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Heart-Centered Therapist: Elevating Practice in Mental Health, Relationships, Self-Care and Personal Growth
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106: Reaching For Beautiful - A Mother's Journey: Love, Grief, and Healing with Sally McQuillen
Manage episode 476228669 series 3560010
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In this deeply moving episode of the Heart-Centered Therapist Podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with psychotherapist and author Sally McQuillen to talk about love, loss, and what it means to keep going. Sally opens up about her heartbreaking journey of tragically losing her son, Christopher, and how that experience shaped her as both a mother and a therapist.
Sally’s new memoir, Reaching for Beautiful, is raw, honest, and full of hard-won wisdom—and this conversation brings that same depth. From addiction recovery and parenting a neurodivergent child to writing through grief and finding healing in unexpected places, Sally shares what it’s really like to live with profound loss while still holding on to love and meaning.
💛 Whether you're walking through your own grief, supporting others in theirs, or simply want to hear a story of resilience and love, this episode will stay with you.
00:00 – Welcome & Guest Intro Sindee introduces Sally and sets the tone for a vulnerable and powerful conversation.
00:17 – Meet Sally & Her New Book Sally shares how Reaching for Beautiful came to be, and what it was like to write about such personal pain.
01:40 – Losing Christopher The moment that changed everything—Sally reflects on the devastating loss of her son and the early days of grief.
02:33 – Trauma, Grief & Therapy They dive into the layers of trauma and how it shows up differently for everyone—especially when you're also a therapist.
07:35 – Who Christopher Was Sally paints a picture of Christopher’s life—his humor, his struggles, and the love they shared.
10:37 – Parenting with ADHD in the Mix A raw look at the challenges and exhaustion of raising a child with ADHD, while navigating the school system and stigma.
15:23 – Grief & the Work We Do How grief reshaped Sally’s work as a therapist—and what she learned about holding space for others while healing herself.
27:26 – The Loneliness of Loss Sally speaks to the deep loneliness that can come with grief, even when you're surrounded by people.
28:19 – Leading with Compassion They talk about how grief can break down emotional walls—and open us up to deeper compassion and connection.
34:16 – Parenting While Grieving Sally shares what it’s like to keep showing up as a parent, even when your heart is shattered.
40:40 – Writing as a Lifeline The process of writing the book became a healing journey in itself—Sally explains how putting her story on paper helped her process.
46:17 – Staying Connected How Sally still feels connected to Christopher, and the small moments that bring comfort.
49:19 – Words for the Grieving Sally offers heartfelt advice for anyone navigating grief—whether you’re a therapist, a parent, or just trying to find your footing.
Connect with Sally: www.sallymcquillen.com
Book: https://a.co/d/hhB3i9L
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Interested in realigning your own practice to be more heart-centered? Join Sindee on her podcast by signing up for a Therapist Alignment Session. This brief, 15-30-minute conversation is a unique opportunity to re-align with your heart-centered approach, both in your client interactions and in the development of your practice.
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