The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations
This podcast focuses on surviving life after a suicide loss, an experience that can be devastating and leave you feeling lost as you try to pick up the pieces of your shattered heart. The host, Melissa Bottorff-Arey, lost her 21-year-old son, Alex, to suicide on August 7, 2016, and brings (& often shares) her insights from her personal journey.
In each episode, Melissa engages in honest and challenging conversations with other survivors of loss, healers, and mental health experts. She also produces shorter solo episodes where she reflects on her own thoughts and experiences thus far. The podcast covers a wide range of relevant topics and addresses difficult questions. Melissa explores all aspects of grief, including trauma, hope, healing, self-care, legacy, and stigma. She believes that we learn to live alongside our grief rather than getting over it. Actual change comes through authentic, meaningful connections and mindful choices.
For supporters or educators, these conversations provide valuable insights and shine a light on suicide and grief genuinely and unapologetically. Listeners who are grieving a suicide loss can find comfort in the community and hope for a better tomorrow. Melissa aims to help others, like herself, transition from merely surviving to discovering a life filled with meaning and, potentially, even happiness amid the leftover pieces around you. You can always schedule a time to chat about being a guest from my main website.
[Please NOTE: This podcast is for only relational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It candidly and openly discusses sensitive and sometimes activating topics. There will be no in-depth or graphic descriptions of the method, but merely the possible mention of suicide, murder, rape, and the like. Be guided and care for yourself accordingly. Also, Melissa is not a doctor or licensed therapist, and nothing on this podcast should be taken in place of, or as, medical/mental health advice or recommendations.]
The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations
Opening to the Presence of Your Pain; Marianne Gouveia of EricsHouse
Life after suicide loss - in the case of today's guest, child loss after suicide - requires learning to be open to the presence of your pain, at least if you want to begin down the path of healing. But, what does that mean? Marianne Gouveia of the no-profit EricsHouse and I explore this and so much more in this episode.
Today, you will hear Marianne and I talk about
- How we work through our 'grief bursts'
- What is "Catholic Fear" and how to move past it
- How the healing can begin after the shock, numbness & isolation...and then continue from there
- Grief inside a marriage ... and So much more!
- Eric's House and its vision "...that no person who is bereaved by suicide or substance abuse will suffer these devastating losses alone."
You can find Marianne and ALL of the wonderful work being done through EricsHouse--->
HERE AT EricsHouse WEBSITE
FOR MEN needing a SUPPORT GROUP - GO HERE
A bit more about Marianne and Eric's House --
Marianne spent 35 years as an aerospace and defense executive. She was President and Vice President along with various other capacities with a concentration on international business development and program management. She owned and operated an international aerospace company for more than 10 years.
Marianne left corporate America to pursue a business coaching certification through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). After the loss of her youngest son, Marianne chose to turn her tragedy into good for others. She founded EricsHouse in 2017 to help those left behind sort through these devastating losses to integrate their grief so they may find joy and happiness again. EricsHouse helps people rise, survive, and thrive even in the face of devastation.
Outside of her corporate life, she experienced several life transitions encompassing career, business, loss of a sibling, loss of a child, loss of parents, a divorce, a Down Syndrome son, and a Down Syndrome sister.
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My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" support central - MY HUB - and that means my different SUPPORT GROUP Options are available. Go DIRECTLY to my SUPPORT page here where you will find ALL of the ways to connect and find support. My first two books (tools I am creating for you!) in the
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💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
🔗 Stay connected: Join my free email community for weekly check-ins, resources, and encouragement.
🌟 For moms: Explore the $9 Lighthouse Community — safe connection, tools, and hope.
🛠 Resources for all grievers: Start here.
🤝 One-on-one grief coaching for moms after child loss to suicide: Learn more here.
📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.