Grief doesn’t look the same at every age.

In this episode (33) of the GRIEF Ladies, we’re joined by clinical social worker Jennifer Kimlingen to talk about how children process loss, why grief can resurface at different developmental stages, and how adults can create safe, supportive environments for grieving kids.

You’ll hear:

• How children express grief at different ages

• Why routine and structure help during acute loss

• The role of self-compassion for caregivers

• Storytelling as a powerful way to honor loved ones

• Why it’s okay not to have all the answers

No child should ever grieve alone — and caregivers deserve support, too.

As always, we close with practical steps you can try this week.

Guest Bio:

Jennifer Kimlingen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose passion is helping to create a more compassionate and accepting culture towards those who are grieving. Jennifer believes that humans can benefit from removing the fear and barriers around death and death Education! She cares deeply about improving children’s grief and bereavement experiences and presents on the topic every chance she gets! She is a Trauma-Thriver and hopeful to help as many other people as she can to develop their own meaning of survival and resilience, after facing some of the worst this life has to offer. Jennifer credits her father for her strong values and ethics, which led to her social work education and completion of her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Adelphi University in 2014. Her career background includes medical social work, grief and bereavement counseling and private practice. Jennifer currently provides grief education for Mental Health clinicians through the Agents of Change Continuing Education online platform. Her specializations include grief and bereavement, trauma and traumatic grief and loss. Jennifer is currently employed as a bereavement counselor with Choices Health (Hospice & Community Care & Hospice of Central Pennsylvania) and lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

Connect with Jennifer:

Direct Office # 717-598-4343

Email- [email protected]

https://www.hospiceofcentralpa.org/our-services/bereavement/

Grief Education and Webinars with Agents of Change:

https://agentsofchangeprep.com/continuing-education/live-ce-event-grief-therapy-recent-developments-and-applications/

https://agentsofchangeprep.com/continuing-education/course-detail/childs-grief-journey/

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.

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Kelly Daugherty 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.