Sitting with Others in Their Grief and Loss with Grief Coach Julie Lynn Ashley - Love Does That | Christian Spiritual Director Kari Bartkus

Hey, my friends. Welcome back to Let’s Encourage One Another.

I am back with another amazing interview, this time with grief coach Julie Lynn Ashley. I know I normally don’t release two interviews back-to-back, but I wanted to introduce you to Julie Lynn now because this weekend, is the Small Church Women’s Ministries Conference, and she has a workshop about supporting grieving people in your congregation in the Bonus Bundle. And this is the only way you can access it.

The Women’s Ministries Conference will be a one-day event where you can learn more about creating a place where women are seen and heard and feel included. You can also hear about putting on special events, helping women use their gifts, and leading confidently in the role that God has called you to. I’ll be speaking about leading as an introvert, and other friends of mine—Laurie Acker and Laura Howe and Kristen Joy—are speaking there, as well. It’s going to be so good!

This conference is specifically designed for women in small churches. It’s free to attend live, but if you want to catch all the sessions, you can upgrade to the VIP Pass, and if you want to get access to all the amazing bonuses like Julie Lynn’s workshop and my own digital resource bundle, you need to get that Bonus Bundle. You can learn more by going to lovedoesthat.org/women23. Yes, that is an affiliate link for me, so if you happen to grab any of those upgrades, it helps support this podcast and my ministry at Love Does That, and I appreciate that more than you know.

Now, Julie Lynn and I got acquainted a couple of months ago and I love the way that she is supporting individuals going through grief. I’ll let her tell you more about it. But we talk about how God has led her to this work and then we dive into some really practical questions about how to support others who are grieving.

Maybe you’re wondering, Kari, you work with women who are grieving. Why would you send us to someone else? And that is a great question, and this is what I want you to know: I know that I may not be the best fit for you. I also know that there are other professionals who can also provide care and support for you in a season of grief. And I would want to introduce you to some of these individuals so you can prayerfully discern who is a good fit for you.

Julie Lynn works primarily with individuals who are in the midst of grief, specific to the death of a loved one. That is her specialty and training. She meets with her clients in a “live” setting, talking together on a video call or in person.

I work with more introverted women who need space and time to think and pray before responding. And while I do work with some women who are in the midst of grief, like Julie Lynn does, the majority of my clients are processing grief or trauma that has happened to them in the past that they haven’t had the time or energy to work through yet.

So if you or someone you know are in the midst of grief, pray about what you’d like as far as support and then reach out and start asking questions. And if neither of us is a good fit for you, I can point you toward some others, as well. Okay? I hope you know that I care very much about you all. And that’s why I’m excited to have Julie Lynn join me for the podcast today.

Okay, now, let’s go ahead and dive into my conversation with Julie Lynn Ashley.

[Interview]

MEET JULIE LYNN:

Julie Lynn holds a Master’s of Science in Thanatology (death, grief, and bereavement), is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, mom to Landon and Kyle (both in college), and wife to her very best friend of 27 years, Doug, who is a lead pastor in Texas. Julie Lynn has worked and volunteered in the hospice industry for years and there developed a God-given passion to support grieving people. She loves watching sports of all kinds, traveling with Doug, and a long conversation with a good friend over a cup of coffee.

CONNECT WITH JULIE LYNN:

RELATED EPISODES + MENTIONED RESOURCES:

Episode 7: 5 Things to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say with Laura Howe
Episodes 9 + 10: Supporting a Friend Through Grief (And Walking Through It Yourself) with Karen Altizer
Episode 18: Finding Joy in the Hard and Heavy with Kristen Joy
Episode 42: Offering a Blue Christmas Service to Honor the Loss and Cling to the Hope
Episode 50: Gritty Faith in the Midst of Grief with Prayer Artist Jessy Paulson
Episode 93: After the Flowers Die: An Honest Talk About Grief with Author Renee Leonard Kennedy
Episode 95: Blue Christmas Mini Service: Holding On to Hope in the Midst of Suffering and Loss
Bonus Episode 13: A Liturgy for Returning to Daily Life After a Loss
Tear Bottle (Sympathy Gift)