On this episode, Sarah Peterson sits down with Brennan Wood to talk about her childhood loss and how it inspired her life’s work with the Dougy Center. If you’re curious about how children process grief differently than adults and why it’s vital to have specialized grief resources, this is the episode for you. Discover why peer support makes a lasting difference, how our culture sometimes gets grief “wrong,” and what families truly need after a loss. The conversation also addresses misconceptions—like grief as a disorder—and spotlights the #UnderstandGrief movement to build wider community awareness. Thoughtful, honest, and full of hopeful moments, this episode offers resources and encouragement for anyone walking the path of bereavement or wanting to better support grieving children and families.

Brennan Wood is the Executive Director of the Dougy Center, a nationally recognized leader in childhood bereavement. After experiencing the death of her own mother at age twelve, Brennan has dedicated her career to supporting grieving children and families. She is the author of A Kids Book About Grief and a recent TEDxPortland speaker, sharing her personal story and insights to help create a more compassionate world for grieving kids.

Connect with Brennan Wood:

Instagram - @thedougycenter
Website: dougy.org

Relevant Content for Their Work:

Grief support programming and innovations under Brennan’s leadership
Community events, fundraisers, and awareness campaigns
Educational resources on understanding and supporting grief, especially for children and families.

Sarah Peterson is a licensed clinical social worker with over 13 years of experience in medical social work, hospice care and in private practice. As the founder of Clear Mourning, a nonprofit organization dedicated to shifting the culture of grief through innovation, support, and awareness, Sarah brings a deep understanding of grief and loss to her work. Her personal experiences, including the tragic loss of her two-year-old daughter and father, have profoundly shaped her mission to provide compassionate support to others navigating grief.

Sarah holds a Master of Social Work from Portland State University and has extensive experience in both private practice and nonprofit leadership. She also serves as an adjunct instructor at Portland State, runs her own private practice, and provides supervision for licensure candidates.

Follow us on Instagram: @ClearMourning

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