1-844-42-GLADD
1-844-424-5233

What a Grief Coach Is, What They Do, and Why Someone Might Work With One

A grief coach is a trained guide who helps people navigate the emotional, practical, and life‑changing impact of loss. They don’t replace therapy or try to “fix” grief — they walk alongside you, help you understand what you’re feeling, and support you as you rebuild your life around the loss.

A grief coach provides both emotional support and practical structure. They help people cope with the waves of grief, reduce overwhelm and isolation, make decisions when thinking feels foggy, and create stability during a time that feels chaotic. They also help rebuild routines, identity, and daily life after loss, while offering healthy ways to honor the person who died and move forward without feeling like you’re leaving them behind. In many ways, a grief coach is part emotional support, part practical guide, part accountability partner, and part stabilizing presence.

People seek a grief coach when grief feels unpredictable, heavy, or lonely. Some don’t want to burden family or friends; others want tools and guidance rather than just sympathy. Many want to feel “normal” again, to heal without forgetting, or to work with someone who understands grief deeply and isn’t afraid of it. A grief coach provides clarity, structure, and steady support at a time when everything feels uncertain — helping people move through grief with compassion, confidence, and connection.

Meet Our Coaches

Ahira Smith

Certified Grief Coach, Trauma-Informed Responder, & Podcast Host

Known as The Grief Mending Coach, Ahira Smith is a certified grief coach, trauma-informed Mental Health First Aid responder, and host of the It’s Not You... It’s Grief podcast. She supports individuals, groups, and workplaces in naming and navigating the emotions of loss, creating room for honest conversation, understanding, and healing.

Michael McClendon

Certified Grief Coach, ICF-Accredited Relationship Specialist, & Ordained Minister

Michael McClendon is a certified grief coach, ICF-accredited relationship specialist, and ordained minister. As the founder of GriefTribe Men and GrowthTribe, he supports people navigating grief, relationships, and life transitions with courage, connection, and a strong sense of community.

Jan Mitchell

Certified Grief Coach & Founder of She Moves Forward, Inc.

Jan Mitchell is a certified grief coach, four-time published author, and founder of She Moves Forward, Inc. Widowed while raising three children, she transformed her lived experience of loss into a mission of service, advocacy, and support for others navigating grief, financial change, and major life transitions.

Dante Baker

E-RYT 500, Holistic Healer, Yoga Teacher, & Sound Practitioner

Dante Baker is an E-RYT 500 yoga instructor, qigong teacher, and sound healing practitioner who supports people in reconnecting with the body’s innate wisdom. His holistic approach brings together mindful movement, breath, and restorative practices to create space for grounding, resilience, and healing.

Victoire QoriQ’ente Slakey

Creator of The Art of Coherence™ From Insight to Embodiment · To Leave Nothing Untouched by Love

Victoire Slakey is an inspired teacher, mentor and coach whose work is rooted in decades of inquiry and practice, as well as her own profound journey through widowhood.

Bridging embodied awareness, spiritual insight and the depth of the human heart, she guides people through grief, loss and overwhelm toward greater resilience, presence and inner balance—revealing that there is a sacred sweetness, even within the deepest sorrow, that can become a doorway for grace.

Nabela Ahmed

Grief Coach & Registered Nurse

Nabela Ahmed is a grief coach and Registered Nurse who offers compassionate, trauma-informed support to people navigating loss. Her areas of focus include support for first responders, faith-based healing, and helping individuals find steadiness and connection during difficult transitions.

Luis Quezada

Grief Coach, ICF Professional Certified Coach, & National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach

Luis Quezada is a GLADD grief coach, ICF Professional Certified Coach, and National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach with more than a decade of experience supporting people through life’s hardest moments. Inspired by the loss of his grandmother, Luis helps people explore their emotions, find strength in vulnerability, and connect with others through compassion, authenticity, and community.

Chaplain Brian L. Moomey

Grief Coach

Chaplain Brian Moomey graduated in 1987 from Bible College in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has been an ordained minister since 1989. He pastored and served in missions for many years before pursuing a call to chaplaincy.

To prepare for clinical chaplaincy, Brian earned a Bachelor of Science in Addiction Psychology, completed four units of ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education, and became a Board‑Certified Chaplain with the Association of Certified Christian Chaplains in 2016. He is also a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor, specializing in addiction recovery, grief care, and end‑of‑life ministry.

Brian served five years as a full‑time chaplain at Freeman Health System in Joplin, Missouri, and spent many additional years in hospice chaplaincy. In 2019, he joined INTEGRIS Health, serving in a dual role as Hospital and Hospice Chaplain until his retirement on January 2, 2026.

In retirement, Chaplain Moomey continues to serve his community with dedication and compassion. He currently ministers as a Volunteer Police Chaplain for the Mount Vernon Police Department, a Missouri Disaster Chaplain with SEMA, a Chaplain for the Mount Vernon Veteran’s Home, and a Certified School Chaplain with the National School Chaplain Association.

Brian is also a Grief Coach, providing one‑on‑one support and guidance to individuals, navigating loss. He partners with GLADDCommunity.com, expanding his reach in grief education, emotional support, and faith‑centered healing resources. In addition, he leads a faith‑based grief support group, “We Connect Grief Group Through Faith and Hope,” offering a compassionate, scripture‑anchored space for people to process grief, find strength, and experience hope through Christ and community.

Doug Clark

Pet Grief Coach | 24hr Pet Grief

Doug Clark serves as a Pet Grief Coach at GLADD, offering a steady, compassionate presence to pet parents navigating the loss of a beloved companion. He understands that the bond between a person and their pet is deeply personal and that the grief that follows can be profound, complex, and often misunderstood by others.

With a professional life rooted in service, mentorship, nonprofit leadership, and community care, Doug brings patience, empathy, and a practical, people-centered approach to every conversation. He creates a supportive space where pet parents can share memories, process the difficult emotions that come with loss, and feel seen without judgment or pressure to grieve in a certain way.

Doug is committed to helping grieving pet parents find connection, comfort, and the reassurance that the love they shared with their companion will always remain an important part of their story.

Dalia Clark

Pet Grief Coach | 24hr Pet Grief

Dalia Clark is a compassionate Pet Grief Support Coach with 24hr Pet Grief, dedicated to helping pet parents navigate the loss of a beloved companion. She supports individuals through anticipatory grief, difficult end-of-life decisions, and the days and weeks following a pet’s passing.

Grounded in listening, understanding, and nonjudgmental care, Dalia creates a safe space for pet parents to openly share what they are feeling. She believes that every person’s grief is valid, the love they shared matters, and no one should have to navigate the journey alone.