043 Jill Johnson-Young LCSW on grief, death and being a Rebellious Widow

Jill Johnson-Young is my guest for episode 43 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.

Jill is a Grieftalker, an expert on grief and has written books for children and adults about grief and loss.

In this episode, we talk about her background in hospice, how to talk with kids about death, unmentioned grief, dementia, anticipatory grief, grief therapy and support, and more. One thing I loved about this conversation is Jill's experience helped this topic not seem so big and overwhelming.

From Jill's website, https://jilljohnsonyoung.com/

"Let me tell you a little about myself: I am based out of Riverside, California. I’ve been widowed. Twice. Before age fifty. I’ve faced down cancer with my first wife, who died ten years later cancer-free, but with pulmonary fibrosis and heart failure probably brought on by the chemo that gave us ten extra years. Not many years after I remarried following my first wife’s death, my second wife developed weird symptoms that no physician could seem to figure out. I finally did. That’s when we realized she had early-onset Lewy Body Dementia. She died only months after we finally got the diagnosis.

I’ve had the honor of working with too many hospice families to count, helping patients prepare for their deaths, and families for the loss that was most certainly coming. I’ve had the honor to be present when many of those patients died. I’ve provided support groups for children in schools, adults, and for those who are terminally ill. Death really is not scary to me, or a subject I avoid. I’ve raised my kids to see death as a part of life. Now that I’m married to a funeral director, it really is part of our daily life. But that does not mean we can’t laugh, we can’t feel sunshine on happy days, or that life is negative. That’s not who I am. That’s not who I want anyone else to be.

the technical stuff: my BA is from the University of California, Riverside, and my MSW comes from the University of South Florida, and I am licensed in the state of California as an LCSW. On top of being the CEO of Central Counseling Services allowing me to serve as a clinical therapist, I am also a certified Grief Recovery Facilitator."

You can follow Jill:

https://www.instagram.com/jilljohnsonyounglcsw

https://www.facebook.com/grieftalker/

https://mobile.twitter.com/jilljohnsonyou1

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilljohnsonyoung/

The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast launched March 30th, 2021.

I write more about marriage and parenting on my blog www.SovannPen.com

You can watch the show on my Youtube channel.

The purpose of the show is to encourage and inspire you to be more courageous in life and to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. It is for those who may be struggling with mental illness, relationship struggles, or seeking clarity and direction in life. People who are interested in personal growth, emotional and spiritual health. Moms and Dads who would like help with their marriage and/or parenting. And people who are interested in how church leaders and mental health providers can work together to care for people.

You can connect with me:

htps://www.instagram.com/sovannpencounseling

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https://twitter.com/SovannPen

http://www.sovannpen.com/