EPISODE 105: GABRIELLE KAUFFMAN-COPING WITH LOSS

 

This week we welcome back Gabrielle Kaufman MA,LPCC, BC-DMT, NCC a clinical counselor with over 20 years of experience in the helping profession who currently serves as the Director of Training and Technical Assistance at Maternal Mental Health Now. An organization that works to ensure mothers are receiving proper diagnosis and mental health support during pregnancy, postpartum and beyond. 

She is back to talk about loss, grief and how to get through a difficult time in your life, and how to be supportive to someone in your life who has lost a child. 

We talk about the many types of losses mothers can experience and how infertility struggles can trigger the same type of feelings as the death of a child. 

"We should be vulnerable and open with our friends especially during difficult times." 

She also gives advice and words of comfort to mothers and families dealing with a loss and shares tips on rituals and things that you can do to navigate the various emotions you are experiencing. 

Gabrielle shares with us what to say, what not to say, and what to do during these difficult times. Why we should resist the urge to stay quiet and avoid painful topics.

Show Notes:

Museo El Trompo Tijuana

T-Ball Set

Gabrielle Kauffman

MissFoundation.org- Peer led support group for mothers who had a loss

Stillbirthday.com- A pregnancy loss is still a birthday

Tips and Picks of the Week:

Paulina: Seat of the Soul - I highly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to learn more about the spiritual and the non-physical. If you just went through a loss this book might give you a different lens from which to analyze death. Also, Oprah read this over 30 times! 

Gabrielle: What Not To Say After A Loss- Don’t say “everything happens for a reason” after someone had a loss. I would always shy away from saying things like, “your baby is with the angels.” While these are well meaning things to say they will not be comforting to someone who just went through a loss. 

Bricia: You can be there for your friend just by delivering food, or a cup of coffee. After a loss even errands like grocery shopping can be hard and so you can even have groceries delivered through an app, like Instacart 

Photo: Pixabay