Tag: Andy Dziedzic

Empowered Grief: Navigating Loss and Rebuilding Life with Support with Claire Drexler (Ep. 9)

~ The Widow Empowerment Project

Grief is a deeply personal journey, but with the right support, it becomes more manageable, offering comfort in life’s toughest moments.

In this episode, Andy Dziedzic and Megan LeBarron speak with Claire Drexler, a licensed clinical social worker and grief educator from the Center for Loss and Bereavement. Claire discusses a holistic approach to grief counseling and the wide range of services offered by the Center, including individual counseling, family therapy, and specialized programs for children, as well as outreach to schools and senior centers.

Tune in as this conversation sheds light on the practical tools and support systems available to widows and families navigating the overwhelming emotions that accompany loss. 

Talking points include:

  • How grief counseling supports the emotional, psychological, and social dimensions of loss
  • How the study of death, “Thanatology,” helps us understand the complexities of grief
  • Effective techniques for discussing and planning end-of-life wishes, using tools like the “Five Wishes” document
  • Why focusing on self-care early in the grief process can make a significant difference
  • Available resources for grieving families, including tip sheets and national support networks
  • And much more!

Resources:

Get in Touch with The Widow Empowerment Project:

Connect with Claire Drexler:

 

About Our Guest: 

Claire Drexler is a licensed clinical supervisor and grief educator specializing in bereavement support. She works at the Center for Loss and Bereavement in Pennsylvania, offering counseling, support groups, and educational resources for individuals and families navigating the complexities of grief.

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Supporting Widows with Dignity: The Role of In-Home Care with Mandy Delp (Ep. 8)

~ The Widow Empowerment Project

When faced with grief, illness, or the loss of a loved one, finding the right support can make all the difference. 

Mandy Delp, a caregiving expert from Home Helpers, joins host Andy Dziedzic and co-host Megan LeBarron to discuss how compassionate in-home care can provide vital assistance for widows and families during life’s most challenging moments.

Mandy shares the mission of Home Helpers, which offers personalized, non-medical care designed to maintain independence and dignity for those in need. Whether it’s helping with daily tasks like shopping and transportation, or providing advanced support for individuals with dementia, ALS, or in hospice care, Home Helpers tailors its services to the unique needs of each client. Mandy also highlights the emotional benefits of planning ahead and accepting care early, which can prevent unnecessary stress when crises arise.

Key insights include:

  • How comprehensive caregiving—from basic daily assistance to live-in care—can significantly improve quality of life during difficult transitions
  • The importance of tailoring care to help widows and families maintain independence while receiving the emotional and physical support they need
  • Breaking through the resistance many seniors have toward accepting help, and how caregivers can frame services as an enhancement of their independence
  • The value of planning ahead to avoid the emotional and logistical challenges of last-minute caregiving decisions
  • How Home Helpers partners with hospice care teams to provide dignity and peace during end-of-life care
  • And much more!

For those navigating the complexities of caregiving or looking to plan for the future, this discussion offers compassionate and actionable guidance.

 

Resources:

Get in Touch with the Widow Empowerment Project

Connect with Mandy Delp:

Connect with Home Helpers Home Care:

About Our Guest: 

Mandy Delp is a compassionate caregiving expert with Home Helpers, a nationwide provider of non-medical in-home care services. She is committed to empowering families through life’s most challenging transitions, offering support from daily assistance to advanced hospice care.

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Funeral Planning and Preparation with Licensed Funeral Director, Mike McDonald (Ep. 7)

~ The Widow Empowerment Project

End of life planning is a sensitive (and often uncomfortable) topic that is easy to avoid, yet it stands as one of the most profound gifts you can give to your loved ones. 

In this episode, Andy Dziedzic, MBA, is joined by co-host Megan LeBarron, Director of Financial Planning at Prepared Retirement Institute. Together they sit down with Mike McDonald, a licensed funeral director at Scanlin-McDonald Funeral Home with 25 years of experience, to discuss the significance of funeral pre-planning to alleviate the emotional and financial stress on families during their most vulnerable moments.

Mike, who has been dedicated to assisting families since the age of 14, sheds light on the critical services provided by funeral homes, including grief support, tribute planning, and handling essential legal paperwork like death certificates. He emphasizes the value of pre-planning your funeral—referred to as “pre-need” planning—as an integral part of your broader financial plan, recommending that individuals start considering these decisions in their mid-to-late 50s.

In this insightful conversation, Andy, Megan, and Mike explore:

  • The critical role of licensed funeral directors in supporting families and honoring final wishes
  • The importance of “pre-need” planning and options to pre-pay funeral expenses, reducing the emotional and financial burden on surviving loved ones
  • Approaching funeral planning as a vital component of estate planning
  • Tips for selecting the right funeral director and creating an accessible funeral plan document
  • Key differences between “pre-need” and “at-need” funeral services, and how to prepare for each
  • And much more!

