Feel Free Again with Cole James

Understanding Emotional vs. Intellectual Communication // Grief Recovery for First Responders with Rochelle Jones

In this heartfelt chat, I sat down with Rachelle Jones, someone who’s not only a certified grief recovery methods specialist but also a dear friend who’s been through the trenches of grief and come out stronger. We talked about her journey—how she found her way into the Grief Recovery Method and how it’s been a game-changer for her and her husband, especially given his tough job in law enforcement. We dug into the real stuff, like how unresolved grief can quietly sneak into our relationships and mess with our communication and emotional health.
 
Rachelle shared some eye-opening insights on why it’s so crucial for both partners to be all in when it comes to healing. We also touched on the sometimes messy world of parenting, managing expectations, and the importance of just being there for our kids as they find their way. This conversation left me with a lot to think about, and I hope it does the same for you. Grab a cup of coffee and join us—this one’s worth your time.
 
Connect with Rachelle:
Website: https://www.griefrecoverywithrachelle.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grwrachelle/?hl=en
 

015: Are Therapists Getting is All WRONG? Psychologist Ashley Mielke, B.A., M.Sc. MFT

In this episode of the Feel Free Again podcast, Cole James interviews Ashley Mielke, the founder and CEO of the Grief and Trauma Healing Center. They discuss Ashley's journey with the grief recovery method and how she integrated it into her practice. They also explore the importance of completing the emotional work in relationships and the role of trauma processing in the healing process.
 
In this conversation, Cole and Ashley discuss the importance of the grief recovery method and its impact on personal and professional growth. Ashley shares her experience as a grief recovery specialist and the transformative power of the method.
 
They discuss the benefits of completing relationships with past losses and the impact it has on present relationships. They also explore how the grief recovery method can be applied to marriage and family therapy, helping couples navigate shared losses and unresolved issues. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the challenges of emotional communication and the role of grief recovery in parenting.
 
Connect with Ashley: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/about-us/ashley-mielke
Website: https://www.healmyheart.ca/ashley-mielke-psychologist-edmonton
IG: https://www.instagram.com/griefandtraumahealingcentre/?hl=en
FB: https://www.facebook.com/griefandtraumahealingcentre/
 
Cole James, President of the Grief Recovery Institute, shares about the Power of Grief Recovery! Cole is dedicating his life to help people with grief. Now, grief is much more than just losing someone. Did you know that? You've probably heard of the Five Stages of Grief, right? Well, this goes much deeper than you think. Let me explain. Everyone has some type of grief in their lives, some haven't yet, but it's part of life. We can't escape it, BUT we can work through it. And you don't have to do it alone. Let's talk about it.
 
For more information visit: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/

014: Is Trauma Something You Can‘t Recover From? // Guest Sandi Derby

In this episode of the Feel Free Again podcast, host Cole James is joined by Sandi Derby, a grief recovery specialist. Sandi shares her personal journey of healing from childhood abuse and addiction through the grief recovery method. She emphasizes the importance of emotional recovery and the need to process and grieve the losses that result from traumatic experiences. Sandi also discusses the societal narrative that trauma is something one can never recover from and challenges this belief by sharing her own transformation and the profound impact of the grief recovery method.
 
The episode highlights the power of emotional honesty, compassionate listening, and the ability to live a full and present life after healing from emotional pain. In this conversation, Cole James and Sandi Derby discuss the importance of not letting grief define one's identity. They emphasize the need to do the work of grief recovery in order to move forward and let go of past pain. They highlight the pitfalls of holding onto grief, such as seeking validation through others' sympathy or attention. They also discuss the power of completing the grief process and finding one's true identity beyond the pain. The conversation explores various examples of traumatic events and the associated losses that require grief work. They encourage listeners to face, embrace, and release the pain in order to live a full and empowered life.
 
Connect with Sandi: https://sandiderby.com/
 
Cole James, President of the Grief Recovery Institute, shares about the Power of Grief Recovery! Cole is dedicating his life to help people with grief. Now, grief is much more than just losing someone. Did you know that? You've probably heard of the Five Stages of Grief, right? Well, this goes much deeper than you think. Let me explain. Everyone has some type of grief in their lives, some haven't yet, but it's part of life. We can't escape it, BUT we can work through it. And you don't have to do it alone. Let's talk about it.
 
We have trained Grief Recovery Method Specialists, who help heartbroken people, in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, Central America, South America, and North America. The Grief Recovery Method Certification Program is taught and available in multiple languages including: English, Spanish, Swedish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, and Russian. Our home office is in the United States and serves English-speaking nations and populations around the world, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Commonwealth Nations. In addition, we have international affiliate offices in Sweden, Australia, Mexico, and Hungary.
 
