56. Navigating Grief through a Sensory Emotional Lens

This episode is tender and deeply personal for all of us at Great Kids Place. Just over a month has passed since the loss of our beloved founder, host, mentor, and friend, Michele Parkins. Michele was the heart of this podcast and the soul behind so much of what we do. Her vision for play, connection, and sensory-emotional work continues to guide us, and today we honor her by exploring grief through the very lens she taught us to use: the sensory-emotional lens.Grief doesn’t only live in our minds or hearts—it lives in our bodies. It shapes how we breathe, move, feel, and connect. In this conversation, AnnMarie Murphy, Occupational Therapist at Great Kids Place, is joined by members of our therapy team as they share their lived experiences of grief through their own Sensory Emotional Personality (SEP) styles.Together, we reflect on:How grief shows up differently for each Sensory Emotional Personality styleThe ways grief impacts our sensory systems, body responses, and daily rhythmsPersonal stories from our therapists that show how grief can look and feel in real lifePractical strategies for supporting ourselves and our children through loss using sensory-emotional awarenessThis episode is an invitation to pause, to feel, and to recognize that while grief is universal, the way we experience it is deeply individual. By honoring those differences, we can better support ourselves and those we love.In this episode, you’ll hear about:Anxious yet Deeply Feeling: why grief can feel overwhelming and lead to control-seeking behaviorsUnaware yet Deep Thinkers: how deep thought and disconnection can coexist in griefConfused yet Full of Wonder: the challenge of navigating grief in a black-and-white, all-or-nothing worldNeedy yet Compassionate: why grief can drain energy and heighten the need for supportScattered yet Intentional and Passionate: how grief disrupts organization and planning, and how leaning into play and connection can ground usAs we continue this podcast in Michele’s memory, we hold tight to her belief that connection and play are powerful healing forces. We hope this conversation helps you feel seen, understood, and less alone.For more resources on how to talk with children about the death of a loved one, visit: UNICEF: How to Talk to Your Children About the Death of a Loved OneAboutAnnMarie Murphy, OTD, OT/L, CIMI-2Occupational Therapist, Great Kids PlaceAnnMarie Murphy is an Occupational Therapist with advanced training and certification from the Sensory Treatment and Research (STAR) Institute, specializing in the evaluation and treatment of Sensory Processing Disorder. She holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from American International College and a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Temple University.Her background also includes a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, supporting her focus on the neurobiology of sensory processing and the impacts SPD can have on social-emotional development, parent stress, and family dynamics.A Tribute to Michele Parkins, MS, OTR/L, IMH-E® Founder of Great Kids Place and the Sensory-Motor Emotional Engagement ModelMichele Parkins, MS, OTR/L, IMH-E®, dedicated her life to supporting children and families with sensory processing and social-emotional challenges. As both a professional and a parent of two sensory children, she combined expertise with deep personal understanding.Passionate about empowering families and mentoring therapists, Michele taught internationally, consulted with schools, and co-authored a chapter in the 3rd edition of Sensory Integration: Theory and Practice, the leading textbook in the field. At the time of her passing, she was writing books to help families recognize their Sensory Emotional Personality styles and discover strength and joy within them.Though gone too soon, Michele’s legacy endures in the lives she touched, the community she built, and the vision she entrusted us to carry forward.