IN THIS EPISODE:

Dani and Anna, who are both therapists specializing in grief, discuss their experiences and challenges related to grief therapy.

SUMMARY:

In this episode, therapists Dani and Anna dive deep into their experiences with grief and cultural practices surrounding it, particularly the creation of ofrendas for Día de los Muertos. They discuss the emotional complexities and mixed reactions associated with setting up an ofrenda in their office for the past three years. Dani, coming from a Mexican family, highlights how these practices bring her comfort and help embrace her culture, while Anna reflects on her own journey of adopting these practices despite concerns over cultural appropriation. They both share how this tradition has fostered a space for communal grieving and cultural appreciation within their work environment.

Dani speaks about her work with clients dealing with various forms of loss, including anticipatory grief and the grief of losing relationships with living people. Anna reflects on the long-lasting impact of losing her mother at a young age and how it has shaped her worldview and therapeutic practices. Together, they explore the profound connections formed through grief work, the importance of embracing one's emotions, and the value of creating spaces for grieving within therapy. They urge listeners to seek support, emphasizing the transformative power of having someone to share the burden of grief, whether through therapy, support groups, or spiritual guidance. The episode concludes with a reminder that grieving is a personal journey, and it's essential to make room for one's emotions and experiences.

TOPICS:

Día de los Muertos, Grief, Counseling, Personal Journey, Mental Health Support

KEY FIGURES:

Anna Kim, LCSW

Dani Marrufo, lmft

Kindman & Co.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Grief is deeply personal and ever-evolving. Both therapists emphasize that grief doesn’t follow a timeline or end point — it changes form over time but never fully disappears. As Anna puts it, “you won’t be yourself again,” because loss fundamentally reshapes who we are.

2. Grief takes many forms — not just death. Dani underscores that grief can come from heartbreak, estranged relationships, or identity-based losses. These “living losses” are just as valid and painful as the grief that follows death, and society often fails to make room for them.

3. Connection and companionship ease the weight of grief. Both therapists reflect on the power of being with someone in their grief — not fixing it, but holding space. They describe the therapeutic relationship as a place where grief can be witnessed and carried together, reducing its isolation.

4. Grief deepens our capacity for meaning and appreciation. While acknowledging the pain, Anna and Dani recognize that grief can enrich life. It brings perspective, empathy, and a greater awareness of life’s fragility and beauty — even if that awareness comes at a profound cost.

KEY QUOTES

“You can’t go back. There’s only one direction of time — it’s forward.” — Anna

“All of a sudden you’re on the other side of a piece of glass from everyone you’ve known… they can see you, but they can’t see the glass.” — Anna

“I can connect with people because I know what it’s like to be in that deep of a place. I don’t really like small talk anymore because I know there are bigger things we’re all carrying.” — Dani

“It is so powerful to not be alone. Don’t do it alone.” — Anna

CALL TO ACTION

Today's episode is bringing you to Delicias Bakery and Some, a local highland park bakery where you can get your pan de muerto for your ofrenda. And Our House Grief Support Center - Offering specialized grief groups.

Look out for the transcript of this episode on the Kindman & Co. blog and sign up for the Kindman & Co. newsletter to stay connected.

kindman.co

IN THIS EPISODE

In today’s episode, Sarah introduces Madison, a new therapist and grad student at Kindman and Co. They discuss their soon-to-be-launched caregiver support group. Both share personal experiences being caregivers and reflect on the challenges and responsibilities that come with this role. They express the importance of support systems, the evolving nature of caregiving, and their hopes for the group's impact.

TOPICS

Caregivers, Therapy, Support Group, Community, Mental Health Support

KEY FIGURES

Sarah Barukh, Madison Segarra, Kindman & Co.

SUMMARY

In this episode of 'Out of Session with Kindman and Co.', Sarah and new team member Madison discuss the launch of their upcoming caregiver support group. Both Sarah and Madison share personal experiences of being caregivers. They reflect on the challenges and evolving responsibilities that come with caregiving roles and the crucial need for support systems. Their conversation emphasizes the yearning for community, understanding, and advocacy to help caregivers navigate their responsibilities more effectively and feel less isolated in their roles.

The episode touches on various emotions associated with caregiving, such as anxiety, fear, and resentment, especially when caregivers consider the long-term commitments to their loved ones. Both hosts agree on the necessity of having someone to lean on, whether it's family, partners, or a support group, and the importance of defining their roles through meaningful language and ownership. They highlight that caregiving requires acute awareness and emotional resilience, often involving preemptive actions to meet the needs of those they care for.

