How to Cope with Grief: A Candid Conversation with Therapists, Dr. Lois Benishek, Dr. Marcy Chessler, and Dr. Kristin Bertsch, Ep.188
"Voices Behind the Veil: Therapists Unravel the Tapestry of Grief", with a brief introduction by Empowered By Design Podcast host, Dr. Lyz.
In this extraordinary podcast episode, four accomplished psychologists pull back the curtain on their private world, offering listeners a rare glimpse into the heart of therapeutic practice. These mental health practitioners, who span diverse specialties from leadership and career coaching to cultural humility training for physicians, gather regularly in a sacred space of consultation and connection.
What unfolds is a raw, intimate conversation that weaves together professional wisdom and personal vulnerability. As they share their own encounters with loss and relationship endings, these healers reveal the common thread of humanity that binds therapist and client alike.
The episode is a treasure trove of insights on grief counseling, sprinkled with professional resources and illuminated by personal anecdotes. Listeners will discover that grief isn't a linear journey but a series of waves, each unique to the individual experiencing it. The psychologists explore the power of maintaining bonds with those we've lost and the importance of community in the healing process.
This conversation is more than just a peek behind the therapy wall—it's a beacon of hope for anyone navigating the turbulent waters of loss. By sharing their own struggles and triumphs, these professionals offer a powerful reminder that even the healers sometimes need healing.
Ultimately, this episode is a testament to the transformative power of connection, authenticity, and shared experience. It's a must-listen for anyone seeking solace in their grief journey or looking to support others through theirs. Prepare to be moved, inspired, and perhaps even changed by this profound exploration of the human heart in its most vulnerable state.
Keywords
grief, loss, therapy, mental health, emotional support, connection, self-disclosure, identity, coping strategies, continuing bonds
188 | Season 10: Farewell Tour | Ep. 8
Empowered By Design Podcast Episode: 188 Show Notes and Links:
Marcy Chessler, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist based in Pennsylvania, where she currently maintains a private practice. She earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Temple University, where she later served as the Training Director at Temple University Counseling Services. Dr. Chessler has extensive training in grief and loss counseling, and her research has focused on adult attachment styles and adjustment to life-threatening illness. In her clinical work, she is passionate about helping individuals navigate transitions, build resilience, and find meaning through life’s most difficult experiences. Marcy Chessler, Ph.D.; [email protected]
Lois Benishek is a psychologist who has used her degrees in multicultural counseling and counseling psychology in a range of professional positions, that of faculty member, university administrator, addictions researcher, and most recently psychotherapist and career coach. Her interest in death, grief, and all sorts of goodbyes has been present since she was a child. She loves to R&R (rest and read) in cemeteries, the obituary section of a newspaper is among her favorite parts to read, and she strives to be intentional and present with various endings in her life. One of her favorite grief sayings is: Where there is sorrow, there is holy ground. (Oscar Wilde) Lois A. Benishek, PhD, Licensed Psychologist; Career Development Professional;
email: [email protected]
Dr. Bertsch is currently an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine and serves as the Course Director for the Community Service Learning & Leadership (CSLL) longitudinal curriculum and is the Project Director of New Jersey Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Grant. She is a psychologist by training and sees clients at the Rowan Family Medicine practice in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Dr. Bertsch completed her postdoctoral residency and doctoral internship at the University of Pennsylvania’s Counseling and Psychological Services. She earned her doctorate degree from Lehigh University and her master’s degree from Arcadia University. Within the healthcare community Dr. Bertsch is a recognized resource for working with those with multiple minoritized identities, training medical students on the impact of implicit bias on health care outcomes, and training students to culturally responsive well rounded physicians. She has taught at the graduate level, presented at numerous national conferences, and is a published author in her field. Her clinical interests include working with patients around life transitions, chronic illness, family relationships, LGBTQ+ identities, the intersection of identities (e.g., race, gender, sexual orientation), discrimination, trauma, and mood regulation. Kristin Bertsch, Ph.D., Counseling Psychologist; [email protected]
“Where there is sorrow, there is holy ground.” –Oscar Wilde
Anderson Cooper’s Podcast on grief: “All There Is” - https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/all-there-is-with-anderson-cooper
“Molly Shannon’s Unspeakable Loss”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/molly-shannons-unspeakable-loss/id1643163707?i=1000581645952
“Welcome to Holland” by Emily Perl Kingsley - https://www.emilyperlkingsley.com/welcome-to-holland
“How the Brain Rewires as We Grieve” - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/laugh-cry-live/202303/as-you-grieve-your-brain-redraws-its-neural-map
Robert Neimeyer’s Book: “Techniques of Grief Therapy: Creative Practices for Counseling the Bereaved”
Now Accepting Applications for our program for couples: “The Lovers Intensive” - Rebuild Trust; Rediscover your Magic; and Reclaim your Love! Learn more and apply here: https://www.drlyz.com/lovers-intensive
