Growing up years:

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" is a question that is often asked of youngsters in Belgium, my country of origin. My answer was steadfastly "I want to be a nurse when I grow up." That is until I discovered that needles were not my bailiwick and that the sight of blood made my blood curdle. When I turned twelve, I gave some thought to what else I wanted to be when I grew up...

My father's aunt was a nun in a convent that cared for people with mental health issues. The nuns "employed" the people in their charge and paid their patients with pocket change: some residents worked in the kitchen, others worked in the garden, some worked on the farm, others knitted afghans and toys, and those without specific abilities to contribute to the community played on the playground or in the game room. I was very impressed with the approach of the nuns and how they provided meaning to the lives of the people in their charge. They managed to create cohesion and purpose for their residents. This inspired me to become a psychologist in order to help people find relief and meaning in their lives. 

My parents did not agree with my plan, so I obtained a degree as a translator instead.

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Second chance:

Fast forward ten years and I moved to the US, married and one year later had a wonderful baby daughter. I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom although I have to admit that this has been the toughest job I have ever held. I went back to school when my daughter entered kindergarten and pursued my teenage dream. 

After an undergraduate in psychology through Park University, I completed a master in clinical social work through Virginia Commonwealth University and graduated in 2010. My second internship was in the school year 2009-2010 in hospice and I continued with the same organization as a full-time employed hospice social worker. In 2015, I started working as a full-time bereavement counselor still for the same organization. I took many CEUs (continuing education credits) by attending one- to three-day conferences and eventually decided I really needed to get certified in Grief Counseling, which I did through AIHCP. I stay abreast of approaches in grief counseling mainly through conferences and courses offered by diverse organizations as well as continuing in certifications through AIHCP. My next certification will be in Pet Loss Grief Support through AIHCP although I already hold a certification in Pet Loss Grief Coaching through Certified Excellence.

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Life purpose:

Being a bereavement counselor is a privilege and my gratitude to do this work is profound. I feel that I am one of those fortunate people to have found a calling. People often ask "how do you do this work day in day out? Isn't it too depressing?"

My answer is simple, "I love what I do. It is a privilege to be able to assist people who going through grief." I have infinite compassion for people who are hurting after losing a loved one, be it a family member, friend, colleague or pet.

My combined years in hospice and bereavement amount to 15 years and counting. My purpose is to bear witness to the pain, to help people through the intense pain, to validate, to normalize, to educate, and to help people find meaning as well as get to the point where they can let go of the pain of the grief and keep the love for their loved one or beloved pet close to their heart.​