Grief Unedited

Episode Number: Episode 24Release Date: 30 April 2026Episode Title: From Stuck to Stepping Forward: Using Coaching to Navigate Grief with Lisa ArcherEpisode Summary: In this episode of Grief Unedited, I’m joined by Lisa Archer, Life Coach.We’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s actually like to work at the intersection of life and death. Lisa shares the surprising lessons they’ve learned on the job, the myths they want to bust, and the moments of profound human connection that keep them going.About Lisa:  Lisa Archer is a certified life coach and grief educator who helps people move forward after loss. Originally from Seattle and now based in the UK, she was inspired by her own experiences of grief and now supports others through coaching, education, and speaking. In this episode, we chat about:The Reality of the Role: What a typical day looks like when your "office" is centered around loss.The Human Element: The most unexpected thing Lisa has learned about people through their work.Breaking the Stigma: Tackling the common misconceptions people have about her role.Personal Impact: How working in the bereavement industry has changed the way Lisa views their own life and relationships.Connect with Karen:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/continuumcounselling Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellingWebsite: https://www.continuumcounselling.comConnect with Lisa: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holistic_coach_lisa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holisticlifecoachingwithlisamarieWebsite: https://holisticlifecoaching.org.ukSupport Grief Unedited: This podcast is a passion project dedicated to keeping conversations about grief honest and "unedited." If you find value in these episodes, please consider:Subscribing: So you never miss an episode.Sharing: Send this episode to someone who might find comfort or insight in it.Buying Me a Coffee: To help keep the show running, you can support us here: buymeacoffee.com/griefuneditedSubscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this chat, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it’s the best way to help other people find the show.Shop the Grief Journal: Our brand new grief journal, Grief and Growth is available here: https://amzn.eu/d/0fDaVBLj

Episode Number: Episode 23Release Date: 31 March 2026Episode Title: Holding Space at the End: What I've learned as a Death Doula with Mangala Holland Episode Summary: In this episode of Grief Unedited, I’m joined by Mangala Holland, who is a death Doula.We’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s actually like to work at the intersection of life and death. Mangala shares the surprising lessons they’ve learned on the job, the myths they want to bust, and the moments of profound human connection that keep them going.About Mangala: Mangala Holland is a sexuality educator and end-of-life doula who supports women in navigating confidence, pleasure, grief, and life transitions. With over a decade of experience, she brings a compassionate, holistic approach to both sexuality and end-of-life care. In this episode, we chat about:The Reality of the Role: What a typical day looks like when your "office" is centered around loss.The Human Element: The most unexpected thing Mangala has learned about people through their work.Breaking the Stigma: Tackling the common misconceptions people have about death Doulas.Personal Impact: How working in the bereavement industry has changed the way Mangala views their own life and relationships.Connect with Karen:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/continuumcounselling Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellingWebsite: https://www.continuumcounselling.comConnect with Mangala : Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mangalahollandFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mangalahollandWebsite: https://mangalaholland.comSupport Grief Unedited: This podcast is a passion project dedicated to keeping conversations about grief honest and "unedited." If you find value in these episodes, please consider:Subscribing: So you never miss an episode.Sharing: Send this episode to someone who might find comfort or insight in it.Buying Me a Coffee: To help keep the show running, you can support us here: buymeacoffee.com/griefuneditedSubscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this chat, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it’s the best way to help other people find the show.Shop the Grief Journal: Our brand new grief journal, Grief and Growth is available here: https://amzn.eu/d/0fDaVBLj

Welcome to Season 2 of Grief Unedited taking you behind the scenes of bereavement care in the UK. You’ll hear from funeral directors, celebrants, and bereavement practitioners as they share what good support really looks like, what motivates their work, and how they show up for people in grief. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement. Nicola shares her unexpected journey from a 20-year corporate career as a chartered accountant into the third sector, and what drew her toward supporting people through bereavement. Together, Karen and Nicola explore the misconceptions people often hold about working in grief support including the common assumption that it must be relentlessly heavy and why those in the field often genuinely love the work they do.One of the most powerful insights from the episode is Nicola’s reflection that grief is not just about death. It’s a normal, natural, and healthy response to many of life’s changes from relationship breakdowns and career shifts to health challenges and identity changes. Grief, she explains, “pops up everywhere.”A compassionate and grounding episode that broadens our understanding of grief, challenges assumptions, and reminds us that support can take many forms.You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Nicola here: https://https://www.crusescotland.org.ukhttps://www.facebook.com/CruseScothttps://www.instagram.com/crusescotlandIf you enjoy the show, please like, share, leave a review or support via Buy Me a Coffee to help keep this passion project going. Buy me a Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/griefunedited

