Grief and Belongings:
Sorting the Stuff of Life and Loss with Curating Grief
A gentle, self-paced course to help you understand why dealing with the belongings after someone dies feels so hard — and how to begin moving forward with intention.
After someone you love dies, the belongings they leave behind rarely feel like “just stuff.”
Maybe you’re looking at a house full of furniture. Boxes in the attic. Clothes still hanging in the closet. Or maybe it’s just one ordinary object that stops you in your tracks every time you see it.
If you’ve ever wondered…
- Why is this so hard?
- Why did everything suddenly become precious?
- Why do I feel stuck?
- Why doesn’t anyone seem to understand?
You’re not alone.
This course won’t tell you what to keep or what to throw away.
Instead, it will help you understand your relationship with the belongings, honor the meanings they hold, and begin making choices that feel right for you, through the unique lens of Curating Grief®.
Price: $97 USD
Lifetime Access • Self-Paced • Includes one month of access to the Curating Grief Studio for live support
This course is about more than just stuff.
This course is about honoring meaningful objects and understanding your relationship to them, so any clearing or keeping comes from care, not pressure.
It is not about organizing or telling you what to do with your things.
It’s about understanding why these objects matter, what stories and meanings they’re carrying, and seeing new possibilities for moving forward.
When we understand our attachment to the belongings, we often become less overwhelmed. We make choices with greater clarity. We begin creating space—not only in our homes, but also in our minds and hearts.
Course Details
Instructor
Charlene Lam, grief coach and author of Curating Grief: A Creative Guide to Choosing What to Keep After a Loved One Dies
Type
Self Guided with 1 Month of Group Coaching
Price: $97 USD
- Lifetime Access
- Self-Paced
- Includes one month of access to the Curating Grief Studio for live support
Course Content
Inside the course you’ll explore the 4 Ss
SEE
Meet yourself where you are today.
Understand your own readiness, capacity, and why this feels so difficult.
STORY
Explore the memories, meanings, emotions, and narratives attached to the belongings.
Because objects are rarely just objects.
SELECT
Learn how to make intentional choices that reflect what truly matters to you, rather than acting from pressure, guilt, or overwhelm.
SPACE
Create gentle shifts that make room for what matters most, whether that’s a shelf, a drawer, a room, or simply a different relationship with your loved one’s belongings.
This course is for you if …
✓ You have boxes, belongings, or a home that feels emotionally overwhelming.
✓ Everything became precious after someone died.
✓ You keep judging yourself for not having “dealt with it” yet.
✓ You’re looking for a compassionate place to begin.
✓ You don’t necessarily need organizing advice. You want someone who understands why this feels so hard.
What’s Included
Lifetime access to the self-paced course
Short video lessons
Reflection prompts and practical exercises
Comment discussions beneath each lesson for shared learning and support
One month of access to the Curating Grief Studio, including a live monthly coaching call where you can attend live or submit a question in advance
Hi! I’m Charlene.
I’m a triple-certified grief coach and author of Curating Grief: A Creative Guide to Choosing What to Keep After a Loved One Dies.
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.
More than a decade later, I use my Curating Grief® framework to help other grievers to navigate the practical and emotional aftermath of loss. This introductory course, based on my Curating Grief® book and framework, and developed in partnership with the What’s Your Grief Hub, is designed to be a gentle entrypoint my approach to working with the belongings and meaningful objects.
Why Curate Grief?
Discover the origin of my Curating Grief® methodology in this 2min video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this course only about getting rid of belongings?
No. This course is not just about decluttering or getting rid of belongings, and you will never be told what to keep or let go of.
Sorting the Stuff of Life & Loss is about helping you understand why certain objects feel so charged, heavy, or hard to approach. Objects often carry stories, memories, emotions, and meaning — and by acknowledging that, many people feel less stuck and more able to choose with care.
Some people do clear space during the course. Others don’t. Both are valid. The deeper work here is shifting your relationship to the belongings, so that clarity and choice become possible again.
Do I need to finish sorting through the stuff during this course?
Not at all! We’re going to start small, and you get to decide the scope of your project.
The goal of this course is not to finish sorting everything. The goal is to create small but meaningful shifts. For example, going from overwhelmed to more intentional, or from avoidance to being able to be with the belongings.
For some people, this looks like beginning to clear a space. For others, it looks like spending time acknowledging the meaning of the items, or creating a small ritual or dedicated place for their person.
You get to set your intention. There is no right outcome and no deadline imposed by the course. And if you do have a deadline or are in a time crunch, like needing to empty a house or storage unit? This course can support you through that as well. You are not alone.
Who is this course NOT for?
This course will invite you to look at and think about the belongings and physical stuff. You do not have to actually move, let go of or change anything, but the content and discussions will center around at least seeing and considering the items. If you do not feel ready to do this, if it’s too activating or stressful right now, it’s OK. It’s so important to check in with ourselves and consider our capacity as grievers! The course will be run again, and the Curating Grief book will be available when you are ready.
If you’re in crisis, this interactive course is not designed to support you currently. While looking at and talking about the meaningful objects can feel therapeutic, this is not therapy. Coaching and grief communities 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 and crisis care services.
How do I get support? What is the Grief Studio?
Your enrollment includes one month in the Curating Grief Studio, my ongoing community for people who want thoughtful support, conversation, and live coaching as they continue practicing Curating Grief.
Participants in the Sorting the Stuff course can get support in two ways:
- Posting in the comments under a Lesson. Charlene will respond to posts as appropriate, typically within 72 hours during business hours (Mon–Fri). Note that these responses will be more general, and will typically include a link to additional resources. More in-depth and personalized grief coaching and support is provided in The Grief Studio by Curating Grief (one month of access is included, and you can extend access.)
- Submitting a question for and/or attending the live calls during your one month of included access to the Curating Grief Studio. Calls are recorded, so replays will be available. You can show up live or submit a question ahead of time.
Private grief support is not included in the Sorting the Stuff course. Participants have the option of adding on 1:1 private grief support at an additional cost — email Hello@CharleneLam.com to inquire.
What happens after the course?
Many people discover that once they’ve begun looking at the belongings, deeper questions emerge:
- Questions about identity
- Guilt and regret
- How they want to remember their person
That’s exactly where my broader Curating Grief® work begins.
After completing the course, you can simply revisit it whenever you like, continue in the Curating Grief Studio if you’d like ongoing community and coaching, or explore my signature Curating Grief program (starting Sept) if you’re ready for deeper emotional work.
There is no pressure and no “right” next step. The course is designed to meet you where you are, and to help you take your next step when you’re ready.