Grieving a Mother Who Was There, But Not There: Erin Gorrie's Story [Ep. 58]

Grieving a Mother Who's Still Alive - Erin Gorrie's Story of Loss, Healing, and Finding JoyIn this heartfelt interview, I sit down with Erin Gorrie, author of "We Have So Much In Common" and founder of Muskoka Puppy Yoga, to explore a type of grief many people don't recognize: losing your mother while she's still physically present. Erin shares how her mom's multiple sclerosis diagnosis at age 10 began a lifelong grieving process as the disease slowly took her mother's emotional presence away. From feeling invisible as a child to recognizing patterns of seeking approval throughout adulthood, Erin's story reveals how even unintentional neglect creates mother wounds. She also discusses how writing her memoir helped her trace everything back to that childhood loss, her experience with delayed grief after both her mother and sister passed, and the surprising healing she found through puppy yoga - which led her to create a wellness business helping others find joy again.With this episode you'll be able to:Understand that mother wounds don't require intentional abuse - absence of emotional support is enoughRecognize the validity of grieving a parent who's still alive but emotionally absentSee how delayed grief can compound when you don't allow yourself to process loss in real timeLearn about the therapeutic power of dictating your story instead of writing itDiscover how animal-assisted therapy and co-regulation can restore joy after years of griefAccept that your mother wound experience doesn't need to meet anyone else's standard of "enough"Find hope that difficult experiences can position you to help others in meaningful waysConnect with Brittney:Instagram: @theBrittneyScottWebsite: www.brittneymscott.comConsultation to work with BrittneyFree ResourcesConnect with Erin:Instagram: @egorrieDon't forget to check out Erin's book "We Have So Much In Common" available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Waterstones, and bookshop.org - her honest storytelling gives permission for others to acknowledge their own hidden pain!Mentioned resources:"We Have So Much In Common" by Erin Gorrie (memoir)Muskoka Puppy Yoga (animal-assisted wellness)Voice dictation method for therapeutic writingVarious therapy modalities including talk therapy and psychedelic therapyHelp me reach more mothers and daughters by following the show & leaving a rating or review on Apple & Spotify!Keyword tags: grief, mother wound, chronic illness, multiple sclerosis, delayed grief, emotional absence, puppy yoga, animal therapy, co-regulation, Brittney Scott, Erin Gorrie, memoir, joy, healing modalitiesMentioned in this episode:Q2 '26 Ad