The Wall of Grief w/ Hannah Wachter, Grief Recovery Coach, Part 2
Oct 20, 2023
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Grief recovery coach Hannah Wachter shares insights on supporting suffering people, the impact of grief on the body, and making Christian spaces safe for grievers. They discuss the process of grief recovery, using media for healing, connecting with music during grief, and the importance of safe spaces and supportive relationships.
Grief affects multiple aspects of a person's life and can stem from various sources, necessitating genuine love and support in church communities.
Grief recovery coach, Hannah Walker, highlights the importance of prioritizing personal healing and setting boundaries while supporting others through their grief journeys.
Deep dives
Understanding the Impact of Grief
Grief is a burdensome experience that affects various aspects of a person's life, such as relationships, sleep, and daily functioning. It leaves individuals uncertain about moving forward. The podcast highlights that grief can stem from different sources, including job loss, disagreements with family members, or the loss of a loved one. Unfortunately, bringing grief to church often results in unhelpful responses. The podcast aims to provide solutions and ideas for connecting with grieving individuals and offering genuine love and support. Guest speaker Hannah Walker, a grief recovery coach, emphasizes the importance of creating space for one's own grief while also helping others through their own similar experiences.
The Power of Purpose in Personal Healing
Hannah Walker shares her personal experience of growing up in an abusive home, leading her to make a proactive decision to break the cycle of abuse and help others who have been hurt. By transforming her pain into a purpose of healing, she aims to ensure that nobody else experiences the same pain she went through. However, Hannah emphasizes the importance of prioritizing one's own healing and setting boundaries to avoid taking on too much. While still in the midst of her own grief journey, she finds joy in working with grieving individuals, offering support, and witnessing their healing journeys.
The Grief Recovery Process
Hannah Walker outlines her approach as a grief recovery coach, beginning with a connection call to understand an individual's grief and their story. She emphasizes the significance of creating a safe and non-judgmental environment. Hannah compares life to a garden, where grief represents the dead parts of the garden that require attention and nurturing. By addressing unsaid words, unmet dreams, and lingering pain, individuals can find peace and make room for healing. Hannah walks individuals through a seven-week process, helping them navigate myths about grief and coping mechanisms, while also focusing on specific losses and writing completion letters to facilitate closure.
The Value of Media and Community Support
The podcast delves into the importance of media and community support in the grieving process. Media can provide a platform for individuals to connect their personal experiences with fictional narratives, facilitating self-reflection and healing. The discussion highlights the significance of understanding the hidden effects of grief on physical and mental well-being, as well as the challenges of maintaining a composed public image while grieving privately. The podcast emphasizes the importance of fostering church communities that offer unconditional support, without judgment or pressure, allowing individuals to process their grief at their own pace and find solace in vulnerability and authentic connection.
In the second of our two part series on grief, church, and relationships, grief recovery coach Hannah Wachter returns to share lessons she has learned in how to support suffering people. From the physical toll grief takes on the human body to insights we can glean from popular culture, this episode focuses on how to become the kind of people that bring hope and life to grievers - and how to make Christian spaces safe for them.
Hannah Wachter is a Grief Recovery Coach serving in the greater Portland area, and serves as the Minister of Music at the Pleasant Valley Church in Happy Valley, Oregon. You can follow Hannah's work on Instagram or TikTok here: @stayroyalqueen
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