of the method and the author of the book.

    Chapters

    00:00 - Introduction to Grief Recovery and Its Importance

    02:14 - Emőke's Journey to the Grief Recovery Method

    06:01 - Establishing the Grief Recovery Institute in Hungary

    09:36 - Engaging College Students with Grief Recovery

    13:27 - Personal Grief: Emőke's Experience with Her Father's Passing

    18:33 - The Impact of Grief Recovery on Living Relationships

    22:46 - Creating a Supportive Community for Grievers

    25:54 - Navigating Grief in Different Contexts

    29:32 - The Importance of Grief Recovery Before Losses Occur

    32:30 - The Importance of Relationships

    35:08 - Navigating Cancer and Emotional Recovery

    41:01 - Grief and the Body: A Personal Journey

    44:43 - The Impact of Grief on Health

    48:08 - Growing the Grief Recovery Method in Europe

    53:23 - Empowering Future Helpers

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    59 分