Our goal is to help as many people as possible, which is why our books have been translated into over 30 languages including: Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Ukrainian, Russian, and many more.
 
For more information visit: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/

013: How to Understand the levels of Grief within Your Children, with guest Susan Dindinger

Cole interviews his dear friend Susan Dindinger, a facilitator and trainer in the Grief Recovery Method. Susan shares her personal experience with grief and how she discovered the method after the death of her sister. She discusses the reluctance she initially felt in trying the method and the profound impact it had on her life. Susan also highlights the pitfalls of churches in dealing with grief and the importance of meeting people where they are in their grief journey.
 
In this conversation, Cole James and Susan Dindinger continue their discuss the problem of skipping grief and the importance of learning the levels of grief within your kids.
 
Connect with Susan here: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/about-us/susan-dindinger
 
Cole James, President of the Grief Recovery Institute, shares about the Power of Grief Recovery! Cole is dedicating his life to help people with grief. Now, grief is much more than just losing someone. Did you know that? You've probably heard of the Five Stages of Grief, right? Well, this goes much deeper than you think. Let me explain. Everyone has some type of grief in their lives, some haven't yet, but it's part of life. We can't escape it, BUT we can work through it. And you don't have to do it alone. Let's talk about it.
 
We have trained Grief Recovery Method Specialists, who help heartbroken people, in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, Central America, South America, and North America. The Grief Recovery Method Certification Program is taught and available in multiple languages including: English, Spanish, Swedish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, and Russian. Our home office is in the United States and serves English-speaking nations and populations around the world, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Commonwealth Nations. In addition, we have international affiliate offices in Sweden, Australia, Mexico, and Hungary.
 
Our goal is to help as many people as possible, which is why our books have been translated into over 30 languages including: Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Ukrainian, Russian, and many more.
 
For more information visit: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/

012: The Problem with Skipping Grief & The Danger of Positive Thinking w/ Special Guest Susan Dindinger

Cole interviews his dear friend Susan Dindinger, a facilitator and trainer in the Grief Recovery Method. Susan shares her personal experience with grief and how she discovered the method after the death of her sister. She discusses the reluctance she initially felt in trying the method and the profound impact it had on her life. Susan also highlights the pitfalls of churches in dealing with grief and the importance of meeting people where they are in their grief journey. In this conversation, Cole James and Susan Dindinger discuss the problem with skipping grief and the danger of positive thinking. They also explore unhelpful messages in the church and the transformative power of the Grief Recovery Method. They emphasize the importance of creating unity through emotional honesty and the need for safe spaces to share truth. They highlight the power of sitting with someone in grief and the gift of listening without offering advice. They also touch on the impact of COVID on grief and loss and the importance of certified grief recovery specialists.
 
Connect with Susan here: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/about-us/susan-dindinger
 
Cole James, President of the Grief Recovery Institute, shares about the Power of Grief Recovery! Cole is dedicating his life to help people with grief. Now, grief is much more than just losing someone. Did you know that? You've probably heard of the Five Stages of Grief, right? Well, this goes much deeper than you think. Let me explain. Everyone has some type of grief in their lives, some haven't yet, but it's part of life. We can't escape it, BUT we can work through it. And you don't have to do it alone. Let's talk about it.
 
We have trained Grief Recovery Method Specialists, who help heartbroken people, in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, Central America, South America, and North America. The Grief Recovery Method Certification Program is taught and available in multiple languages including: English, Spanish, Swedish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, and Russian. Our home office is in the United States and serves English-speaking nations and populations around the world, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Commonwealth Nations. In addition, we have international affiliate offices in Sweden, Australia, Mexico, and Hungary. Our goal is to help as many people as possible, which is why our books have been translated into over 30 languages including: Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Ukrainian, Russian, and many more.
 
For more information visit: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/

011: How to Recognize Grief in Different Life Events - Part 2 with Thera Storm, LCSW

In this episode, Tara Storm, an LCSW, discusses the concept of intangible losses and how they can impact our lives. She shares her personal experiences with intangible losses, such as the loss of support and identity, and highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing these losses. Tara emphasizes the need for individuals to do their own grief work and the power of self-disclosure in building rapport and connection. She also discusses the limitations of traditional psychotherapy and the benefits of the grief recovery method.
 
