The Grief Gurus

Lisa Chase McFarland + Carol Banens
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

The Grief Gurus Healing Community is a virtual space for women who are carrying grief—whether it’s recent or something that’s been with you for a long time. You don’t have to have the right words.You don’t have to share your story.You don’t have to be in a certain place. You can simply come and listen. Most people move through grief quietly, trying to make sense of it on their own.  This space offers something different—a place to be around others who understand, without needing to explain. Everything inside the community is optional.You can engage as much or as little as you want, at your own pace. We offer two weeks of complimentary access so you can explore the space gently and see what feels right for you. Because grief is part of your story… but it was never meant to be the whole story.

  1. 4d ago

    Why Can't I Function Like I Used To?

    Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story. After the death of a loved one, many people are surprised by how difficult everyday life becomes. You may find yourself forgetting appointments, struggling to focus, rereading the same page over and over, losing track of conversations, or feeling mentally exhausted by tasks that once felt simple. Some people begin to wonder if something is wrong with them. The truth is that grief affects far more than our emotions. Grief can impact attention, memory, concentration, decision-making, motivation, and even our ability to complete everyday tasks. What many people describe as "grief brain" is a common response to profound loss. In this conversation, we explore: • Why grief can make it difficult to focus • The connection between grief, stress, and cognitive function • Why memory problems are common after loss • The emotional impact of no longer functioning the way you once did • How to practice self-compassion during periods of mental fog If you've ever found yourself wondering why you can't think, remember, organize, or function the way you used to before your loss, you're not alone. Your brain isn't failing. Your heart is carrying something incredibly heavy. And understanding that can be an important step toward healing. ❤️ 👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss. #TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing Show Notes + Resources: Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/ Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/ Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/ Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

  2. Jul 16

    What My Daughter Taught Me 30 Years After Her Death

    Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story. For nearly 30 years, I carried a painful belief about the death of my daughter. While everyone around me seemed to understand that she was dying, I always felt I was the only one who thought maybe she wouldn't. I felt dumb and wondered how I could have been the only person who didn't see what was happening. At times, I felt angry and betrayed. I even questioned my faith and wondered whether my hope had somehow been misplaced. Over the years, I told myself a story about what that meant. Then recently, I encountered research that offered an entirely different perspective. The research suggested that in moments of extreme fear and uncertainty, the presence of even one person who genuinely believes everything will be okay can have a profound impact on everyone around them. That person's hope can help calm fear, create emotional safety, and provide strength when others are struggling. As I reflected on that idea, something shifted. For the first time, I stopped seeing myself as the person who "didn't get it" and began seeing myself as the person who carried hope when hope was desperately needed. Alexis never had to look into my eyes to see despair. She only saw love and a belief in the possibility of miracles. My new perspective didn't change what happened. It didn't erase the loss. It didn't remove the pain of losing my daughter. But it changed the meaning I had attached to that chapter of my life for nearly three decades. In this conversation, we explore: • How the stories we tell ourselves can shape our healing • Why grief sometimes asks us to revisit old beliefs • The role of hope during life's most difficult moments • How perspective shifts can create unexpected healing • Finding compassion for earlier versions of ourselves • Why meaning-making remains an important part of grief integration If you've ever carried guilt, regret, embarrassment, or self-judgment about something that happened during a difficult time, this conversation may offer a new way of looking at your own story. Sometimes healing doesn't come from finding new answers. Sometimes it comes from asking a different question. And sometimes, years later, we discover that what we once saw as a weakness may have actually been a gift. ❤️ 👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss. #TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing Show Notes + Resources: Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/ Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/ Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/ Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

  3. Jul 10

    Join us for a MasterClass!

    You're invited to join a complimentary MasterClass called "The First Days and Months After Loss" on Thursday July 23rd @ 1pm EST. Save Your Seat by Registering Here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1992780759897?aff=oddtdtcreator 👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss. #TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing Show Notes + Resources: Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/ Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/ Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/ Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

  4. Jul 9

    What Should I Do on the Anniversary of Their Death?

    Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story. The anniversary of a loved one's death can bring a wide range of emotions—sadness, gratitude, love, anxiety, reflection, or even unexpected peace. There is no right way to experience these milestone days, and what feels meaningful can change from year to year. In this conversation, Carol reflects on the eighth anniversary of her husband's death and shares some of the ways she has learned to approach this significant day. We explore different ways to honor and remember someone we love, the importance of staying open to whatever emotions arise, and why planning for self-care can make a meaningful difference. In this video, we discuss: • Different ways to honor and remember a loved one on their anniversary • Why there is no "right" way to spend the day • The importance of reflection and self-compassion • How anniversaries can change over time • Creating space for both remembrance and self-care Whether the anniversary is approaching for the first time or the twentieth, we hope this conversation offers comfort, perspective, and permission to honor your grief in whatever way feels right for you. 👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss. #TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing Show Notes + Resources: Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/ Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/ Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/ Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

  5. Jul 2

    The Hardest Part of Grief? The World Moves On But You Can't.

    Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story. One of the most disorienting parts of grief is realizing that the world keeps moving… even when your own world has completely changed. People go back to work. Conversations continue. Events happen. Ordinary life carries on. And meanwhile, you may still be trying to understand how someone so important can suddenly be gone. In this conversation, we explore the loneliness, shock, and emotional disconnect that can arise when life keeps moving after loss — and why this experience is such a deeply human part of grief. Because sometimes the pain isn’t only the loss itself… it’s the feeling that the world no longer reflects the magnitude of what happened to you. 👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss. #TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing Show Notes + Resources: Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/ Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/ Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/ Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

  6. Jun 25

    Why Does Grief Return Years Later?

    Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story. Many people are surprised — and sometimes frightened — when grief suddenly returns years after a loss. A wedding. A song. A milestone. A quiet moment. And suddenly, the sadness feels present all over again. In this conversation, we explore why grief can resurface long after we think we’ve “moved on,” how unresolved emotions and meaningful life events can reopen grief, and why these moments do not mean you are healing incorrectly. Because grief is not linear. It doesn’t follow a schedule. And feeling grief again years later does not mean you are back at the beginning. Often, it simply means love, memory, and loss are still woven into your life in new ways. 👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss. #TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing Show Notes + Resources: Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/ Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/ Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/ Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

  7. Jun 18

    Why Does Feeling Better Sometimes Feel Worse?

    Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story. Many grieving people are surprised to discover that feeling better can bring its own kind of pain. A moment of laughter… a sense of relief… even glimpses of joy… can suddenly trigger guilt, fear, or the feeling that you’re somehow leaving your loved one behind. In this conversation, we explore why healing can feel emotionally complicated after loss and how grief and joy can exist together without canceling each other out. Because loving someone deeply does not require you to suffer forever in order to prove they mattered. 👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss. #TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing #guilt-after-loss Show Notes + Resources: Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/ Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/ Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/ Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

  8. Jun 11

    Loving Someone vs. Caring for Them — It’s Different

    Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story. There’s a profound shift that happens when you move from being a companion to becoming a caregiver. The relationship changes. The roles change. And often, so does the emotional landscape. In this chat, we talk about what it’s like when someone you love begins to rely on you for care — how it can affect connection, identity, and the way you show up for each other. This transition can bring love, responsibility, exhaustion, tenderness, and even grief… all at the same time. Because sometimes you’re not just being with the person you love anymore — you’re also holding so much of what they need. 👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss. #TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing #caregiver Show Notes + Resources: Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/ Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/ Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/ Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Grief Gurus Healing Community is a virtual space for women who are carrying grief—whether it’s recent or something that’s been with you for a long time. You don’t have to have the right words.You don’t have to share your story.You don’t have to be in a certain place. You can simply come and listen. Most people move through grief quietly, trying to make sense of it on their own.  This space offers something different—a place to be around others who understand, without needing to explain. Everything inside the community is optional.You can engage as much or as little as you want, at your own pace. We offer two weeks of complimentary access so you can explore the space gently and see what feels right for you. Because grief is part of your story… but it was never meant to be the whole story.

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa Chase McFarland + Carol Banens
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    254
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Grief Gurus
  • Show Website
    The Grief Gurus