Join Sarah Peterson and her son Sylus on Enduring Grief as they explore the intricate impact of grief on family dynamics and the healing power of shared experiences. Sylus, a remarkable young man who has attended and now works with Camp Courage, shares how communal activities help grieving children realize they are not alone. Together, they discuss the unexpected ways grief strengthens some relationships while loosening others. Sarah and Sylus offer heartfelt insights and practical advice, particularly addressing the common guilt parents feel about changes in routines post-loss. Tune in to learn how normalizing emotions, keeping kids engaged, and fostering new rituals can create a supportive environment for healing. Don't miss this intimate and powerful conversation, a valuable opportunity for anyone seeking to understand the raw, transformative journey of living after loss.

Sarah Peterson is a licensed clinical social worker with over 13 years of experience in medical social work, hospice care and in private practice. As the founder of Clear Mourning, a nonprofit organization dedicated to shifting the culture of grief through innovation, support, and awareness, Sarah brings a deep understanding of grief and loss to her work. Her personal experiences, including the tragic loss of her two-year-old daughter and father, have profoundly shaped her mission to provide compassionate support to others navigating grief.

Sarah holds a Master of Social Work from Portland State University and has extensive experience in both private practice and nonprofit leadership. She also serves as an adjunct instructor at Portland State, runs her own private practice, and provides supervision for licensure candidates.

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Join host Sarah Peterson and her close friend Nora Smith as they explore the nuances of supporting someone through grief in this emotionally charged episode of "Enduring Grief." Discover why Nora insists on recognizing the rawness of grief without trying to soften it. Learn practical tips for pausing before offering words of comfort and hear about a unique colored hearts system that transformed their communication during the toughest moments. This episode provides heartfelt insights into maintaining relationships and supporting grievers with compassion and understanding, making it a must-listen for anyone navigating the convoluted paths of life after loss. Perfect for those seeking practical grief support advice and genuine stories of friendship amidst tragedy.

Nora Smith

Nora is a lifelong friend of Sarah and a devoted supporter of the Clear Mourning mission. As a yoga teacher and Clear Mourning staff member, she combines her expertise in mindfulness with her compassionate approach to helping others. Nora plays an integral role in supporting grievers, fostering connection, and contributing to innovative healing practices. Her commitment to creating safe spaces for growth and reflection makes her a cornerstone of the Clear Mourning team.

Sarah Peterson is a licensed clinical social worker with over 13 years of experience in medical social work, hospice care and in private practice. As the founder of Clear Mourning, a nonprofit organization dedicated to shifting the culture of grief through innovation, support, and awareness, Sarah brings a deep understanding of grief and loss to her work. Her personal experiences, including the tragic loss of her two-year-old daughter and father, have profoundly shaped her mission to provide compassionate support to others navigating grief.

Sarah holds a Master of Social Work from Portland State University and has extensive experience in both private practice and nonprofit leadership. She also serves as an adjunct instructor at Portland State, runs her own private practice, and provides supervision for licensure candidates.

Follow us on Instagram: @ClearMourning

Stay inspired with daily reflections, quotes on healing, and behind-the-scenes content from the podcast.

Love What You Hear?

Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform—it helps others discover these stories of healing. And if this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might benefit. Word of mouth is the best way to spread healing and hope.

In Episode 8 of Enduring Grief, hosts Sarah Peterson, Dr. Marlis Beier, and Dr. Dean Sharpe tackle the concept of "competitive grief" and the hierarchy of loss. How does one measure their grief against another? Should they even try? With poignant personal anecdotes, the hosts explore the importance of empathy, compassion, and understanding that grief is a deeply personal journey. From the challenges of maintaining perspective to the pitfalls of comparison, this episode offers insights into navigating grief authentically and without judgment. Listen as the hosts emphasize the concept that "Grief is Love," and share their pathways toward acceptance and support. If you've ever struggled to balance your grief with that of others, this episode offers a roadmap to compassionate mourning.

Dean Sharpe trained as a general surgeon and worked in private practice from 1980 to2002. His interests expanded and in 1994 he earned a master’s degree in health administration, becoming the first Vice President of Medical Affairs at St. Charles Medical Center. He shared this position with his surgical practice until 2002 when he became a full-time administrator. Informatics and computerized medical records arrived, and he facilitated that change at St. Charles from 2004 to 2006 as VP Clinical Informatics. In his two administrative jobs, relationship and change facilitation were his major roles.

His passion as facilitator and educator led to helping design and facilitate “People Centered Teams”, an organizational and personal seminar beginning 1992. The program grew from St. Charles to national, impacting the lives of over 5000 participants. He helped design and teach Death and Dying workshops at St. Charles in the 90’s with the goal that caregivers would become more comfortable with their own mortality as well as their patients. He believes the physician’s role is to facilitate the relationship between patients and their illness, which allows healing, regardless of physical cure. Teaching the Sacred Art of Living Community seminars are a natural extension of Dean’s interests because of the wedding of psychological and spiritual aspects of the inward journey. He has facilitated Healing the Healers seminars since 2008. Starting in 2017 he has facilitated with his wife the 10-month track (part of a program called Anamcara second year) Soul of Wellness: The course focuses on the lifelong questions “Who are you and what do you want? He is married to Marlis Beier, has two daughters and three grandsons. He lives in Bend, Oregon and enjoys cooking, skiing, hiking, gardening, traveling and being with his family.

Marlis Beier started her professional career in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Bend, Oregon. She found gratification accompanying patients facing life transitions. She learned about grief when her best friend, brother and beloved patients died. Her chronically ill daughter asked her to help her die at age 5. Grief comes not with just the loss of someone but also loss of identity and ability. The diagnosis of MS meant repeated grieving loss of ability and with time, her identity as practicing physician. She found similar gratification volunteering in hospice being with the dying. That’s where she met Sarah. Their deep friendship held space for Sarah as she grieves the tragic loss of her daughter Marley at age 2 from a drunk driver on a Sunday morning.

Marlis has been a spiritual seeker from an early age, learning from many traditions and teachers. She has become a mentor to many through teaching at hospice and the Sacred Art of Living Center. Although she teaches many diverse subjects, her intention is transformation of suffering. Her greatest love is her family, including husband Dean Sharpe, M.D., two daughters, Marissa and Anneliese, and grandsons Thielsen, Sawyer and Kepler. The saga of Anneliese’s health challenges since age one inspired her to become a...