Grief Unedited
Grief Unedited
Podcast Description
In each episode, we'll take a deep dive into the raw, honest, reality of grief and loss. Episodes are hosted by BACP Accredited counsellor, Karen Lafferty, who has over a decade of experience supporting individuals and families to navigate their grief journey. Guests share their lessons from loss, and talk about what helped them when grief became part of their life. You can connect with Karen on Facebook and Instagram @continuumcounselling or www.continuumcounselling.com
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes of grief, loss, and emotional healing with episodes exploring specific experiences such as sibling loss, the death of a parent, and navigating relationships during grief. Examples include Jen’s reflections on losing her brother to cancer, Carrie discussing her mother's battle with bowel cancer, and Andrea Clare sharing her journey after losing her mother to dementia.
In each episode, we’ll take a deep dive into the raw, honest, reality of grief and loss. Episodes are hosted by BACP Accredited counsellor, Karen Lafferty, who has over a decade of experience supporting individuals and families to navigate their grief journey. Guests share their lessons from loss, and talk about what helped them when grief became part of their life.
You can connect with Karen on Facebook and Instagram @continuumcounselling or www.continuumcounselling.com
Episode Number: 27
Release Date: 30 July 2026
Episode Title:
Kirsten O'Connor: A Mother's Grief, Journalling Through Loss & Learning to Live Again
⚠ Content Note: This episode contains discussions of suicide, mental illness, traumatic loss, and the death of a child. Please take care of yourself.
Episode Summary
In this episode of Grief Unedited, I'm joined by Kirsten O'Connor, a bereaved mother and author from New Zealand. Following the death of her 24-year-old daughter, Kahlia, Kirsten turned to journalling as a way to survive the unimaginable. What began as a deeply personal coping mechanism eventually became a memoir, offering hope and understanding to others navigating grief.
Together, we have an honest conversation about losing a child, living with the ongoing pain of grief, the fear of forgetting those we love, and why there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Kirsten also shares how writing helped her process her emotions and why open conversations about mental health and bereavement matter more than ever.
About Kirsten O'Connor
Kirsten O'Connor is a New Zealand-based author and bereaved mother whose daughter, Kahlia, died at the age of 24 following significant mental health challenges. After her loss, Kirsten found comfort in journalling, which ultimately became the foundation of her memoir. Today, she shares her story to help others feel less alone in their grief and to encourage more open conversations about bereavement and mental health.
In this episode, we chat about:
- Kirsten's journey through the devastating loss of her daughter and the realities of child loss.
- How journalling became a vital tool for processing grief and eventually led to writing her memoir.
- The importance of remembering loved ones and the fear many bereaved people have of forgetting them.
- Supporting yourself and others through grief when there is no roadmap or timeline for healing.
- The impact of mental illness on families and why compassionate conversations are so important.
- Finding meaning, hope and connection while continuing to carry grief.
Connect with Karen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/continuumcounselling
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/continuumcounselling
Website: https://www.continuumcounselling.com
Connect with Kirsten O'Connor
Website: https://thisisgrief.nz
Book: The Year After Kahlia
Book: STAY: A Dogs view
Support Grief Unedited
This podcast is a passion project dedicated to keeping conversations about grief honest and unedited. If you find value in these episodes, please consider:
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Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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