172. Claire Bidwell Smith (Grief and Loss Therapist)

On this episode, I sit down with Claire Bidwell Smith, a leading therapist specializing in grief and loss. Recognized as one of today’s foremost experts on grief, Claire Bidwell Smith is a licensed therapist, international speaker, and the author of five books published in 22 countries. Led by her own experience in grief and fueled by her work in hospice and private practice, Claire strives to provide support for all kinds of people experiencing all kinds of loss. She has spent nearly two decades helping people process some of life’s hardest moments and today, we are talking about grief and cancer. We talk about grief related to navigating a cancer diagnosis, adjusting to a new reality after treatment, dealing with the loss of security and identity and living with metastatic breast cancer. Claire shares powerful insights on how to process the loss of identity, security, and control that can accompany illness, and offers practical strategies like mindfulness, writing, and creating rituals to help navigate these difficult emotions. We discuss anticipatory grief, how to have hard conversations with loved ones, and why acceptance doesn’t mean being “okay” with what’s happened — it’s about learning to live with your new reality. This episode is a must listen for anyone affected by cancer or any major life shift.