Hi, I’m Melissa.
I’m a grieving mother, a Master Grief Coach, and the host of The Leftover Pieces® Podcast.
After losing my 21-year-old son, Alex, to suicide in 2016, my life was forever divided into before and after. Like so many mothers, I found myself navigating grief, guilt, identity loss, and the impossible question of how to keep living.
Over the years, I’ve walked this road not only for myself, but alongside hundreds of other grieving parents through conversations, retreats, writing, and coaching.
Many of the mothers who eventually find their way to this work are several years beyond the loss itself, quietly wondering how life is supposed to move forward from here.
Through The Leftover Pieces®, I now offer private one-on-one coaching designed specifically for mothers living after the loss of a child.
Because this work is not about “moving on.”
Mothers don’t move on from their children.
But we can learn how to live forward while carrying our love—& our grief—with us.
What This Work Is About
Grief does not follow a timeline—but it does evolve.
In the early years after loss, many mothers feel like they are simply trying to survive each day. Later, new questions often emerge:
Who am I now? How do I live forward while carrying this grief? What does the rest of my life look like?
This work creates a gentle space to explore those questions.
Together, we unpack the layers of grief, release the guilt that keeps many mothers stuck, and begin rebuilding trust in yourself and your life.
In our time together, we work toward:
• releasing guilt that no longer serves you
• reconnecting with who you are now
• learning how to carry your grief while living forward
• rediscovering meaning, purpose, and moments of peace again
You will never be “over” the loss of your child.
But you can learn to live alongside the grief—with your child’s love still woven into your life.
Depending on where you are in your journey, there are two coaching paths designed to meet you there.
Two Coaching Paths
Every mother’s grief journey unfolds differently.
Most mothers who reach out to me are several years beyond loss and looking for support as they begin learning how to live forward again. Others are still navigating the intense early years of grief.
To support these different stages, I offer two private 12-week coaching paths.
💜 Two Coaching Paths💜
Soul Tides™
Grounded in grief, led by spirit — become who your soul remembers.
Created for mothers several years beyond loss who have survived the early storm and are beginning to ask deeper questions about meaning, identity, and how to live forward while continuing to carry their love and grief.
This 12-week journey focuses on:
• rediscovering identity after loss
• learning how to carry grief while living forward
• reconnecting with purpose and spiritual growth
“You are not drifting. You are returning — to your soul, your purpose, and your path forward.”
Destination: Me™
A gentle path forward — from guilt and grief to trust and transformation.
Created for mothers navigating the early years after the loss of a child, when grief can feel overwhelming and the future difficult to imagine.
This 12-week coaching journey helps you begin rebuilding trust in yourself and your life while gently releasing the guilt and questions that often follow suicide loss.
Together we focus on:
• understanding the layers of grief after traumatic loss
• releasing guilt and self-blame that keep many mothers stuck
• rebuilding self-trust and emotional footing
• taking the first steps toward living forward again
“You are not lost. You are remembering your story, your self-trust, and your place in this world.”
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BOTH programs include: FREE link to the Grief to Growth Course).
“See Refund & Scheduling Policy below”**
"You are not drifting. You are returning — to your soul, your purpose, and your path forward."
Program Structure & Investment
Both coaching paths are offered as a 12-week private coaching container, designed to provide consistent support and space for meaningful reflection.
We meet once each week for a one-hour Zoom session.
Between sessions, you’ll have time to reflect on the workbook prompts and integrate what we explore together.
This work is deeply personal, and the pace allows space for both conversation and gentle growth over time.
Investment
The investment for either 12-week coaching path is $2,200.
Payment options:
• Pay in full: $2,000
• Monthly plan: three payments of $733
Each program includes:
• 12 private coaching sessions (1 hour each)
• companion workbook for guided reflection (sent to you after enrolling)
• email support between sessions as needed
If you’re feeling called to this work but aren’t sure which path is right for you, you’re welcome to schedule a short conversation so we can explore whether this feels like a good fit. Because I work closely with a limited number of clients at a time, all new coaching begins with a short discovery conversation.
If you’re feeling drawn to this work but unsure which path might be right for you, we can start with a simple conversation by clicking the button below.
A Note About This Work
These programs are not support groups.
They are private, one-on-one coaching spaces created specifically for grieving mothers who are ready to explore how life can continue after the loss of a child.
In our work together, we gently explore your story, the layers of grief you carry, and the questions that often emerge as time passes.
Our conversations may include:
• reflecting on your story and the meaning it holds now
• releasing guilt that no longer serves you
• reconnecting with who you are becoming
• spiritual reflection, when that feels meaningful to you
The goal is not to erase grief.
It is to help you learn how to carry your love and your loss while continuing to live forward.
A Weekly Check-In for Fellow Grievers
Most weeks, I send a short note — reflections from the rabbit hole, reminders you're not alone, and a few honest thoughts about learning to live forward after loss.
Nothing heavy. Nothing overwhelming. Just a little companionship in your inbox.-- reaching 1000+ fellow grievers. weekly
** Refund & Scheduling Policy (Click "+" to Expand and Read)
These resources are provided as a courtesy but in no way constitute an endorsement for any of them. Also, Melissa is not a mental health professional (or doctor), and nothing on my website should be taken as medical (or mental health) advice or recommendation, as it all comes from my own experiences, gathered knowledge and various certificate-based training only.