"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love." ~ Washington Irving
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Hello and Welcome. As it's said in the communities of grief, I'm sorry you are here and I'm glad you are here - seeking out support. Compassionate, gentle support is so vital and key in surviving and moving through grief.
My name is Kathy Hager and my husband, Pat and I, are parents to three sons. Our oldest son, Joe, died unexpectedly in 2017 and we - as individuals, as parents, as partners and as a family - have had to navigate our way through this devastating loss and grief. As I look back at that time, I felt numb, lost, angry, and unbelievably sad, and thankfully, we were supported by friends, support groups, other bereaved couples, therapists, books, and each other. Not everyone in our lives could be of support and I believe part of the reason is because our culture has not been set up to be grief and death literate. Even though we will all face death, loss and grief sometime in our lives, it's still so difficult to have open, compassionate discussions and freely express our emotions. According to David Kessler, the first of six needs for grievers is for our pain to be witnessed. This is what I want to offer to you - to witness your loss and your pain with compassion, gentleness, care and grace. This is a very challenging journey and can be so isolating. Please reach out today.
My experiences include a Grief Educator Certificate with David Kessler; Master's of Art in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy; and certifications in Prevention and Relationship Education Program (PREP), Restorative Justice Circle, and Awesome Women Circle.
Wishing you peace and gentleness,
Kathy Hager, MA
My name is Kathy Hager and my husband, Pat and I, are parents to three sons. Our oldest son, Joe, died unexpectedly in 2017 and we - as individuals, as parents, as partners and as a family - have had to navigate our way through this devastating loss and grief. As I look back at that time, I felt numb, lost, angry, and unbelievably sad, and thankfully, we were supported by friends, support groups, other bereaved couples, therapists, books, and each other. Not everyone in our lives could be of support and I believe part of the reason is because our culture has not been set up to be grief and death literate. Even though we will all face death, loss and grief sometime in our lives, it's still so difficult to have open, compassionate discussions and freely express our emotions. According to David Kessler, the first of six needs for grievers is for our pain to be witnessed. This is what I want to offer to you - to witness your loss and your pain with compassion, gentleness, care and grace. This is a very challenging journey and can be so isolating. Please reach out today.
My experiences include a Grief Educator Certificate with David Kessler; Master's of Art in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy; and certifications in Prevention and Relationship Education Program (PREP), Restorative Justice Circle, and Awesome Women Circle.
Wishing you peace and gentleness,
Kathy Hager, MA