Welcome to Season 2 of Grief Unedited taking you behind the scenes of bereavement care in the UK. You’ll hear from funeral directors, celebrants, and bereavement practitioners as they share what good support really looks like, what motivates their work, and how they show up for people in grief. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement. In this episode of Grief Unedited, Karen Lafferty is joined by Chris Ferri, a Scotland-based celebrant known for his warm, down-to-earth approach to funerals and weddings. Chris brings authenticity, humour, and deep care to his work, focusing on telling people’s stories in a way that feels personal and meaningful. Chris is passionate about honouring lives with integrity and supporting families through emotionally challenging moments with compassion and humanity. You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Chris here: https://www.instagram.com/chris_ferrihttps://www.chrisferri.comIf you enjoy the show, please like, share, leave a review or support via Buy Me a Coffee to help keep this passion project going. Buy me a Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/griefunedited

I’m so excited to be back with a new season—this time taking you behind the scenes of bereavement care in the UK. You’ll hear from funeral directors, celebrants, and bereavement practitioners as they share what good support really looks like, what motivates their work, and how they show up for people in grief.New episodes drop monthly, unedited and honest, just as before.If you enjoy the show, please like, share, leave a review—or support via Buy Me a Coffee to help keep this passion project going.Here’s to Season 2 🖤You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingBuy me a Coffee: http://buymeacoffee.com/griefunedited

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.In this episode of Grief Unedited, Karen Lafferty is joined by holistic therapist Emma Toms for an honest conversation about grief beyond bereavement. Together they explore the emotional and physical impact of chronic illness, loss of identity, and nervous system overwhelm, and reflect on healing through somatic practices, self-connection, and learning to live gently again. You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Emma here: https://www.emmatoms.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000160905732https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-toms-1b1234200https://emmatoms.substack.com

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.In this episode of Grief Unedited, Karen speaks with Dr. Suzy Peach about what truly happens in the final days and hours of life. Suzy explains the natural physical changes the body goes through like increased sleep, reduced eating, confusion, breathing changes, and the “death rattle” and reassures listeners that these signs are usually not distressing for the dying person. They discuss how families can bring comfort, why early conversations and care planning matter, and how understanding the dying process can reduce fear and trauma for loved ones. You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Dr Suzy here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peach-wellnesshttps://peachwellnessacademy.com

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.In this powerful and eye-opening episode of Grief Unedited, host and grief counsellor Karen Lafferty sits down with Lisa McCabe, better known as The Dog Witch, to explore a topic rarely spoken about but deeply felt: how dogs experience grief.Drawing on her work as a holistic canine wellbeing consultant and her own profound losses, Lisa shares how deeply intuitive dogs are, how they mourn the death of humans and other pets, and the ways grief can show up in their bodies, behaviour, and routines. From changes in appetite to separation anxiety and physical symptoms, Lisa explains how canine grief mirrors our own more closely than most people realise.If you’ve ever loved an animal, this conversation will stay with you.You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Lisa here: https://thedogwitch.co.ukhttps://www.instagram.com/the_dogwitch

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.In this powerful episode of Grief Unedited, host Karen Lafferty talks with Nikki Stock, who shares her extraordinary journey through loss, illness, and recovery. After losing her partner to cancer and surviving a near-fatal illness herself, Nikki reflects on grief, resilience, and learning to live fully. She discusses parenting through trauma, letting go of “the small stuff,” and creating My Life Manual to help others navigate life’s hardest moments. You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Nikki here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkistockgrowthspecialist

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.In this deeply personal episode, Karen sits down with Clare Baillie, to talk about her experience of miscarriage and baby loss. Clare shares her honest and emotional journey, from the shock of discovering the loss, to navigating grief, guilt, and the slow process of healing.She opens up about the silent pain of miscarriage, the insensitivity of some well-meaning comments, and the importance of recognising both parents’ grief. Clare also reflects on the anxiety and emotional toll of her subsequent pregnancies and how she learned to balance fear with gratitude.The conversation highlights the reality of “grieving the future” , mourning not just a baby, but the imagined life, milestones, and memories that never came to be.You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Clare here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-baillie

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.In this moving episode, Karen Lafferty speaks with Helena Morais, mother and baby loss activist, about the stillbirth of her daughter Maila. Helena shares her raw experience of grief, the silence surrounding baby loss, and why she continues to parent Maila in meaningful ways. A powerful conversation released ahead of Baby Loss Awareness Week, reminding us that grief deserves space, honesty, and compassion. You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Helena here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helena-morais-6420a4136https://www.instagram.com/mailaspresent

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.In this powerful episode of Grief Unedited, Ashley shares her deeply personal journey of losing five friends in her life to suicide over the past seven years. She opens up about grief, guilt, and the ongoing impact of sudden loss, while highlighting the urgent need for compassion and awareness around men’s mental health. A raw, honest, and heartfelt conversation you won’t forget You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Ashley here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-white-assocrics-406aa830/https://www.facebook.com/ashley.arena.58

