speakers
Linda marshall, Host/speaker
Linda Marshall is an entrepreneur, published author, certified grief specialist, life/relationship coach, trainer, Tedx speaker, hypnotherapist, and mental health advocate. She has lived through tragedy and loss in her own life and is now passionate about inspiring others to heal and grow through their own grief. In addition to publicly speaking about her own personal grief story, she has volunteered with the Halifax Regional Police, Victim Services, helping victims of sudden death, sexual assault, and domestic violence. She is also master trainer, teaching suicide intervention skills (ASIST) to students, first responders, military, health care workers, teachers, and community volunteers (2014-2022). Also volunteered on community Boards.
She lost her first marriage of 13 years due to addictions and became a single parent with two daughters. Years later on February 17, 2011, her spouse Barry lost his battle to mental illness and suicide. This tragedy left her and her family shattered. After this traumatic event in her life, Linda moved back to her hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she was suddenly an empty nester. She left her successful career in the corporate world in Toronto for a new life and switched gears to help others in grief. This meant advancing her education in a completely different field at the age of 45.
Linda married her current husband Jon, a retired military veteran on December 31, 2014. She has two daughters Amanda (Ryan) & Alisha, a step-son Tyler (Brittany), and four grandchildren.
Currently located in beautiful Indigo Shores, Middle Sackville, NS.
For more information on her book “It’s My Grief & I’ll Cry If I Want To” or to contact Linda directly please go to www.griefreliefcoaching.ca. Her book is also available through amazon.ca (https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1773713698/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_9-H.Fb566MB90) and amazon.com.
Maria Tsurikova - Guest Speaker
Maria was born and raised in the former USSR and now resides in Houston, TX since 2005. Maria lost her spouse William to suicide on April 1st, 2014 when her daughter was only 2 months old. Being overwhelmed with grief and with being a brand-new mother to her new baby girl, Maria moved to Massachusetts to be closer to family. Only to realize 6 months later that it is better for her and her daughter to move back to Houston, TX.
Soon after the loss of her spouse, Maria realized that it would take her many years to heal her grief and depression on her own and that would negatively impact her ability to care for her daughter. Maria turned to finding help and was grateful to find her Grief Coach which she credited most for her healing on her grief journey.
Since then, Maria completed her MBA and currently has a rewarding career in the Education sector. Maria is also currently working on her non-profit project that she hopes will help children to have a strong self-esteem and reach their full potential.
When not working, Maria spends most of her time volunteering within her community and spending time with her daughter. Maria loves spending time with her daughter Verileena, going to parks, zoos, museums, and enjoying every moment of her little family.
Stressing In grief: Help yourself and others
DATE: February 24, 2021
TIME: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
STRESSING IN GRIEF: Help Yourself & Others
Grief is often related to a life changing event that can bring much stress into our daily lives. We may think that grief is only from the death of a loved one, but it is so much more. Loss can disrupt our lives and put us into a tailspin of stress and anxiety. Death of a loved one is on top of the list of stressors, but there are others that near the top as well. Some of these in no specific order are divorce, breakup, family addictions, pet loss, job loss, bankruptcy, child with special needs, miscarriage, sexual assault, injury, or a life changing diagnosis for yourself or a loved one.
There are no specific rules or limits to what could bring you grief. Grief results from the pain of loss, and this loss comes from someone or something you love dearly. This someone could be you, if you are faced with a life changing event. It is our stressful thoughts that can trigger stressful emotions and finding ways to help ourselves through these confusing times can be very challenging. When our thoughts are engaged in deep grief and sadness, we can feel a lot of fear and anxiety about the future and we can quickly become overwhelmed and unable to think clearly.
While we may not be able to change our circumstances creating the grief, we can find ways to understand our grief and stress better while we look for ways of viewing our outcomes differently. We can use tools to survey our stress and explore ways in which we can reduce our stress in the areas we can control. Sometimes we just need some clarity. Usually with grief and loss it can feel like our house has fallen down. We can find ways of rebuilding while bringing in peace into our lives. As with grief, there is no one scenario that fits everyone, but we can learn from each other and explore ways of making the most positive decisions for our lives moving forward.
