Chosen by Grief: Reframing The Idea of Loss – Pat Sheveland

This talk shares a deeply personal journey of growing up in a family shaped by unspoken grief, where loss was present but rarely named. From an early age, I learned how to navigate emotional undercurrents without a roadmap—experiencing multiple layers of loss that quietly informed how I saw the world, relationships, and myself.
As life unfolded, grief continued to appear in different forms—through personal loss, caregiving, and witnessing others in pain. What began as simply “being there” for people slowly evolved into something more. Without a formal plan or intention, I found myself stepping into the role of supporting others through their grief—listening, holding space, and helping them find meaning in their experiences.
Over time, patterns emerged. What I was intuitively doing became a framework. That framework became a model. And that model ultimately became the foundation for a larger vision: Providing accessible and transformative healing for grieving families throughout the world.
Today, that vision lives through a structured coaching model and a school dedicated to training and certifying grief coaches—equipping others to support their communities with compassion, confidence, and skill.