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.This episode explores how GPs can support people through bereavement beyond prescribing medication. Dr. Suzy Peach discusses the importance of building an early relationship with your GP, using clear communication, and accessing local resources.  You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Dr Suzy here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peach-wellnesshttps://peachwellnessacademy.com

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.In this episode, we talk with Julia Jack about her experience of grief dealing with The Long Goodbye, watching her Dad fight through a terminal illness and how it has changed her mindset and even led her to start a new business.You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Julia here: https://www.instagram.com/spaceseekersco

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.In this episode, we talk with Sarah Stewart about her experience of losing her Mum at a young age and the impact it's had on not only her life but how it's shaped her career.You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Sarah here: https://www.sarahstewart.co.ukhttps://www.instagram.com/sarahstewart.co.uk

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.In this episode, we talk with Mandy Tsang about her experience of her dad’s death during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact this had on her subsequent grief journey. You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Mandy here: [email protected]/senseintimateswww.instagram.com/senseintimates

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.In this episode, we talk with Stacey Wilson about Non-Death Loss: When families break down about her estrangement with her family and the impact that had and how she's worked to deal with it.If you’ve found this episode, please consider sharing it on your social media, and leave us a review to help spread the word.You can connect with Karen here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounselling You can connect with Stacey here: https://www.thesuperpowercoach.co.ukhttps://www.facebook.com/StaceyWilsonCoachingTo purchase our 90 day grief journal, shop here: https://amzn.eu/d/c8v5J8c

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.In this episode, we talk with Cat Paterson about Navigating Anticipatory Grief. If you’ve found this episode, please consider sharing it on your social media, and leave us a review to help spread the word.You can connect with Karen here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounselling You can connect with cat here: https://[email protected] purchase our 90 day grief journal, shop here: https://amzn.eu/d/c8v5J8c

Welcome to Grief Unedited, a podcast that explores raw and authentic experiences of loss. Host Karen Lafferty, an accredited counsellor specialising in grief support, brings over a decade of experience to guide listeners through the complex journey of bereavement.Through candid conversations with guests sharing their personal stories, this series delves deep into the realities of grief and its profound impact on individuals' lives. Each episode is recorded in a single take, offering unfiltered and genuine discussions that capture the true essence of the grieving process.In this episode, we talk with Victoria Cunningham about Grief across generations: losing a parent as an adult. If you’ve found this episode, please consider sharing it on your social media, and leave us a review to help spread the word.You can connect with Karen here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounselling You can connect with Victoria here: https://ordinarypeopleacademy.com/https://www.facebook.com/OrdinaryPeopleAcademy/To purchase our 90day grief journal, shop here: https://amzn.eu/d/c8v5J8c

In this episode, host Karen Lafferty, talks to Emma McElhinney about the journey many women go through in Perimenopause and Menopause and how this often results in feelings of grief and loss. Karen and Emma also discuss the parallels between grief and Menopause and Emma shares advice on what women can do to support themselves as they navigate this journey. You can connect with Karen here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Emma here: https://www.facebook.com/emmateamemwhttps://www.instagram.com/emmaperimenohealthhttps://www.teamemw.com

In this episode, Jen explores her experience of the death of her brother Han who died due to cancer. Jen shares her reflections on what helped and what didn’t and talks of some of the resources she found most helpful. You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Jen here: https://toastytype.com/https://www.instagram.com/toastytype/https://www.facebook.com/toastytypeHan’s Video voiced by his lifelong friend Findlay Napier - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3Z3To1ieS0&t=64s Jen’s Blog Post:  https://toastytype.com/news/2021/1/6/well-that-was-a-year-huhThe Bowel movement - https://www.thebowelmovement.uk/Macmillan Cancer Charity - https://www.macmillan.org.uk/ 0808 808 00 00

In this episode, our guest Carrie talks about the death of her mum following a long journey with Bowel Cancer. Carrie talks about how she has navigated her grief, and how her spiritual practices have brought her comfort in this time. You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can connect with Carrie here: https://sageinthesky.com/https://www.facebook.com/SageintheSky/https://www.instagram.com/sage_inthe_sky/

Joining me on the first episode is Andrea Clare who talks openly about the loss of her Mum following a battle with Dementia and how she dealt with an unexpected relationship breakdown while navigating her grief journey.You can connect with me here:https://www.continuumcounselling.comhttps://www.facebook.com/continuumcounsellinghttps://www.instagram.com/continuumcounsellingYou can find Andrea Clare here:https://andreaclareart.ukhttps://www.facebook.com/andreaclarearthttps://www.instagram.com/andreaclareart.uk

In this short episode, host Karen Lafferty, talks about the premise of Grief Unedited and shares how this project came to be.