Today I turn the microphone Caro's direction as she sits on the other side of the interview for a change. Many of you know Caro Brookings from her semi-yearly Interview Series. Twice a year Caro holds these amazing speaker series where you can hear 20+ suicide loss experts share their experiences and knowledge. I have been privileged to be a guest speaker all 4 times plus the upcoming one next week, Nov 6-10, 2023. In her words: "After my Mum took her life in 2013, I quickly realized that there isn't enough support out there for suicide loss survivors. I struggled with complex grief, includin ..read more

Today you are getting the much-anticipated, long promised (& finally here)- friends roundtable episode! And it was so. worth. the. wait! After loss it feels like (publicly) there is so much that is centered around the immediate family and friends often seem 'forgotten' or definitely might feel unseen in their grief. It's really important to me to give them a voice because their loss was NOT small or inconsequential, at all! It was so very relevant and important in their lives! Today I talk with three amazing humans who all lost a dear friend to suicide. A fourth friend who couldn't join ..read more

Today I am sharing my guest appearance with host Mathew Blades & Dr. Frank Bevacqua on the "Learn from People Who Lived It" Podcast. LISTEN to THIS EPISODE HERE Below I have copied Mathew's show notes from this episode: Putting the Pieces Back Together with Melissa Bottorff-Arey In this episode, you'll hear: How Melissa was able to make peace with the guilt she had over the incident What she would have done differently and what it looks like to be a "safe person" How she handled Alex’s death with her other two children (I am omitting my Bio which was here because its already on my site ..read more

Today I speak with mama to Macoy, Jolee Hicks and mom to Noah, Valerie Norris. Alongside each other these moms each wrote chapters containing memories and stories of their wonderful sons. I also wrote a chapter about Alex as well.  Among other things we discuss: Why they signed up for the project What areas they grew in - or how they grew If they would recommend this project to other moms, and why? These ladies are so brave and so dynamic  - I am so very proud of the and feel honored to now call them friends! Get a copy of the book & delight in knowing Noah, Macoy & Alex ..read more

Today I have a poignant conversation with Abby Dart... a suicide widow of 19 years. Her husband Steve died by suicide in 2004 when her 5 children were only 8,10, 12, 13 & 17 (now, 26,29,31,32, & 36 to put it in perspective). Because Steve was in the public eye (in politics) and they had to figure out to grieve publicly while trying to find private time as a family. We pack a LOT into our time together and this was a very enlightening chat. "I wonder if I'm just still trying to find myself. Because I feel I was robbed of my future, I was, with my husband... And I never really figured i ..read more

Today I go "down the rabbit hole" to discuss a touchy subject ... or at least a difficult and complicated one. But this is a difficult and complicated journey, isn't it? Today I discuss my thoughts on if our "before" - our old life and self - will ever be relevant again.    You will hear me discuss: The first three years - survival, hope and healing. Grief Vs Complicated (or Unresolved) Grief Grieving Vs Trauma - yes, they are different. and more ... And speaking of this loss and the trauma associated with it... do you need to start your trauma healing journey? I have created a goo ..read more

Today I share my conversation with the amazing Jill Cowan, Max's mom, who lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada.  Their family was devastated, and their lives shattered.  "Jill is a fellow survivor parent, having lost her beloved son, Maximilian (Max) in March of 2015. Max was just 16 years old. She is also the mother of two surviving children, Zachary and Neave-Marie, a surrogate mommy to Jinx the cat, and wife to a fiery Scottish man, Brian. Jill blogs about navigating her journey of survivorship, and loves all things related to art, fashion and adventure! Jill was a preschool te ..read more

Today I go down the rabbit hole to discuss the words we choose, and why, and how do we even ever become more comfortable with talking about this and saying or choosing the words that we are OK with?  You will hear me discuss: The words we choose to refer to their birthday and the day they died. Why we choose these words. Is there a right or wrong thing to say?  How to grow forward in this area -- and our grief Why knowledge = power and more ... And speaking of the trauma... do you need to start your trauma healing journey? I have created a good place to start ...FIND my "Growth in ..read more

Today we are going to break this down -- how are healing and grief different? Do we heal our grief? Is trauma and grief the same? What do we do with the sadness and love that live alongside each other ??  You will hear me discuss: The differences between grief and trauma growing in grief v healing trauma What time passing does (and doesn't) do the common places we get "stuck" in our healing (& whY) My Trauma healing course  (see link below)  and more ... FIND my "Growth in Grief; Healing our Mind, Body & Spirit" COURSE INFO HERE and for reading the show notes, I have ..read more

Today I go "down the rabbit hole" to discuss a topic many of us suicide loss survivors discuss often -- Suicide Prevention -- and what DOES it mean? It sure comes off as shameful more than helpful a lot -- or does it? Are we just too sensitive?? Well, I don't think so, BUT I also think we have to lead the effort to change the messaging because most people in charge of it -- just don't get it, for a good reason - they haven't experienced a suicide loss  - so, "we" have to be willing to lead the charge in making a change.... right?  This is a starting point of how I feel, and I hope t ..read more