Today we’d like to introduce you to Shea Wingate
Hi Shea, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a licensed therapist and grief coach. My background in mental health and lived grief experiences allow me to bring a unique perspective to grief work.
Grief work isn’t about “getting over it” or “moving on.” It’s about learning how to grow around loss. Grievers who work with me get tangible help, support, and validation to navigate their grief. I help people manage the difficult days of grief and build a fulfilling life.
After losing my parents and older sister within thirteen months, I became familiar with the demands of grief. As a young person in my 20s at the time, I struggled to find helpful grief support, which led me to open my grief practice in 2021. I’m passionate about this work and feel honored whenever I help a fellow griever.
Grief work is personal, which is why it’s important to find someone who understands loss. I’m not a stuffy therapist grievers can’t relate to; I’m open about my grief journey—even the ugly parts!
As a fellow griever, I know what it’s like to have your entire world turned upside down! Working with me means you finally have a place to talk to someone who understands—someone you don’t have to take care of but who takes care of you!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Working with grievers in my practice has been such a privilege. I feel I was made for this work and love each opportunity to help a fellow griever.
The hardest part of my work is finding ways to reach more grievers. I know traditional therapy isn’t accessible for every griever, so I have worked hard this year to diversify my offerings.
At the beginning of the year, I launched my online course, the Grief Myths Mini-Series. This self-paced course is an excellent resource for someone new to grief, short on time, or as a supplement to other grief support.
In September, I launched The Grief Club. A free online membership where griever can submit their personal grief questions for a chance to be answered by me in monthly long-form videos.
I’m offering a five-week holiday support group this holiday season to help people connect with other grievers. As much as I love doing the one-on-one therapy, I’m so excited about the new options I’ve created.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Grief Girlie. For our readers for might not be as familiar what can you tell them about your business?
A lot of what I said in the last question covered my offering. I offer one-on-one grief counseling, in person and online. I also have a course called The Grief Myths Mini-Series, a free online membership called The Grief Club, and holiday support grief groups.
I’m an LCSW (licensed mental health therapist). Before my losses, I worked as a therapist and dreamed of one day opening a private practice.
During my grief journey, I found it challenging to access quality grief support. I saw a need for more grief resources, which encouraged me to get further training in grief interventions and open my private practice solely focused on grief.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Grief is so much more than death. We know loss in many ways.
In my practice, I’ve seen the long-term impacts of COVID-19 that many clients still navigate today. Beyond the grief from COVID-19 deaths, I have noticed a recent uptick in the general loneliness our society faces. COVID robbed us of our social norms and made life more disconnected. I routinely help clients establish connections, find new ways of engaging with their community, and process changes in work-life balance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thegriefgirlie.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegriefgirlie/?hl=en
