Hope after Loss... Gentle conversations for grieving hearts

Marilyn Burns M.S., L.P.C.C., Author
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  • Mental Health

 Hello, and welcome to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief. My name is Marilyn Burns. I’m a licensed mental health counselor with 48 years of experience, an author, and a mother. I'm creating this podcast several years after losing my son, Chris, to addiction.  Learning first hand how to grieve with grace and hope is what it took for me to help you on your journey. Grief is something we don’t talk about enough… especially the kind of grief that begins long before a loss actually happens. As parents, we often live with the fear that something could happen at any moment. And when it does, life changes in ways we never imagined. In this space, we will have gentle, honest conversations about grief… about love, about loss, and about what it means to keep living when your heart is broken. I will share my personal journey, the lessons I’ve learned over time, and the experiences of others who are walking this path. We will talk about the hard things—guilt, regret, trauma, and the feeling that you don’t recognize your life anymore. But we will also talk about hope. About how love does not end. About how we carry our children with us in ways we may not fully understand. And about how, even in the deepest pain, there are moments that begin to bring us back to ourselves. If you are grieving… if you feel alone… or if you are trying to understand how to move forward… This space is for you. You are not alone. If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore, you’re welcome to email me at hopeafterlosspodcast@gmail.com. While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email, I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode so others may feel less alone. This podcast is dedicated to my son, Chris. This is Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief with Marilyn Burns. I’m so glad you’re here. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional counseling, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need support, please contact a licensed professional or appropriate services in your area.

Episodes

  1. Faith After Loss Finding Strength in Something Greater Than Your Pain

    May 23

    Faith After Loss Finding Strength in Something Greater Than Your Pain

    Episode 6: Faith After Loss: Finding Strength in Something Greater Than Your Pain Grief has a way of shaking not only our hearts, but our beliefs. In this episode of Hope After Loss, Marilyn Burns, M.S., L.P.C.C., explores what happens when loss leaves us questioning faith, meaning, and the very things that once grounded us. Whether your comfort comes through God, prayer, spiritual connection, nature, the universe, or simply the hope that something greater exists beyond your pain, this conversation offers gentle encouragement for the grieving heart. If you’ve ever asked:  Why did this happen? Where was God? How do I keep going when life no longer makes sense? This episode is for you. Healing does not require perfect faith—only a willingness to remain open to comfort, meaning, and light. 💛 Questions around faith inspired Marilyn’s children’s book, Where Are You, God? Send us Fan Mail Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief. If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.  If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,  you’re welcome to email me at [your email]. While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,  I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode  so others may feel less alone.

    17 min
  2. Who Am I Now? Identity After Loss

    May 15

    Who Am I Now? Identity After Loss

    Grief doesn't just change our lives--it can change our sense of self.  In this episode of Hope After Loss, Marilyn Burns M.S., L.P.C.C. explores the deep sense of identity loss that often follows grief. When we lose someone we love, we don’t just lose the person — we also lose the parts of self connected to them, the roles we carried, and the life we once knew. Through compassionate reflection and emotional insight, Marilyn discusses the importance of embracing the changes happening within and around us. Although grief changes us forever, learning to walk through life without our loved one can slowly shape a new version of ourselves — one built from love, resilience, growth, and healing. This episode is a gentle reminder that becoming “someone new” after loss is not betrayal… it is part of surviving. grief may quietly reshape who we are becoming. Send us Fan Mail Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief. If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.  If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,  you’re welcome to email me at [your email]. While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,  I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode  so others may feel less alone.

    17 min
  3. Finding Your Way Through the Darkness of Grief

    Apr 26

    Finding Your Way Through the Darkness of Grief

    Grief can feel like darkness—quiet, heavy, and hard to move through. In this episode, Marilyn gently explores what it means to live in that darkness, and how we begin, slowly and softly, to find our way again. When we are grieving, it’s common to feel lost, disconnected, and unsure of who we are or how to move forward. This isn’t weakness—it’s the mind and body trying to cope with something overwhelming. Through both personal experience and professional insight, Marilyn offers a compassionate perspective on grief and reminds us that we don’t have to find our way all at once. Sometimes… it begins with one small step. If you are moving through the darkness of grief, this episode is a gentle place to pause, breathe, and remember—you are not alone. This is Hope After Loss — gentle conversations for grieving hearts. Send us Fan Mail Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief. If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.  If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,  you’re welcome to email me at [your email]. While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,  I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode  so others may feel less alone.

