If you’ve ever wondered what truly helps someone in grief, episode 402 of Grief and Happiness is for you. Mindset coach and certified grief educator Kathleen Quinn shares how losing her husband during COVID reshaped her view of grief as something we live with, not move past. Through moments like freezing in a grocery store parking lot and the power of saying a loved one’s name, she shows why presence matters more than words.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
(00:55) How loss led Kathleen Quinn to grief Education
(03:46) Why grief doesn’t end—and how we live with it
(04:40) Why saying the person’s name matters
(06:50) Questions that help grievers feel seen
(08:57) Losing a spouse during COVID and anticipatory grief
(12:10) Finding purpose after profound loss
(15:07) Why listening matters more than fixing
(17:50) The arc of grief: anticipatory to mature
(19:30) Why capable people freeze in early grief
(22:16) How journaling supports healing over time
Kathleen Quinn is a mindset coach, grief educator, and speaker based in Madison, Wisconsin. With more than 30 years of experience in university leadership and development, she brings deep listening skills and a grounded, compassionate approach to her work. After losing her husband during the height of the COVID pandemic, Kathleen became a certified grief educator through training with renowned grief expert David Kessler, integrating grief literacy into her Coaching practice. Today, she helps individuals navigate loss, life transitions, boundaries, and self-worth with Clarity, presence, and humanity.
In Episode 402, Kathleen offers a thoughtful and deeply human perspective on grief, shaped by both personal loss and professional experience. She reframes grief as something we learn to live with rather than “move on” from, emphasizing the importance of presence, listening, and naming those who have died. Kathleen introduces key ideas such as grief literacy, secondary losses, and the natural arc of grief—from anticipatory grief to a stage where Love outweighs pain. Through practical examples, she shows how small, intentional acts of listening and asking better questions can help grieving people feel truly seen and supported, reminding listeners that compassion often matters more than words.
Connect with Kathleen Quinn:
Let’s Connect:
The Grief and Happiness Alliance
Book: Emily Thiroux Threatt – Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief
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