Invictus by Genna - Grief & Loss Services

What helped you feel supported in grief—and what do you wish others had understood?

I am inviting adults age 18 and older to share their experiences for a book about how we can better support people who are grieving. I am looking for perspectives from people who have experienced loss personally, as well as those who have supported grieving people through their families, communities, or professional work.
Participants may choose a conversational interview conducted in person, by phone, or virtually, or complete a written survey instead. Interviews will last approximately 90 minutes. Participation is voluntary and unpaid, and you may choose to share your story anonymously.

Your experiences, insights, and hard-earned wisdom could help others understand how to show up with greater compassion—and help grieving people feel less alone.

To express interest or ask questions, please contact me at [email protected].

Please share this invitation with anyone whose perspective should be part of this conversation.

Today, the United States marks 250 years.

As we celebrate this milestone, we honor the courage, resilience, hope, and countless acts of love that have shaped this nation. But we can also make room for another truth: every country is built from human stories, and human stories always hold both joy and grief.

For some, today is filled with fireworks, family traditions, and gratitude. For others, it carries the weight of someone missing from the celebration, complicated feelings about our shared history, military service and sacrifice, or the quiet ache of personal loss.

Grief doesn't ask us to stop celebrating.
Celebration doesn't require us to ignore grief.

The healthiest communities—and the healthiest hearts—learn to hold both.

Today, may we make space for pride and reflection.
For gratitude and remembrance.
For hope and honesty.

Here's to 250 years of striving, learning, and becoming—and to creating a future where every story is honored and every heart is seen.

Happy Independence Day!

One of the things I care about most is helping people understand that grief is not a disorder to fix—it's a human response to loving someone deeply.

That's why I was especially honored to be invited to write this article for Influential Women.

"Grief Doesn't Mean You're Broken" brings together what current grief science tells us with what I've witnessed alongside hundreds of grieving people: the brain is adapting, not failing.

I hope it helps someone replace self-judgment with self-compassion.

Thank you to Influential Women for the opportunity to share this work.

Read the article here: https://tinyurl.com/m3c3t5xu

Invictus by Genna Reeves, Ph.D. | Grief & Loss Services Influential Women Official

Last week in Denver, Graham paused the energy of the pumped-up concert crowd to make space for grief. He shared a song about losing someone he loves ("Mailman"), and for a few minutes, thousands of people quietly held something we don't often make room for in public: love that continues after loss.

That moment inspired my newest blog post. As a grief educator, I'm continually reminded that healing doesn't only happen through conversation. Sometimes it happens through music. Through art. Through the simple realization that we're not alone in what we carry.

I'd love to hear from you: Has a song ever helped you grieve or remember someone you love?

Listen to Graham's song, "Mailman" here: https://tinyurl.com/ymp2suus

Read the full post here:
https://www.invictusbygenna.com/post/when-music-makes-space-for-grief-graham

Thank you, 100graham for reminding us that making space for grief doesn't bring down the room—it often creates the moment people need most. 💙

Invictus by Genna Reeves, Ph.D. | Grief & Loss Services Connor Price Nic D mission ballroom

🎉 I am honored to be recognized by Influential Women for work that has allowed me to combine education, community building, and compassionate support for those navigating loss. I was also informed today that I am being recognized as a 2026 Distinguished Influential Woman Honoree for New Mexico. 🌟

To me, influence means creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and empowered. It isn't about being the loudest voice in the room. It's about helping others feel less alone and more connected to themselves, one another, and their communities. It means fostering collaboration, helping people feel part of something larger than themselves, and being willing to sit with new ideas and explore them with curiosity.

As Founder of Invictus by Genna and an INELDA -trained death doula, I provide grief peer support, education, and community-based programs for individuals and families experiencing life-changing transitions. I also serve as Community Liaison for HeartLight Center New Mexico and Chair of the Grief Networking Alliance of New Mexico, where I work to strengthen grief resources, collaboration, and support networks throughout our state - a state with significant and alarming amounts of traumatic death and grief.

A significant part of my work focuses on advancing grief education and making grief research accessible and relatable. I have developed original curricula and educational programs for multiple organizations, including HeartLight Center and End of Life Psychedelic Care, helping professionals and community members better understand grief, loss, and supportive care. I am also developing a new model for understanding grief that encourages people to view grief as a dynamic, interconnected human experience rather than something that follows a prescribed path.

Above all, I am passionate about helping people feel less alone and more supported as they navigate the realities of love, loss, and healing.

Influential Women Official

Invictus by Genna Reeves, Ph.D. | Grief & Loss Services

💫 Part II of Understanding Grief and Loss for Psychedelic Practitioners is complete.

This session focused on what it actually means to support someone living with grief—not by fixing, advising, or rushing the process, but by developing the capacity to be present with suffering while responding thoughtfully to what is needed in the moment.

Together we explored grief frameworks and models, trauma responses, adaptation versus avoidance, differential grief, compounded losses, meaning-making, ritual, and practical skills for supporting grievers. We also worked through case studies to bridge theory and real-world application.

I continue to feel deeply honored to serve as an invited instructor for Christine Caldwell and especially grateful for the opportunity to return to curriculum development and formal teaching. After years away from the classroom, it has been incredibly meaningful to share this work with such thoughtful and engaged practitioners. And a special thank you to Christine Caldwell - a super thoughtful professional whom I am honored to call a colleague.

EOLPC Invictus by Genna Reeves, Ph.D. | Grief & Loss Services

🌟🧑‍🏫🌟 Yesterday I had the privilege of serving as an invited instructor for EOLPC's Understanding Grief and Loss for Psychedelic Practitioners course for Session I. I will teach Session II next week.

Together we explored the many ways grief can show up in people's lives, including sudden and traumatic loss, disenfranchised grief, cumulative grief, anticipatory grief, and the profound ways grief can shape identity, relationships, meaning, and the nervous system. We discussed why grief is not a problem to solve, but a human experience to witness, support, and learn to carry.

On a personal note, this experience meant more to me than I can fully express. For the first time in many years, I was invited not only for my grief support work, but also for my advanced skill with curriculum development and formal teaching. It felt incredibly meaningful to step back into the classroom, facilitate discussion, share knowledge, and engage with a group of thoughtful professionals who care deeply about supporting grieving people.

I'm grateful to  and Christine Caldwell for the invitation, to the participants for their curiosity and engagement, and to everyone who continues to trust me with conversations about grief, loss, meaning-making, and healing.

Sometimes life brings us back to parts of ourselves we thought we had left behind. Yesterday reminded me how much I love teaching. Excited for Session II next week!

         Invictus by Genna | Grief & Loss Services