Alana Sheeren, words + energy

Transformation Talk with Jay Westbrook

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Welcome to Transformation Talk. Every Thursday for a year, starting in September 2012, I’ll post an interview with someone who is a force for good in the world. These men and women have either deepened their passion or found their calling after experiencing a loss, trauma or diagnosis.

I want to broaden the conversation around grief and its transformative power. My hope is that in their words you’ll find echoes of your story. In their inspired actions, you’ll see yourself and your immense possibility.

*Special Request: The technology of Skype is amazing and imperfect. Please listen with your heart and forgive the occasional blips.

This week’s interview is with nationally renowned clinician, educator and end-of-life specialist, Jay Westbrook. (see bio below) Let me tell you, he is no-holds-barred amazing. His personal story is beyond compelling and professionally he’s one of the best. I’m thrilled to have him as part of the series and excited to bring some male energy to the conversation.

One note – in the video I make a comment about drug and alcohol use that I feel could be misinterpreted. I am in no way making light of the horrors of addiction. I simply mean to say that sometimes, as in Jay’s case, it is the fire a person must walk through to become who they truly are.

Running time is just under 30 minutes. Link to download audio version is below.

Right-click or Control-click to download audio mp3 file.

 

Jay Westbrook is a multiple award-winning clinician (“Nurse of the Year”), Visiting Faculty Scholar at Harvard Medical School, and a specialist in End-of-Life care & education.

Westbrook has an MS in Gerontology, is a certified Grief Recovery Specialist, a Registered Nurse, and a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse.

He is nationally recognized as an expert on the constellation of issues surrounding End-of-Life, and both lectures & consults nationally.  Westbrook is an informative, entertaining, and inspiring speaker who presents powerfully on the transformative aspects of suffering & forgiveness, and on using suffering as a vehicle to awaken compassion.

G. Jay Westbrook,  M.S., R.N.   –   Clinical Director
Compassionate Journey:
An End-of-Life Clinical & Education Service
818/773-3700
[email protected]

Organizations for which he has served as a consultant or educator include, but are not limited to:

Alzheimer’s Association
American College of Physicians
California Assisted Living Association
California Department of Corrections
California Hospice Foundation
City of Hope National Cancer Center
Harvard University School of Medicine
Henry Ford Medical Center  –  Detroit, MI
Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center
Multiple Los Angeles Schools of Nursing
Penn State University School of Medicine
St. Joseph Medical Center – Burban
St. Jude Medical Center
USC School of Gerontology & Social Work
U.S. Department of Defense
U.S.A.F. Keesler AFB Medical Center
USC Keck School of Medicine
Veteran’s Administration Medical Centers

 

Transformation Talk with Claire Gillenson

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Welcome to Transformation Talk. Every Thursday for a year, starting in September 2012, I’ll post an interview with someone who is a force for good in the world. These men and women have either deepened their passion or found their calling after experiencing a loss, trauma or diagnosis.

I want to broaden the conversation around grief and its transformative power. My hope is that in their words you’ll find echoes of your story. In their inspired actions, you’ll see yourself and your immense possibility.

*Special Request: The technology of Skype is amazing and imperfect. Please listen with your heart and forgive the occasional blips.

This week’s interview is with grief and loss coach, Claire Gillenson. Claire’s list of major life challenges includes stage 4 bone cancer, the death of her beloved dog, years of infertility treatments, divorce, her mother’s suicide and her young daughter’s medical concerns. She has since found love again and thanks to her personal experiences has come to her work of walking alongside her clients as they journey through life’s transitions.

Skype was particularly grouchy the day we spoke, so I’m posting this as an audio file. Remember to right-click or control-click to download to your computer. Running time is 15 minutes.

