In this heartfelt episode of The Holistic Grief Coach Podcast, Kayleigh speaks with Denise Turner from Windsor, Ontario, a certified Holistic Grief Coach whose experience of loss has shaped both her life and her calling.

Denise talks about her father’s passing from Alzheimer’s in 2017, a moment that marked not only the end of his life but the beginning of her own search for meaning in grief. What started in heartbreak became a six-year journey of learning, reflection, and deep personal healing; from studying thanatology (the study of death, dying, and bereavement) to discovering the role that art, creativity, and self-compassion played in helping her find her way through.

In this conversation, Denise reflects on:

• The “long goodbye” of Alzheimer’s and the haze that follows profound loss

• What she came to understand through studying grief, both academically and personally

• How art, creativity, and shadow work supported her recovery

• The reality of imposter syndrome and why lived experience truly matters

• How completing the Holistic Grief Coach Certification helped her bring everything together into a new sense of purpose

Denise’s story is a reminder that grief doesn’t disappear, it changes. With presence, openness, and compassion, it can become a source of understanding and light.

✨ If you’re grieving, you may find comfort in Denise’s honesty.

✨ If you’re exploring the idea of becoming a grief coach, her journey shows how personal experience can grow into meaningful work.

Learn more about the Holistic Grief Coach Certification:⁠⁠ Holistic Grief Coach Certification January 2026⁠⁠