Feeling like no one around you really gets it? You’re not alone and it’s one of the most common and least talked-about parts of grief.
In this bonus episode, Kelly Daugherty of Center for Informed Grief, LLC and Karyn Arnold from Grief in Common bring you the full recording of their free live workshop, Improving Communication: When No One Understands. This is the I in the G.R.I.E.F. Framework — Interacting — and it’s one of the topics they hear about most from grieving people across their communities, groups, and individual work.
In this episode, Kelly and Karyn cover:
- Why people in your life often don’t know what to say — and why that can hurt so much
- How grief-averse culture affects the support you do (and don’t) receive
- Why Relationships shift after a loss — even ones you thought were solid
- How to handle “How are you?” when the honest answer is complicated
- What to say, what not to say, and who to say it to
- Setting boundaries without losing relationships
- What to do when communication with someone is no longer possible
- The free letter templates Kelly and Karyn created to help you put your needs into words
Resources mentioned:
Free Letter Templates (PDF fillable — color & black/white): https://payhip.com/GRIEFLadies
Journals, workshops & meditations: https://payhip.com/GRIEFLadies
Free Grounding Meditation: www.griefladies.com/grief-meditation
Join the GRIEF Ladies Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Nd4DthFuc/
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KFpXenXZ_XM
Stay connected: 🎙 New podcast episodes every Wednesday at griefladies.com
GRIEF Ladies: A Guide to What Comes Next — coming soon!
GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next
If you’re ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you.
🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/
Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/
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The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers Education and support for people living with grief after someone they Love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional Mental Health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services.
Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.
The GRIEF Ladies grew from decades of clinical work, community building, and lived experience. It isn’t a checklist to “get over it.” It’s a path you can re-enter on the hardest days and the ordinary ones.
Kelly Daugherty from Center for Informed Grief and Karyn Arnold of Grief in Common first connected when Kelly was leading a collaborative grief book project and posted in a Facebook group looking for authors. Karyn responded, and from their very first conversation, the connection was instant. They discovered a shared passion for supporting grieving individuals and striking similarities in their approaches and professional paths. Both had worked in hospice, and both believed that there are practical tools that can truly help support someone on their grief journey.
That first book became The Grief Experience: Tools for Acceptance, Resilience, and Connection. From there, their collaboration grew naturally. What began with one project has blossomed into an ongoing partnership including building frameworks, workshops, and now the GRIEF Ladies Podcast to help others navigate life after loss with honesty and hope. Sign up for their newsletter to stay informed about their future ventures!
Karyn Arnold has served grievers for 25+ years as a facilitator, educator, and the founder of Grief in Common, an online community that connects people by shared experiences of loss. With a background in psychology and mind–body work, Karyn blends evidence-informed practice with simple daily actions that help people steady themselves and find support. She has guided thousands of grievers through groups, workshops, and online programs, and partners with clinicians and organizations to make grief resources easier to find and use.
Kelly Daugherty, LCSW-R, FT, BCC, is a clinician, educator, board-certified coach, and founder of the Center for Informed Grief in Malta, NY. A Fellow in Thanatology, Kelly has worked with individuals and families across hospice, schools, and private practice for over two decades. Her commitment to grief work began after her mother’s death during Kelly’s teen years, shaping a career focused on practical, compassionate support. Kelly develops trainings for educators and mental-health professionals, consults with schools on grief-informed practices, and leads community programs that normalize grief while teaching concrete skills. She believes accessible, plain-language tools can change how communities show up for one another.
