Episode
193 From Grief Math to Spiritual Play: A Journey with Chaplain Jessica Shannon
- Podcast
- Hospice Explained
- Published
- Jul 19, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2221
- Processing state
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- https://hospiceexplained.libsyn.com/episode-193
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Summary
193 From Grief Math to Spiritual Play: A Journey with Chaplain Jessica Shannon Hospice Explained host Marie Betcher (RN and former hospice nurse) interviews board-certified chaplain, writer, certified grief coach, and hospice bereavement coordinator Jessica Shannon. Jessica explains how chaplains provide interfaith support without proselytizing and help families find hope in whatever sustains them, including in complex situations where family members draw on different sources such as faith or science. She describes pediatric spiritual play—rooted in child development and adapted from Jerome Berryman's Godly Play—using tools like bibliotherapy, coloring prompts, and "emotional Uno" to help children express feelings and process illness and grief, sometimes facilitating honest family conversations about dying. Jessica also discusses adapting these approaches for adult bereavement support and introduces her book, The Sum of Grief, based on her mother's sudden death when Jessica was 17years old, and her later experience of "grief math" as she approached her mother's age at death, with a future episode planned on pet loss. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer 00:29 Meet Host and Guest 03:53 Chaplaincy and Bereavement Role 07:07 Pediatric Spiritual Play Basics 08:42 Bibliotherapy Case Story 10:44 Working With Parents Too 13:27 Interfaith Support and Hope 15:57 Spiritual Play Tools and Games 23:28 Adapting Play for Adults 25:41 Her Book and Grief Math 34:47 Closing and Pet Loss Teaser 36:40 Final Thanks and Subscribe https://www.sutrahouse.com/books/cml077vxw0000lb04pa71ymyu If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information Buying from these Affilite…