In the sixth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Bob Woosley discuss Tom's personal experience in navigating distractions. The need for healthy distractions, as well as the dangers of even the most innocent distractions becoming addictive, will all be tackled in this episode. From taking care of his sons, work, cleaning, and even travel, distractions are inevitable, and even necessary in coping with grief. However, the potential for unhealthy distractions is ever-present and difficult to catch and regulate. When distractions become addictive, it's important to be mindful and open to professional help. By sharing some of his personal experience, Tom hopes to illuminate some scenarios in which distractions can begin to shift from normal to potentially counterproductive in processing grief.

Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief

About Guide Through Grief: Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this. #Grief #Grieving #Widower

In the fifth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Bob Woosley discuss Tom's grief and the importance of embracing it. Grief is an emotion that the entire human race will feel at some point in their lives. With this in mind, reconciling and even having gratitude for the experience of grief is one of the hardest and most important challenges we all will face. When we are lucky enough to experience relationships that matter so much that the weight of their absence is unavoidable, it's hard to move forward. However, when we acknowledge the power of the word "AND" as we navigate life in grief, it brings us closer to experiencing the gratitude that can be found in grief.

Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief

About Guide Through Grief: Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this. #Grief #Grieving #Widower

In the fourth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Dr. Ryan Stivers talk about the importance of therapy, not only concerning Tom's mental health journey, but also in general. For Tom, grief created a world where he felt guilty and ashamed of how he was grieving. Through meeting with Ryan, Tom discovered a safe space to share his struggles, thoughts, and goals moving forward. Therapy paired with meetings with Father Patrick, grief share groups, and church groups created a diverse approach to Tom's personal healing. The collaboration therapy facilitated for Tom was invaluable in his grief journey. In this episode, Dr. Stivers will share his experience and knowledge regarding grief therapy and the practical applications of therapy overall.

Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief

About Guide Through Grief: Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this. #Grief #Grieving #Widower

In the third episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Father Patrick Smith talk through some of the spiritual challenges Tom has faced while processing Lesley's passing. Throughout Tom and Lesley's marriage, Father Patrick has played a large part in their story. He officiated their wedding, baptized their sons, and walked with Tom through the organizing of Lesley's funeral. Even since Lesley's passing, Tom and Father Patrick have maintained a strong fellowship, weaving together God's omnipresence with Tom's emotional and spiritual healing.

Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief

About Guide Through Grief:

Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this.

#Grief #Grieving #Widower

Welcome to Guide Through Grief, a podcast that explores the many ways grief can impact our lives.

In the second episode of Guide Through Grief, host Tom Van Ness and co-host Bob Woolsey talk through the weeks following Lesley's passing.

Tom reflects on the difficult challenges that awaited him as he traveled back home to Illinois. Telling his seven and eight-year-old sons that their mother had passed, organizing the funeral, and writing his wife's obituary were only some of the daunting tasks that Tom had to wrestle through. Through tears and heartbreak, Tom persisted and thoughtfully organized Lesley's funeral in a way that honored her incredible legacy of strength and compassion. With the support of his community, friends, and family, Tom began navigating the unthinkable. Laying his wife to rest.

About Guide Through Grief:

Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way. And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this.

#Grief #Grieving #Widower

Welcome to Guide Through Grief, a podcast that explores the many ways grief can impact our lives. In the first episode of Guide Through Grief, host Tom Van Ness and co-host Bob Woolsey introduce listeners to Tom’s personal story of profound loss following the sudden death of his wife, Lesley, in April 2023. Tom recounts the shocking 12-day journey that began during a family vacation and ended with Lesley’s passing. Through vivid memories, hard decisions, and moments of both helplessness and grace, Tom shares how he navigated this crisis for himself and his young sons. The episode sets the tone for the podcast’s mission: to offer space for grief, emphasize the power of community and faith, and help others define their own unique path through loss.

Support Us: https://linktr.ee/GuideThroughGrief

About Guide Through Grief: Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way.

And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this.

Welcome to Guide Through Grief, a podcast that explores the many ways grief can impact our lives. In the first episode of Guide Through Grief, host Tom Van Ness and co-host Bob Woolsey introduce listeners to Tom’s personal story of profound loss following the sudden death of his wife, Lesley, in April 2023. Tom recounts the shocking 12-day journey that began during a family vacation and ended with Lesley’s passing. Through vivid memories, hard decisions, and moments of both helplessness and grace, Tom shares how he navigated this crisis for himself and his young sons. The episode sets the tone for the podcast’s mission: to offer space for grief, emphasize the power of community and faith, and help others define their own unique path through loss. About Guide Through Grief: Hosted by Tom Van Ness, the first season of Guide Through Grief follows his personal grief journey after the loss of his wife. Along the way, listeners will meet others who have also faced grief, co-hosts and guides who bring their own stories and insights. Guide Through Grief is a space where people can open up about their experiences, share the lessons they've learned, and reflect on how they've continued to grow through grief. The goal of this podcast is to create a safe and supportive place for anyone navigating a grief journey, a place to lean on one another and share openly. Because there is no single “right” way to grieve, only your way.

And remember: I got this. You got this. We all got this.