TEXT TO REGISTER FOR NECK PONT CLASS 250 7343477
When my daughter Dakota passed away I was absolutely devastated. Apart from family and friends, I did a lot of work through beautiful souls that came my way.
You may have heard of the saying, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Well for me that was true.
Nanaimo Hospice- Based in Nanaimo BC - I took different programs here, and did counselling.
Lisa Michaud is a business coach. I was lucky enough to do one of her workshops that really got me thinking about how I wanted to move forward with my life after loosing Dakota. She has brilliant podcasts too.
Transcendence, all about overcoming fear, a 6 week online course run by Dave and Christine Wyllie
Grief work is not easy or fun, but I found it necessary and a good fit to help me move through my grief. It is part of my daily healing routine.
Survivor, Podcaster, Author, Speaker
Melissa Bottorff-Arey became a ‘survivor mom’ when, in August of 2016, her 21-year old son Alex, died by suicide. In an instant, her entire world completely shattered. For quite some time she wasn't sure how to even survive, let alone be 'okay'. Choosing to start the journey, one of picking up the leftover pieces is a hard one - but she got there. With a lot of hard work and support, she has learned to live successfully alongside her grief. Now, having rebuilt her life, she is a persistent champion in reducing the stigma around suicide, mental health, and traumatic grief. It has become her heart's mission is to create a community of comfort, connection, and healing - specifically for grieving parents who have lost a child by suicide. She has become an author, certified as a Master Grief Companion, and a trauma-informed Funeral Celebrant. Through her weekly podcast, an online community, and speaking engagements, she helps parents step toward hope and into healing so that they too may find meaning, and even happiness once again.
Contact me at melissa@theleftoverpieces.com
Find books on Amazon Here
Life after suicide loss is indeed nothing short of a wasteland of the leftover pieces of your shattered heart, of your former self.
As the host, Melissa, a mother who lost her 21-year old son Alex to suicide in 2016, has real conversations with other loss survivors, healers, and mental health experts. In these conversations, she explores the relevant topics and asks the hard questions we all need to talk about and hear answers to.
Nothing is 'off limit' as she delves into areas such as trauma, hope, healing, self-care, stigma, grief & mental health. Melissa believes that we learn to live alongside our grief, not get over it. Only through real, honest talk and mindful choices can we make a real difference. For a supporter or educator, these conversations hold nuggets of awareness and shine a spotlight on suicide and mental health in a real, and unapologetic, way. As a suicide loss griever, one can find the comfort of a community and hope for a little brighter tomorrow. Melissa wants to help others, like herself, go from just surviving to find a life with meaning, maybe even happiness, amid their own leftover pieces.
Find Podcast HERE
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