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A bird doesn’t trust the branch, it trusts its wings. This profound truth captures the essence of Dora Carpenter’s journey as an influential and inspirational leader. She embraced her experience in the death care industry to support people grieving the loss of loved ones. As the Founder & CEO of the Institute of Professional Grief Coaching (IOPGC), she is revolutionizing how individuals and professionals understand, navigate, and coach others through grief. Her innovative programs empower coaches and clients, creating a ripple effect of healing and transformation.
The Inspiration behind the Initiation: Institute of Professional Grief Coaching
While working as a family service counselor in the death care industry, Dora assisted hundreds of families in making final arrangements for their loved ones. She attended graveside services and later visited families in their homes. During these aftercare visits, she observed how the full weight of grief often settled in after the services—when the house became quiet, family and friends returned to their daily lives, and the reality of loss became undeniable.
Recognizing the pressing need for ongoing support, Dora researched ways to guide her initial services. She proposed to corporate leadership that she receive training as a grief coach and offer periodic grief support to the families she served. When her suggestion was denied, Dora took their ‘no’ and turned it into her ‘yes.’ She pursued her grief coach certification and, in 2010, began offering free grief support sessions at local libraries.
To reach more people grieving the loss of loved ones, she established From Grief to Gratitude Coach Certification Program, one of the first grief coach certification programs to receive accreditation from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Dora aimed to train and certify compassionate professionals who could walk alongside those in grief, ensuring that no one has to navigate their loss alone.
The Impact of Dora’s Background in the Death Care Industry and Grief Coaching
Dora’s experience in the death care industry, combined with her personal experiences of loss and grief, has significantly shaped the heart-centered, non-therapeutic approach she brings to grief coaching today. Unlike traditional models that emphasize stages or phases, she firmly believes that grief is as unique as the DNA, fingerprints, and personalities—there is no one-size-fits-all path to healing.
As a grief coach, Dora does not attempt to fix, cure, or push people through their grief. Instead, she offers a safe, nurturing, and nonjudgmental space where they are encouraged to grieve in their own way.
Transformative Aspects of Grief Coaching
One of the most transformative aspects of grief coaching is that it empowers individuals instead of pathologizing their grief. There is no expectation to “heal” in a specific way or within a set timeframe. Instead, grief coaching helps individuals navigate their emotions with self-compassion, discover inner resilience, and reconnect with life in a way that feels authentic to them.
Through reflective conversations, powerful questioning, and guided exercises, coaching allows individuals to shift from feeling lost in their grief to finding moments of meaning, purpose, and even gratitude. It helps them understand that grief and love are not separate—they coexist.
“Grief to Gratitude”: Supporting Individuals in their Emotional Shift
The transition from grief to gratitude is not about rushing the grieving process or forcing gratitude before they are ready. Instead, it involves guiding individuals to recognize that even in the depths of loss, love endures—and within that love, gratitude can eventually emerge. The guiding philosophy is: Grief is the journey. Gratitude is the destination®.
Dora’s signature From Grief to Gratitude Coaching Program facilitates a profound shift in perspective through a five-step model designed to help individuals navigate this transition. It begins with; giving clients permission to acknowledge their emotions resulting from the loss; helping them reframe their experience by embracing the significance of their loved one’s life rather than solely mourning their absence; next, integrating new perspectives, rituals, and behaviors into existing traditions; uncovering the lessons, values, and inspirations left behind by their loved one; and finally, cultivating a deeper sense of gratitude. The program aims to support individuals in transforming their grief into gratitude as they honor their loved ones.
Empowering Professionals to Support Grieving Individuals
At the Institute of Professional Grief Coaching, Dora equips professionals with the knowledge, tools, and heart-centered approach needed to support grieving individuals in a meaningful way. The ICF-accredited From Grief to Gratitude Coach Certification Program ensures that grief coaching professionals are not only trained in grief education but also practical, compassionate coaching techniques.
The program prepares them to meet individuals where they are, without imposing timelines or predefined stages. It teaches them to listen deeply, without judgment or the need to “fix” grief. The program’s toolkit contains coaching tools, exercises, journals, and prompts to help individuals process their grief at their own pace. It also emphasizes cultural and individual sensitivity and encourages self-care.
Major Challenges in Supporting Grieving Employees in the Workplace
Grief is an inevitable part of life, yet many workplaces struggle to address it effectively. One of the biggest challenges organizations face when supporting grieving employees is a lack of awareness and preparedness. Many leaders and HR professionals feel unsure of how to respond to grief in the workplace, often fearing they will say or do the wrong thing. This can create a culture of silence, where employees feel unsupported and pressured to suppress their grief to meet workplace expectations.
Another significant challenge is the misconception that grief follows a linear timeline. Traditional bereavement policies often provide only a few days of leave, failing to recognize that grief does not have an expiration date. Employees may return to work while still coping with profound emotional, mental, and even physical challenges.
Case Study: To Highlight the Benefits of IOPGC’s Programs
There are many incredible stories of transformation from the From Grief to Gratitude Coach Certification Program, but one that truly stands out is the journey of a student who enrolled after losing her husband. Like many others who come to this work, she initially sought support to navigate her grief. However, as she progressed through the course, she discovered a deeper calling—to support other widows who were struggling to find their way forward. Not only did she process her loss in a meaningful and empowering way, but she also became a certified grief coach. She went on to establish a nonprofit organization for young widows, conducted workshops for organizations, and emerged as a sought-after speaker. Her work has since gained media recognition, and she continues to make a lasting impact on countless lives by showing widows that they are not alone and that life, although life has changed, can still hold purpose and meaning.
The Future of Grief Coaching and IOPGC’s Significance
Over the last decade, the transformative power of grief coaching is increasingly recognized. As the world grapples with loss—both personal and collective—there is a rising demand for compassionate and skilled professionals who can help individuals navigate the complexities of grief while promoting resilience and a renewed sense of purpose.
The Institute of Professional Grief Coaching (IOPGC) is crucial in shaping the future of this field. By establishing high professional standards, offering ICF-accredited grief coaching certification programs, and fostering a global network of grief coaches, IOPGC is making significant contributions to the profession.
Dora’s Approach: Staying Emotionally Balanced While Helping People Experiencing Grief
Over the years, Dora has learned that to hold space for others, she must also hold space for herself. One key way she stays emotionally balanced is by honoring her feelings. She does not suppress or ignore the weight of grief stories she hears. Instead, she acknowledges and processes them and reminds herself that while she walks alongside others in their grief, their journey is not hers to carry.
Dora also practices rituals of release to ensure she does not internalize the grief of those she supports, or her personal grief triggers. Whether it’s journaling, meditation, a walk in nature, or simply pausing for a deep breath between sessions, these small but intentional acts help her reset and remain grounded.
