What If Your Loved One Is Still Your Light-Interview with Grief Counselor Nicollette Vazquez

I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2461734/fa...) Grief can make you feel like you have to be “fine” for everyone else, even when you are falling apart in the quiet moments. We wanted a conversation that cuts through the clichés and actually helps, so we invited Nicolette Vasquez, Team Leader of Grief Support at Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet, Illinois, to walk with us through what grief counseling looks like in real life and why it can be such a relief to have someone simply hold space. We talk about the core purpose of grief counseling: not getting over the loss, not moving on, and not trying to fix what cannot be fixed. Instead, we focus on learning your grief, normalizing the roller coaster of emotions, and finding ways to keep a comforting bond with your loved one. We also dig into grief triggers and the surprising way they can change over time, like a song, a scent, or a familiar item in the grocery store that first knocks you over and later becomes a source of connection. Then we tackle grief myths that add pressure, including the idea that grief is linear, that grief is only sadness, and that time alone heals everything. Nicolette explains how grief support can include one on one bereavement counseling, support groups, grief education workshops, and community events and why connecting with other grievers can reduce isolation in a way nothing else can. We also share practical resource tips, including how hospice programs can be a smart starting point and how to search by zip code through national hospice networks, plus options like telehealth grief counseling for added access. If you are navigating loss, dementia caregiving, anticipatory grief, or the aftermath of a death, listen along and take what you need. Subscribe, share this with someone who could use a steadier hand, and leave a review so more caregivers and grievers can find this support. Support the show (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2461734/su...)