Curating Grief VIP Day
Feeling weighed down by all “the stuff” after a loved one died? Overwhelmed by all the responsibilities and emotions?
I can help.
Hi! I’m Charlene, certified grief coach and curator. I help grieving people to deal with all the physical and emotional “stuff” after a loved one dies by tapping into the power of curating.
During the Curating Grief VIP Day, we will work together to curate a virtual exhibition about your loved one.
The exhibition can serve as either a loving tribute you share with others or as a private sanctuary for processing your own grief.
Or contact me at hello[at]charlenelam.com
Why curating? It all started with my mom’s death and her house full of stuff.
After my mother died suddenly in 2013, I leaned into my creativity and instincts as a curator to guide myself through grief.
Now I help other people with their grief and experience of loss, bringing together my training and experience as a certified grief coach, curator and griever.
Dealing with the practical and emotional aftermath of my mom’s death — her house, the estate, the paperwork, all the belongings — was the hardest and loneliest period of my life.
Can you relate to:
- Feeling burdened by physical stuff
- Being overwhelmed by all the decisions
- Conflict with relatives about the things
- Putting your own grief and life on hold to take care of everyone and everything else
- Feeling resentful about a lack of support
- Avoiding dealing with boxes of “too painful” items
- Missing the one person who would have supported you in the way you want and need
The exact circumstances of the loss and your relationship with the person who died will vary, but these situations are familiar to many.
It’s a common problem: How do you choose what to keep after a loved one dies?
I have an uncommon solution: To curate an exhibition about the person who died.
The first exhibition I presented about my mother was the memorial I really wanted to give her.
I believe we are ALL curators after a loved one dies.
During the Curating Grief VIP Day, we will work together to curate a virtual exhibition about your loved one.
The exhibition can serve as either a loving tribute you share with others or as a private sanctuary for processing your own grief.
I designed my Curating Grief coaching framework to help people heal in a creative, accessible way.
Or contact me at hello[at]charlenelam.com
This is just a brilliant way to think about doing the tasks of clearing a life’s work. Thank you for giving me such a gift of insight here.
LEARN MORE
How does it work?
Q: WHERE DOES THE CURATING GRIEF VIP DAY TAKE PLACE?
Online, via live Zoom sessions, with breaks in-between. We will also connect via email and/or Voxer in between the live sessions.
Q: WHAT'S THE SCHEDULE FOR THE CURATING GRIEF VIP DAY LIKE? DOES IT ALL HAVE TO HAPPEN DURING A SINGLE DAY?
The Curating Grief VIP Day will actually span a couple of days and sessions, because talking about our loved ones and grief can be intense! Here's how it generally works:
- Free call: Schedule a complimentary call with me to tell me about your loved one, where you are with your grief, your goals or what you would like to better, and your questions about the Curating Grief package.
- Prep call and pre-work: Once you've booked the Curating Grief package to work together, I'll send you some pre-work and schedule our preparatory 45min call.
- On our main Curating Grief VIP Day, I will dedicate a 6-hour block of time just for you, including our live Zoom sessions and breaks for reflection and recovery. During this day, we will pull together the elements for your virtual exhibition about your loved one and CURATE them together. As a grief coach and a curator, I will support you emotionally and ask you questions to help you choose intentionally to create the virtual exhibition about your loved one.
- The virtual exhibition can be just for you, as a way to remember your loved one and process your grief. Or it can be shared, as the memorial you really wanted for your loved one.
- Putting together the exhibition: After our live sessions together, I will finish putting together your virtual exhibition. Within 2 days, I will send you the completed virtual exhibition for any last edits from you.
- Completion: After receiving final edits from you (within 2 days), your virtual exhibition will be complete, for yourself or for sharing. After you book the Curating Grief package, the project will span 2 weeks overall, from our 45min preparatory call to the delivery of your virtual exhibition.
Need more time to gather stories and objects about your loved one? Want a less intense pace? The Curating Grief package can also be delivered a 6-week or even 3mo package, with additional grief c oaching sessions. Contact me at hello[at]charlenelam.com or book a call to explore the options.