For more information on this month's speakers:
Speaker - Linda Marshall / Guest Speaker - Karen Dean
Karen Dean, Guest speaker, February 24th
Karen Dean is an entrepreneur, resilience expert, author, and speaker who has lived her entire life in rural Nova Scotia. She finds immense joy in being a single mom to her three amazing children, in spending time with her cute farm animals, and in sitting on her deck looking out over the beautiful Musquodoboit River and her “little piece of paradise”. Her mission is to empower women to live their best life, no matter what the world throws at them, and to give back in huge ways through projects like her book We Are Unbreakable and her Nova Scotia Strong clothing fundraiser that raised $96,000 to support the families and communities affected by the horrible mass shooting that happened in Nova Scotia in April 2020. For more information or to contact Karen, please go to https://weareunbreakable.ca/
lisa weatherhead, Guest Speaker - January 27
Lisa’s diverse career has led her from corporate sales and sales training to a career in the charitable sector including leadership roles with academic and healthcare charities. She is also a Dale Carnegie coach.
As a teen, Lisa experienced the powerful force of grief with the loss of her brother; a journey that shaped her outlook and approach. Several years later at the age of 33, she lost her partner, Jack, following his journey with cancer. When she lost her Dad rather suddenly after a short illness, the lessons learned from these experiences influenced her ability to navigate the anticipation of his death, the grief that followed and the strange mix of gratitude and guilt she felt with the loss of a parent.
Embracing uncertainty, sadness, and self doubt, she defined her direction with the support of friends, mentors, family and a healthy dose of humour and hope. Throughout the challenges, Lisa describes her dance with grief as a gift that she would never have wished for but would not trade.
Today, outside of her 9-5 career, Lisa lives in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia with her partner Ryan and their entertaining fur family. She is a semi- retired runner, an avid gardener, a proud community volunteer.
GRIEF TALKS - Workplace
Helping yourself and others in the workplace
Grief in the workplace is a challenging situation, more so now than ever. For the most part, supporting grief is generally not in our official job description. Covid-19 has been a very challenging area of grief with many complicated layers that none of us could have prepared for. It has also brought out the importance of the topic on grief in the workplace.
Our doctors, nurses, personal care staff in hospitals and long-term care facilities have been faced with challenges that no one seen coming. Employees are often dealing with their own grief, while trying their hardest to support colleagues, families, and staff. Staff are becoming exhausted and burnt out.
This is happening in our everyday workplaces too…
In more recent years, employers have become more knowledgeable about mental health and have taken a more active role in supporting the psychological needs of their employees. Although grief is not a mental illness, it is a natural reaction to loss that impacts us on so many emotional levels. This invisible roller coaster of emotions is happening right in front of us.
Although grief has always been in our workplace, Covid-19 has made it a topic that we can no longer ignore.
Grief can cause an overall loss in job performance and an increase in sick leave. Supporting our employees through loss is not only important for their well-being, but essential in maintaining productivity in the workplace.
Some may think that grief is only from the death of a loved one, but it is so much more...
Grief has the power to disrupt all aspects of one's daily life and if left unsupported, we are left with increased feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and stress. We are expected to grieve the death of a loved one, but grief shows up in divorce, family breakdown, family addictions, pet loss, trauma, job loss, financial instability, child with special needs, miscarriage, sexual assault, injury, a medical diagnosis, and more.
Employers that ignore the reality of grief, will be faced with higher sick leave and resignations. Losing what could be highly valued and skilled employees. If grieving employees receive the support they need, they can have the opportunity to gradually return to their job. The can result in a renewed feeling of appreciation as they navigate this difficult time.
Most managers do not have the training or skills to help support employees through loss. As a Certified Grief Specialist, I help people help themselves and others grow through grief. I have experienced my own growing through grief in the workplace and personally. One thing for sure is we will all experience grief at one point or more in our lives.
I would love to join your workspace for a ‘GRIEF Talk’. Your employees, colleagues, and even clients will feel supported and valued, especially during these unprecedented times.
Virtual GRIEF Talks are approximately 1.5 – 2.5 hours long over Zoom, or with your own technology. Depending on Covid-19 restrictions, I am available to train face to face with a customized workshop to meet your needs. I am also available for one-on-one coaching.
More information: www.griefreliefcoaching.ca.
Linda Marshall, TEDx Speaker, Certified Grief Specialist & Life Coach, Master ASIST Trainer (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills).
Inquiries: linda@griefreliefcoaching.ca
902-266-9206
To view my 2023 TEDx https://youtu.be/IWJH5xFvwaA