Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynn Lewis.
Hi Lynn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I will begin by saying I am a certified grief educator and coach. I got to this space after my son died via suicide in August 2019. Less than a year after his demise, I decided I was not going to allow the aftermath of his death to consume me. I knew that it would be a part of my life forever, but it would be just that – a part. After making that declaration, not knowing how or what that would look like, I began doing some research. My research led me to grief coaching, which I did not know about until then. I pursued and completed a grief coaching certification program in December 2021. I pursued and completed a grief educator program in Spring 2024.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth path. As a grief educator, I offer knowledge-based workshops, talks, and resources to individuals and groups. As a grief coach, I focus on the present and the future, helping clients find stability and meaning as they move forward. The challenge is that I am going through my own process as I support others, so I have had to learn how to maintain a balance and know when to take a grief break. As a grief educator, my goal is to help people understand how grief works and to have conversations to normalize the grieving process. The challenge there is getting into spaces where those conversations are welcomed.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work as a Certified Grief Educator and Grief Coach is exhilarating because I get to support other adults who have experienced loss and are looking for ways to effectively navigate their grief journeys. As well, I get to share my own grief story because it is someone else’s lifejacket or solution to a problem they may be wrestling with. My work can be exhausting because grief is multi-faceted, it’s personal to everyone, and takes a lot of energy to manage. It is one of the reasons I am a huge proponent of practicing self-love unapologetically. Self-love talk is always threaded into my talks and presentations even when self-love is not the topic of discussion.
I am a speaker and author, too. I have been featured on NBC12 On Your Side, The Sharvette Mitchell Radio Show, and numerous podcasts. I am a regular writer for the Hope+Wellth quarterly magazine. In addition to being the co-author of several anthologies, I created and published a journal/memory book for survivors of suicide loss.
What are your plans for the future?
Facilitating virtual grief classes in collaboration with the G.L.A.D.D. community (www.gladdcommunity.com).
September is Suicide Awareness Month. I will be hosting a one-day conference in the Richmond VA area.
Collaborating with small business owners to educate them about Loss, Grief & Entrepreneurship.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.destinedtothrivegriefcoaching.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefcoachlynn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynnlewis7545
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-lewis-718173149