Interview with Claire Gillenson

Claire Chew Gillenson is a Life Transitions/Grief Coach based in Los Angeles, serving clients locally in Southern California and globally via Skype. Her work has been featured in Marie Claire, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, Body + Soul, and on Good Morning America. Claire brings an integrative approach to her life coaching, melding eastern and western philosophies with a focus on the whole of our being: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Her proven methods help empower individuals to create their own joy and happiness while moving through life transitions. Claire specializes in sources of grief that are not part of mainstream conversations: pet loss, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, suicide and recovery. A published author, speaker and educator, she is the founder of Luxepets, and can be found at:

Claire Gillenson, M.A.
Life Transition/Grief Alchemist
310-314-9837
[email protected]
www.clairegillenson.com
www.luxepets.com

 

Transformation Talk with Vicki Culling

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Welcome to Transformation Talk. Every Thursday for a year, starting in September 2012, I’ll post an interview with someone who is a force for good in the world. These men and women have either deepened their passion or found their calling after experiencing a loss, trauma or diagnosis.

I want to broaden the conversation around grief and its transformative power. My hope is that in their words you’ll find echoes of your story. In their inspired actions, you’ll see yourself and your immense possibility.

*Special Request: The technology of Skype is amazing and imperfect. Please listen with your heart and forgive the occasional blips on the screen.

This week’s interview is with Vicki Culling, a social worker in New Zealand who supports bereaved parents and who educates health and caring professionals on the front lines of pregnancy loss and child death. I had the pleasure of meeting Vicki and hearing her speak at the MISS Foundation conference this fall. Her talk blew my mind and heart wide open (and you get to see me cry a little as I talk about it).

Running time is 23 minutes. Link to download audio only is below the video.

Download the audio file: (right-click or control-click on the link)

Vicki Culling, PhD, is a bereaved mother whose first daughter’s brief life changed the trajectory of her life considerably. She has a social work and research background but has worked in the area of perinatal and infant loss support and information for over 10 years now.

Vicki has been involved in Sands New Zealand, an organization that supports parents and families following the loss of a baby or infant no matter their gestation or age and no matter how they died. Her work with Sands has also led to working at a national level with government agencies and committees. Vicki recently set up her own business providing training to health and caring professionals who work with bereaved parents and families.

Vicki lives in Wellington, New Zealand with her husband Kevan and daughter, Phoebe a dog and cat and a house bus they regularly take holidays in.

You can find her at www.vickicullingassoc.co.nz or email her at [email protected] if you have questions about her work.

Transformation Talk with Monica Park

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Welcome to Transformation Talk. Every Thursday for a year, starting in September 2012, I’ll post an interview with someone who is a force for good in the world. These men and women have either deepened their passion or found their calling after experiencing a loss, trauma or diagnosis.

I want to broaden the conversation around grief and its transformative power. My hope is that in their words you’ll find echoes of your story. In their inspired actions, you’ll see yourself and your immense possibility.

*Special Request: The technology of Skype is amazing and imperfect. Please listen with your heart and forgive the occasional blips on the screen.

Today’s interview is with hypnotherapist and life coach Monica Park of Heal Real. She talks candidly about the lasting effects of her father’s suicide, her mother’s attempts to take her own life, and how becoming a mama changed the way she saw herself.

Running time is just under 15 minutes. Audio link available below.

Right-click or control-click to download the audio version: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/40076880/Monica%20Park%20For%20Internet.mp3

In Monica’s words:

I am a fierce, conscious Mama and a hippy in stilettos. A hypnotherapist, coach, and Reiki healer. A passionate truth seeker with a strong desire to understand people (including myself) deeply and openly. I always knew I did not want to be a victim. It was clear early on that I needed to understand what I did not know, and forgive. That is where my self exploration, self awareness and healing journey came in, and it has never left me. I believe that we are the masters of our own realities. My favorite question to ask my clients + myself is “what are you getting out of this?”

I believe that behind every behavior there is a positive intention. If we can be honest about what the benefit is from our “negative” behavior. For example, I used to OWN my depression like a badge of honor. I didn’t know why I secretly loved it and I was addicted to feeling depressed because I also HATED it and wanted to be happy. When I REALLY looked deeper, it became very apparent to me that what I value most is connection. I believed that through my depression I was more connected to people and I also believed that if I was “happy” I would lose connection. This realization for me changed everything. Do I still feel depressed sometimes? OF COURSE. I am extremely emotional and I am human, BUT I do not own it anymore. I feel ALIVE. 

I truly believe when we can TRUTHFULLY peel back the layers and be REAL, a new world, a new reality + frame of mind can emerge. It’s called Freedom.

If you want to heal, you got to keep it real.

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