TENDING THE SPARK
Tending Your Grief and Sparking Your Joy with Sherry Hoffman
ABOUT SHERRY
Grief tending reflects my core belief that no one needs to carry the burden of grief and the struggle of loss alone. And healing happens with caring connection, intentional witnessing and gentle holding of your tender heart. We craft your desired support together, without rigid or unwanted expectations. Together, we bear the unbearable, and speak out loud the unthinkable. I bring my own experience of both familial and partner loss, as well as expertise in visionary life coaching and grief recovery. My commitment is to provide a safe, loving space for you to be supported on your unique grief journey and to help you find your way to back to joy, as well as renewed purpose and meaning in your life.
Certified by The Institute of Professional Grief Coaching LLC
I find this song truly inspirational, and it sums up why I am called to offer this heart-centered healing work.
“And we will care for each other
As the world around us unravels
And we will tend to the spark
of hope that lives within our grieving hearts
And we are here now, in this present moment
Lifting our voices and hearts
And we are here now, we have come together
We are tending the spark of hope
Oh may it grow
And we will care for each other”
Lyrics to "Tending the Spark"
© Heather Houston
GRIEF TENDING & JOY SPARKING
Navigating Life After Loss - Gentle Support in Finding Your Joy Again
Grief is such a unique journey and it will take you places you never dreamed of. Personally, I thought that I could will it away, pretend I was better, and live my life like I hadn't just lost my beloved partner and best friend at the age of 55. Maybe if I could just be positive and strong, it wouldn’t hurt so much. It took me over two years to stop resisting my sadness, and to lean into my grief. It was then I discovered what I was meant to glean from this devastating loss.
American author, mythologist, and storyteller, Micheal Meade, says best what was happening for me.
“We may be closest to hearing the call when we feel most alone or in trouble, for genius hides behind the wound and one of the greatest wounds in life is to not know who we are intended to be or what we are supposed to serve in life.”
― Michael Meade, The Genius Myth
And out of that noticing came the question, and the deeper call. What am I meant to do with this experience? I now felt I could empathize with and support those dealing with deep grief, in a way I could not have done before suffering the loss of my partner.
Yet, despite extensive graduate work in counseling, training as a a visionary life coach and hypnotherapist, and volunteering as a sexual assault advocate, I was not yet fully ready to share my gifts as a grief worker. I decided to formally immerse myself in learning the grief process with experts, and to understand more concretely the proven ways to support those experiencing grief and loss.
In January 2020 I took on my first client, and subsequently completed my training with the Institute of Professional Grief Coaching. I am qualified both by way of formal studies and profound life experience to serve as your Grief Tender.
Tending the Spark is my offering to you, my community, and the world at large, to gently and lovingly support you during the most difficult times in your life. And, to join you, when you are ready, in fanning your spark into a growing flame of aliveness - cultivating your joy and curiosity, and reclaiming your sense of excitement and meaningfulness in this present moment.
This is my invitation: You do not need to endure this grief journey alone; I am here to care for and accompany you. I am willing and able to tend your precious spark of hope, helping you uncover your strength, and renew your desire to live with openness and curiosity. Why? So, you can live your precious life to the fullest each and every day.
OFFERINGS TO SUPPORT YOU
We can connect one-on-one, through group support circles, or through online and in-person grief retreats.
Grief tending is not psychotherapy in its approach, nor does it follow the more regimented goals of coaching.
Grief needs to be tended in a deeply mindful way so pain is not held in the body or manifested in negative or harmful ways such as lack of self-care, isolation or depression.
By naming and acknowledging grief, we begin to release it little by little making room for new experiences and emotions to emerge, and finding a way back to the natural flow of life and potential joy.
All of us go through times of real loss, change and transition; times when we need a safe and sacred place, to be compassionately held and guided in all we are personally experiencing.
Let's connect on your first complimentary call and craft a path forward that feels right for you in this moment.
Fees: Sliding Scale $125 - $175 per session. Packages available.
ONE ON ONE PERSONAL SESSIONS
Personal sessions allow you to be at your most vulnerable, knowing all that you share will be respectfully held with deep care, confidentiality and focused presence. You will be offered intuitive reflection, and gentle inquiry and guidance. Collaborating on, and creating, personal grief rituals is an available offering as well.
GRIEF SUPPORT CIRCLES
Grief support circles allow you to share your own experience, be witnessed, and listen to others, while being held with loving and mindful facilitation. Healing happens when we can safely share what's present in our hearts and minds...to be seen, heard and understood.
GRIEVE & RELEASE RETREATS
Grieve & Release Retreats offer the gift of being able to immerse yourself into a committed time focused on your grief journey. Healing offerings will include intuitive writing, heart shares, singing, movement and more all designed to help move any grief ready to be released.
CONTACT US: 206.972.3769
If you’re seeking gentle and experienced support for what you’re going through, you’ve come to just the right place.
Please give us a call or send us a message, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Located in Edmonds WA, north of Seattle - Available internationally by phone and online platforms.
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