 

Resources:

Get in Touch with the Widow Empowerment Project

Connect with Michael McDonald:

 

About Our Guest: 

Mike McDonald is a licensed funeral director with a rich history in the funeral services industry. As a trusted professional at Scanlin-McDonald Funeral Home in Chalfont, PA, Mike has dedicated his career to easing the burden on grieving families by guiding them through the complexities of funeral planning and honoring their loved ones’ final wishes. His deep understanding of the funeral process, combined with his commitment to ethical standards and compassionate service, makes him an invaluable resource for those looking to plan ahead with care and consideration.

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The Travis Manion Foundation – Finding Healing Through Service to Others (Ep. 6)

~ The Widow Empowerment Project

What if your deepest pain could be transformed into your life’s greatest purpose?

Losing a life partner is a profound and disorienting experience that can leave one grappling with feelings of intense anger and sadness.  Those emotions can create a paralysis that prevents us from moving forward or be the catalyst that forces us to reevaluate our entire lives.  

In this episode of the Widow Empowerment Project, host Andy Dziedzic welcomes Stephany Richards – a widow who found healing through volunteer service.  After losing her husband at age 24, Stephany made the decision to channel her anger and sadness into action by participating in an expedition to Alaska. This experience helped her connect with other members of the widowed community and became a turning point when she realized that beauty and loss could coexist together. This newfound clarity led her to engage with the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), a service-driven nonprofit focused on community improvement.

Through therapy and her volunteer work with Travis Manion Foundation, Stephany found a way to turn her grief into meaningful action. Her journey illustrates how serving others can transform pain into a powerful source of purpose and connection.

Andy and Stephany discuss:

  • The emotional aftermath of losing a spouse and its impact on one’s life and identity
  • Stephany’s personal journey from profound grief and anger to finding solace in community and service
  • How channeling anger and loss into community involvement aids in emotional recovery
  • The role of the Travis Manion Foundation in fostering healing through volunteer work
  • The foundation’s four major initiatives – Operation Legacy projects that support various national observances and community needs
  • Practical advice on finding a support system and the importance of taking control of one’s healing journey

 

Resources:

Get in Touch with the Travis Manion Foundation

Get in Touch with the Widow Empowerment Project

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From Loss to Legacy: Introducing Your Host, Andy Dziedzic (Ep. 3)

~ The Widow Empowerment Project

In the wake of losing a loved one, finding a path through the grief while managing financial responsibilities (among other estate complexities) can be overwhelmingly challenging. The Widow Empowerment Project aims to solve that problem.

In this episode, you’ll learn everything you need to know about your host, Andy Dziedzic and the inspiration behind the Widow Empowerment Project Podcast. You’ll hear about Andy’s profound journey overcoming personal and professional challenges while he shares the pivotal moments that led to a career in financial planning, and why his mission is focused on helping the widowed community navigate the terrain of their new reality.

Listen in as Andy discusses: 

  • The impact of crisis management and importance of relationship managers during periods of grief
  • Personal and professional experiences that motivated him to pursue a career in financial planning, his educational background and the path that led him to where he is today
  • Growing a thriving small business using a philosophy centered on the “four P’s”: protect, provide, prevent, and prepare
  • His team and the roles each individual plays in making client’s experiences as seamless as possible
  • Strategies for discussing and managing finances within families, focusing on the importance of preparation and education across generations
  • And more…

There is a delicate balance to strike between emotional healing and financial planning for those who are newly navigating widowhood, and this episode highlights the crucial role of preparedness for such a pivotal lifestyle change.

 

Get in Touch: 

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Grief and Trauma Therapy With Jennifer McCarron (Ep. 2)

~ The Widow Empowerment Project

Complex emotions often accompany grief, and therapy can provide a safe space to express feelings such as sadness, anger, guilt, and loneliness. A therapist acts as a strategic guide through the healing process, offering empathy, understanding, and validation. 

In this episode, Andy Dziedzic sits down with Jennifer McCarron, LMFT – a marriage and family therapist with over 30 years of experience to discuss effective coping strategies for grief and trauma after the loss of your life partner. 

Jennifer shares her expertise on therapeutic techniques like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and tapping, uncovering their profound potential to facilitate healing. This episode is packed with practical advice, compassionate insights, and essential resources for anyone navigating the complexities of grief.

Andy and Jennifer cover:

  • Unique benefits of therapy for managing grief and trauma
  • How EMDR therapy helps process traumatic memories
  • Effectiveness of tapping techniques in different settings
  • Physical manifestations of emotional trauma and the polyvagal nerve connection
  • Practical advice on EMDR therapy duration and timing
  • And more

 

Resources:

Get in Touch:

Connect with Jennifer McCarron:

 

About Our Guest: 

Jennifer McCarron, a marriage and family therapist with over 30 years of experience, specializes in using EMDR and tapping techniques to help individuals navigate grief and trauma. She advocates for seeking therapeutic help before crises arise and focuses on transforming clients from merely surviving to thriving. Jennifer employs the Gottman therapy approach to improve couple intimacy and conflict resolution. She offers compassionate, client-focused therapy, emphasizing each client’s true potential. Jennifer holds a BS from Penn State and a Master’s from Hahnemann University, along with certification in EMDR from the EMDR International Association.

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