Sarah and Madison express hopes for their new support group to provide a space for caregivers to share experiences, exchange resources, and receive validation. This group aims to create a community where caregivers can find solace, exchange knowledge, and, most importantly, feel understood and less alone in their journeys.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Caregiving Often Comes Without a RoadmapMany caregivers step into the role without preparation, training, or support, learning on the fly while navigating complex healthcare, emotional, and personal challenges.
  

• The Emotional Toll of Caregiving Is Deep and Often InvisibleCaregivers experience isolation, burnout, guilt, and identity shifts, especially when societal recognition and support systems are lacking.
  

• There’s Power in Naming and Sharing the Caregiving ExperienceCreating language and space for caregivers to talk about their roles fosters community, healing, and validation, helping reduce stigma and silence.
  

• Peer-led initiatives can foster meaningful change.Madison and Sarah’s support group aims to build a “spider web” of connection for caregivers, proving that shared lived experience is a powerful tool for healing and advocacy.

KEY QUOTES

“It doesn't make the weight any lighter, but you feel more supported in carrying it.”

— Sarah

“The idea that you are also allowed to have needs can feel really foreign.”

— Sarah

“There’s nobody to ever give you a handout for how to navigate this system.”

— Madison

“Community makes the hardest things feel more manageable.”

— Sarah

CALL TO ACTION

Look out for the transcript of this episode on the Kindman & Co. blog and sign up for the Kindman & Co. newsletter to stay connected.

Interested in joining Sarah and Madison’s support group for caregivers? Follow this link to visit the group’s page on our website.

kindman.co

IN THIS EPISODE

Two therapists unpack how masculinity is shaped by social policing, reflect on their own experiences of being shamed for vulnerability, and introduce a new men’s group dedicated to exploring more expansive and emotionally authentic forms of masculinity.

TOPICS

masculinity, vulnerability, therapy, community, connection, men’s groups

KEY FIGURES

Jesse Romo, Liam DeGeorgio, Kindman & Co.

SUMMARY

In this episode, therapists Jesse and Liam revisit the theme of masculinity, reflecting on the ways boys and men are taught early in life to suppress tenderness and vulnerability. They share personal stories of being policed for showing emotion and describe how aggression and “boys will be boys” attitudes were rewarded, even as they caused long-term harm.

The conversation explores how patriarchy limits everyone, including men themselves, and why vulnerability and emotional honesty are not weaknesses but deeper forms of strength. Liam introduces his new group, Redefining Masculinity, which provides a supportive space for masc-presenting individuals to affirm one another, experiment with new ways of expressing themselves, and challenge harmful norms together.

Together, Jesse and Liam highlight the ripple effect of healing—how individual men learning to express vulnerability can influence friends, partners, families, and future generations.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Masculinity often discourages tenderness and vulnerability while rewarding aggression, leading to isolation and emotional harm.
  

• Early childhood experiences of shame and policing shape how men learn to perform masculinity.
  

• Vulnerability and emotional honesty are acts of courage that foster deeper connection and resilience.
  

• Groups like Redefining Masculinity create space for men to unlearn limiting norms and model new ways of being.
  

• Healing within community ripples outward, inspiring change in families, friendships, and society.
  

KEY QUOTES

• "From a young age, boys are taught to police each other into a narrow version of masculinity." — Liam
  
• "If you start crying, people will call you a girl. But if you get angry, people don’t make fun of you — they’re afraid of you. That’s how I adapted." — Jesse
  
• "Patriarchy convinces men that the easy way out is to avoid feelings. But the real work — the stronger path — is being vulnerable, accountable, and uncomfortable." — Jesse
  
• "Nobody’s born a hyper-alpha male who doesn’t want connection. Those parts of us get shut down — and it’s about reviving them." — Liam
  
• "Groups like this matter because they give us space to explore without shame, to ask questions instead of being told: ‘Don’t go there, dude.’" — Liam
  
• "Change ripples outward. When men embrace vulnerability, it impacts their partners, their families, and the next generation." — Jesse

CALL TO ACTION

Look out for the transcript of this episode on the Kindman & Co. blog and sign up for the Kindman & Co. newsletter to stay connected.

Interested in Liam’s Redefining Masculinity group? Follow this link to visit the group’s page on our website.