    15 min
  4. Living in the Space Between Hope and Fear

    Apr 12

    Living in the Space Between Hope and Fear

    There is a kind of grief that begins long before loss. In this episode, Marilyn shares the emotional reality of loving someone who is struggling, and what it feels like to live in the space between hope and fear. This is the space where you find yourself waiting…  waiting for the phone to ring…  waiting for things to change…  and carrying a quiet fear that never fully goes away. Through her personal experience as a mother and her professional understanding of grief, Marilyn gently explores anticipatory grief, the emotional toll of living in uncertainty, and the weight of feeling responsible for someone you love. If you are loving someone through addiction or walking through this kind of grief, you are not alone. Send us Fan Mail Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief. If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.  If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,  you’re welcome to email me at [your email]. While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,  I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode  so others may feel less alone.

    15 min
  5. Grief and the Emotional Brain

    Mar 29

    Grief and the Emotional Brain

    Grief is not just an emotional experience—it is also neurological. In this episode of Hope After Loss, Marilyn Burns, M.S., L.P.C.C., explores how the emotional brain responds to grief and loss, and why so many people experience overwhelming thoughts, anxiety, and emotional distress during the grieving process. This episode gently explains: – Why your thoughts may feel out of control after loss  – How the emotional brain processes grief  – The connection between grief, anxiety, and chronic stress  – Why you are not “losing your mind,” even when it feels that way Whether you are experiencing recent loss, anticipatory grief, or ongoing emotional pain, this conversation offers understanding, validation, and hope. If you are struggling with grief, anxiety, or the emotional impact of losing someone you love, you are not alone—and what you are experiencing makes sense. Send us Fan Mail Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief. If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.  If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,  you’re welcome to email me at [your email]. While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,  I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode  so others may feel less alone.

    14 min
  6. When Grief begins Before Loss

    Mar 22

    When Grief begins Before Loss

    Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional counseling, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship. If you are in need of support, please seek help from a licensed professional in your area.  In this first episode of Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief, Marilyn Burns shares a deeply personal and honest reflection on how grief often begins long before a loss actually occurs. When a loved one struggles with addiction, families live with a quiet, constant fear—the possibility that life could change at any moment. This episode explores that experience through both personal story and professional insight. Marilyn speaks as both a mother and a counselor, offering understanding, validation, and gentle guidance for those navigating fear, helplessness, and emotional exhaustion. If you are walking alongside someone struggling… or living with the weight of loss… this conversation is for you. You are not alone. This episode is dedicated to my son, Chris. Send us Fan Mail Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief. If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.  If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,  you’re welcome to email me at [your email]. While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,  I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode  so others may feel less alone.

    14 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

 Hello, and welcome to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief. My name is Marilyn Burns. I’m a licensed mental health counselor with 48 years of experience, an author, and a mother. I'm creating this podcast several years after losing my son, Chris, to addiction.  Learning first hand how to grieve with grace and hope is what it took for me to help you on your journey. Grief is something we don’t talk about enough… especially the kind of grief that begins long before a loss actually happens. As parents, we often live with the fear that something could happen at any moment. And when it does, life changes in ways we never imagined. In this space, we will have gentle, honest conversations about grief… about love, about loss, and about what it means to keep living when your heart is broken. I will share my personal journey, the lessons I’ve learned over time, and the experiences of others who are walking this path. We will talk about the hard things—guilt, regret, trauma, and the feeling that you don’t recognize your life anymore. But we will also talk about hope. About how love does not end. About how we carry our children with us in ways we may not fully understand. And about how, even in the deepest pain, there are moments that begin to bring us back to ourselves. If you are grieving… if you feel alone… or if you are trying to understand how to move forward… This space is for you. You are not alone. If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore, you’re welcome to email me at hopeafterlosspodcast@gmail.com. While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email, I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode so others may feel less alone. This podcast is dedicated to my son, Chris. This is Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief with Marilyn Burns. I’m so glad you’re here. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional counseling, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need support, please contact a licensed professional or appropriate services in your area.

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