Episode 30: Pattie Vargas and Being a Grief Educator

About this episode

Pattie Vargas shares her journey as a grief educator and advocate for families affected by addiction and loss.

Pattie's life is a testament to the profound strength of the human spirit and the ability to find purpose amid overwhelming pain. After facing the heart-wrenching challenges of having two of her three children struggle with substance use disorder, Pattie's world was further shaken when her son, Joel, lost his decades-long battle with the disease in 2017. In the wake of this profound loss, Pattie became determined to better understand the family experience of addiction. She has since used her own lived experience to support and guide others who are navigating the isolating and stigmatizing road of addiction and loss. As a Compassionate Bereavement Care™ Certified Provider and Kessler Certified Grief Educator, Pattie works with individuals, families, and communities impacted by loss. She is a Peer Parent Coach with the Partnership to End Addiction, and co-facilitates their online grief support community, and is the host of Finding Hope After Loss, Grief Support groups for The Happier Life Project. She is also an Advisor and facilitator with the Hopestream Community, certified in the CRAFT and Invitation to Change models. As an advocate for recovery policies, she is a California…

People in this episode

Host: Angie Sutton

Guest: Pattie Vargas

Topics covered

• grief education
• addiction support
• loss and recovery
• mental health
• family experience

Keywords

• grief
• addiction
• loss
• support
• recovery
• mental health
• family

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Partnership to End Addiction, The Happier Life Project, Hopestream Community, Recovery Advocacy Project, CCAPP

Books & works: Secrets, Scars and Heart Shaped Jars

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