Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Chodak.
Robin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey into grief work began through my own experiences with loss. I learned firsthand that grief is not something we simply “get over.” It changes us, and finding a way to move forward while still honoring the people we have lost became an important part of my own healing.
Over the years, I began sharing what I had learned with others who were struggling with their own losses. What started as a personal journey gradually became a calling. I became a certified grief coach, and this eventually led me to create my own Grief Coach Certification Program when I realized there was a need for more coaches who understood grief not only through training, but through compassion and lived experience. The program provides the training and tools for others to become grief coaches themselves and support people through their own journeys with loss.
I’m also an author, and writing has become another way for me to reach people who are hurting. I have written several books about grief, healing, personal growth, and finding peace after loss. My work focuses on helping people understand that healing doesn’t mean forgetting or letting go of the person they loved. It means learning how to carry that love forward while creating a meaningful life again.
One of the concepts I have become particularly passionate about in my latest book is what I call the **7th Stage of Grief**—the idea that after finding meaning, we can continue to have a loving connection with the person who died. That continuing bond can become a source of comfort rather than something we feel we need to leave behind.
Today, my work brings together my personal experiences, my training as a grief coach, my writing, and my desire to help others find their way through one of life’s most difficult experiences. I feel very fortunate that something born from my own losses has evolved into work that allows me to help others.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I don’t think meaningful work always is. Some of my greatest challenges came from the losses I experienced personally and learning how to move forward while carrying those losses with me. There were times when I questioned whether I would ever feel truly happy again, and I had to discover for myself that healing and moving forward doesn’t mean leaving the people we’ve lost behind.
There have also been challenges in building a career around grief. Grief is something everyone experiences, but it is still not always something people feel comfortable talking about. I’ve had to learn how to explain what I do, build awareness, and help people understand that asking for support with grief is not a sign of weakness.
Creating my Grief Coach Certification Program and establishing myself as an author and grief educator has also required perseverance. There have been plenty of moments when things didn’t happen as quickly or easily as I hoped. I’ve had to learn to be patient, keep believing in my work, and continue moving forward even when I couldn’t see exactly where the road was leading.
Looking back, though, I wouldn’t want to erase the difficult parts. They have shaped who I am and how I work with people today. My struggles have given me a deeper understanding of grief and, more importantly, a deep compassion for people who are trying to find their way through it.
I’ve learned that sometimes the road doesn’t become easier—we simply become stronger, more compassionate, and more willing to trust where it is taking us.
We’ve been impressed with Grief Healing LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business, Grief Healing LLC, is dedicated to helping others Live and Love Life After Loss by navigating grief and discovering that it is possible to create a meaningful and fulfilling life after loss. My work as a grief coach, author, and educator grew out of my own experiences with loss, so I bring both professional training and personal understanding to the work I do.
I work with people who are grieving, helping them understand that grief is not a linear process and that there is no timetable for healing. My approach is compassionate and focused on the whole person—not just the pain of the loss, but also the possibility of finding peace, purpose, connection, and even joy again.
I am also the creator of my Grief Coach Certification Program, which trains others to become grief coaches and support people through their own experiences with loss. I created the program because I saw a need for more compassionate, well-trained people who truly understand the complexities of grief.
One area that has become especially important to my work is what I call the 7th Stage of Grief, which I explore in my latest book. While finding meaning has been described as a later stage of grief, I believe there is another important part of healing: continuing our connection with the person who died. I believe that love does not end with death, and that maintaining that connection can become a beautiful and comforting part of healing.
What sets my work apart is that I don’t believe healing means “moving on” or forgetting the person we lost. I believe we learn to move forward with them—with their memory, their love, the lessons they gave us, and the continuing bond we can carry in our lives.
I am especially proud that my personal journey through loss has evolved into something that can help other people. Through my books, grief coaching, certification program, and educational resources, my goal is to let people know that grief may always be part of their story, but it does not have to be the end of their story.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success much differently today than I did earlier in my life. For me, success isn’t measured only by how much I accomplish or how much money I make. It’s measured by the lives I touch and the difference my work makes in someone’s life.
If someone who is grieving comes to me feeling lost, overwhelmed, or afraid that they will never feel happy again, and I can help them see that there is a way forward—that is success to me. When someone begins to find hope, reconnect with life, or discovers that they can carry their loved one’s memory and love with them while still creating a meaningful life, I know my work has made a difference.
I also see success in being able to turn some of the most painful experiences of my own life into something that can help others. Every person I reach through my books, coaching, educational resources, or certification program is an opportunity to make a difference.
Ultimately, I define success as living a life that has meaning and purpose, staying true to who I am, continuing to grow, and using what I’ve learned to help others. If, at the end of my journey, I can look back and know that I helped people feel less alone and gave them hope after loss, I will consider that a very successful life.
Pricing:
- Individual Grief Coaching: $150 for a 50-minute session with Robin.
- Grief Coach Certification Program: $999, including three individual sessions with Robin.
- Books: Robin’s books are available on Amazon, with prices varying by title and format.
- Online Courses: Robin’s courses are available on Udemy, with pricing varying by course.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.robinchodak.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinchodak_coach/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suiciderecovery/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-chodak/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/suiciderecovery/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@robinchodak
- Other: https://www.griefhealingllc.com