Overall, this episode explores the complexities of grief and the transformative potential of addressing intangible losses. In this conversation, Thera shares her experience of sibling rivalry and comparison with her twin sister. She discusses the impact of trauma on their relationship and the unresolved grief that resulted. Thera also talks about her journey with the Grief Recovery Method and how it has helped her find completion in her relationships.
 
The conversation highlights the importance of addressing unresolved grief and the role it plays in shaping our beliefs and behaviors. Thera encourages listeners to spread the message of grief recovery and its transformative power.
 
Connect with Thera: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/grms/thera-storm
For more information about Grief Recovery Method visit: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/

010: How to Create a Safe Environment for Emotional Expression - Part 1 with Thera Storm, LCSW

In this episode, Cole James interviews Thera Storm, a licensed clinical social worker, about her work with grief recovery. They discuss the importance of creating a safe listening environment and the tendency to overcomplicate grief. Thera shares her personal journey to grief recovery and the impact of identity and loss. They also explore the concept of completing the grief process and the role of parents in helping children navigate their emotions.
The conversation highlights the different approaches to parenting and the importance of understanding and validating children's experiences. The conversation explores the nuances of parenting and emotional expression, highlighting the importance of allowing children to talk about their emotions and providing support when needed. The discussion also delves into the balance between emotional expression and stoicism, emphasizing the need for both in different situations. The concept of survivability and the role of emotional processing is explored, along with the importance of equipping children with problem-solving skills.
The conversation also addresses the challenges of reaching men with grief recovery tools and the need for emotional support in the military. The chapter concludes with a discussion on completing past emotional experiences and the pitfalls of solely talking about feelings without resolving them.
Connect with Thera: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/grms/thera-storm
Cole James, President of the Grief Recovery Institute, shares about the Power of Grief Recovery! Cole is dedicating his life to help people with grief. Now, grief is much more than just losing someone. Did you know that? You've probably heard of the Five Stages of Grief, right? Well, this goes much deeper than you think. Let me explain. Everyone has some type of grief in their lives, some haven't yet, but it's part of life. We can't escape it, BUT we can work through it. And you don't have to do it alone. Let's talk about it.
We have trained Grief Recovery Method Specialists, who help heartbroken people, in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, Central America, South America, and North America. The Grief Recovery Method Certification Program is taught and available in multiple languages including: English, Spanish, Swedish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, and Russian. Our home office is in the United States and serves English-speaking nations and populations around the world, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Commonwealth Nations. In addition, we have international affiliate offices in Sweden, Australia, Mexico, and Hungary. Our goal is to help as many people as possible, which is why our books have been translated into over 30 languages including: Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Ukrainian, Russian, and many more.
For more information visit: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/

009: How to Heal After Losing a Child, Guest Adrienne Mejias, LMFT

In part two of the interview with Adrienne Mejias, she discusses her journey as a mental health professional and how she discovered the Grief Recovery Method. She shares the impact of the method on her own life and her marriage. Adrienne emphasizes the importance of unlearning and relearning as a mental health professional and how it has changed her approach to helping clients. She also highlights the need to view every client as potentially having unresolved grief and the impact of unresolved grief on relationships.
This conversation explores the impact of unresolved grief on relationships. It highlights the evolution of relationships and the unmet hopes, dreams, and expectations that can lead to grief. The discussion emphasizes the importance of managing expectations and communicating emotional truth in order to foster healthy relationships. It also addresses the role of unresolved grief from past relationships and childhood trauma in current relationships. The conversation concludes by emphasizing the long-term benefits of grief recovery in enhancing the quality of relationships.
Connect with Adrienne: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/grms/adrienne-mejias
Cole James, President of the Grief Recovery Institute, shares about the Power of Grief Recovery! Cole is dedicating his life to help people with grief. Now, grief is much more than just losing someone. Did you know that? You've probably heard of the Five Stages of Grief, right? Well, this goes much deeper than you think. Let me explain. Everyone has some type of grief in their lives, some haven't yet, but it's part of life. We can't escape it, BUT we can work through it. And you don't have to do it alone. Let's talk about it.
We have trained Grief Recovery Method Specialists, who help heartbroken people, in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, Central America, South America, and North America. The Grief Recovery Method Certification Program is taught and available in multiple languages including: English, Spanish, Swedish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, and Russian. Our home office is in the United States and serves English-speaking nations and populations around the world, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Commonwealth Nations. In addition, we have international affiliate offices in Sweden, Australia, Mexico, and Hungary. Our goal is to help as many people as possible, which is why our books have been translated into over 30 languages including: Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Ukrainian, Russian, and many more.
For more information visit: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/