Q: WHAT IF I'M CURRENTLY DEALING WITH A HOUSEFUL OF STUFF OR A STORAGE UNIT RIGHT NOW?
Phew, that's hard work! And yes, I can help if you're feeling overwhelmed, unsupported or otherwise stuck. Check out my Get Unstuck: Too Much Stuff After Loss packages.
Q: I'VE GOT MORE QUESTIONS!
Great! Contact me at hello[at]charlenelam.com, DM me on IG @curating_grief or book a 30min call with me. I'm looking forward to hearing your questions, in whichever medium(s) suit you 🙂
WORK WITH ME
Grief Coaching
UNPACKING YOUR GRIEF AND LOSSES
Have you made space and time for your grief? Whether your significant loss(es) are months, years or decades ago, you might have unacknowledged or unprocessed grief that’s weighing you down. Let's unpack so you can feel lighter and more equipped to move forward.
CHOOSING WHAT TO KEEP AFTER A LOVED ONE DIES
Struggling with hard choices after the death of a loved one? How do we decide what to keep, and what to let go of? I can help.
CREATING THE MEMORIAL YOU REALLY WANT TO GIVE THEM
Facing a significant date? Whether it's a birthday, the anniversary of a death, or a major holiday, creating a memorial or commissioning artwork can be the best way to remember your person.
Or contact me at hello[at]charlenelam.com
I get more aha's from you than my therapist!
It's felt like an impossible task to try to sort through my mom's belongings. I feel like I have a place to begin this process now and it doesn't feel so terrifying. Thank you.
I love this approach as a creative outlet for grief - I'm totally inspired.
MY UNIQUE APPROACH
Curating Grief
Curating Grief After Loss
Curating Grief™ is the name of my unique approach to grief support. Why "curate" grief? Find out in this video.
We can do hard things, with a soft heart.
I help people to navigate grief with grit AND grace after the death of a loved one.
Because we will have hard experiences and hard choices after bereavement. We need grit to get through them. And grace –– for ourselves and for others.
Here’s my hope for all who have been bereaved: To emerge from the practical and emotional aftermath of losing a loved one with your health, career and relationships intact, so you can move forward to live your own fullest life.
Because a beautiful life on the other side of loss IS possible.
I can help you get there.
CONTACT
- hello@charlenelam.com
CONNECT
YOU ARE ALL WELCOME
WORK WITH ME
GRIEF COACHING
MEET ME IN LISBON
SPEAKING AND WORKSHOPS
MONTHLY GRIEF GATHERING
Join us for The Grief Gallery's free, supportive grief group gathering the last Wednesday of the month, 2pm ET (7pm UK).
CURATING GRIEF PODCAST
- Listen to the Curating Grief podcast
GRIEF RESOURCES
HELLO
I’m Charlene
I am a certified grief coach, curator, speaker, and the founder of The Grief Gallery. I help grieving people to feel lighter and less burdened by all the physical and emotional "stuff” after a loss, using the lens of curating.
After my mother died suddenly in 2013, I leaned into my creativity and instincts as a curator to guide myself through grief. I developed my Curating Grief coaching framework to help people process their grief in a creative, accessible way.
My certifications and ongoing training include Claire Bidwell Smith’s Grief and Loss program, Megan Devine’s Grief Care training through PESI, What’s Your Grief’s continuing education, and the Portland Institute of Grief and Loss programs in using art and meaning reconstruction in grief work.
I'm the author of the forthcoming book Curating Grief: A Creative Guide to Choosing What to Keep After a Loved One Dies. My podcast guest appearances include Grief Out Loud, the Feminist Wellness podcast, and the What Works podcast with Tara McMullin. A proud Chinese-American New Yorker (like my mom), I'm currently based in Lisbon, Portugal.
Get in touch hello [at] charlenelam.com
Need help with grief? I can help.
Get in touch: Email hello [at] charlenelam.com
Note: Coaching and coaching consultations are not a substitute for counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, or other professional advice by legal, medical or other qualified professionals. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, contact 911 or your local emergency services.
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