About Me
About Jodie
Grief changed the course of my life. Helping others became part of what came next.
I’m Jodie Atkinson – a Certified Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist®, author, speaker and performer.
Through professional training, lived experience and honest conversation, I help people better understand grief and begin finding their way forward after loss.
My Story
I wasn’t prepared for grief. Most of us aren’t.
After my husband received a terminal diagnosis, just 37 days passed before I lost the love of my life.
Nothing had prepared me for the intensity of what followed: the fear, anxiety, sadness and confusion, as well as the loss of my own identity and the future I thought we would share.
I began looking for information that might help me understand what I was experiencing. What I discovered was how rarely we speak openly about grief – and how many people find themselves facing it without the language, knowledge or support they need.
That experience changed the direction of my life.
Qualifications and recognition
- Certified Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist®
- Certified Life Coach
- Certified End-of-Life Doula
- Licensed Grief First Aid Instructor
- NDIS Worker clearance
Recognition
- Have You Met My Grief?: 2025 Weekly Award, Adelaide Fringe
- Have You Met My Grief?: 2024 Weekly Award, Adelaide Fringe
- Have You Met My Grief?: 2023 Adelaide Cabaret Fringe Festival Debut Award
- Regular guest on Coast FM 88.7’s Thursday Coast Magazine with Dave Hearn APM, talking about grief on the 4th Thursday of every month – helping normalise and validate the experiences of those grieving in our community, and improving grief literacy through conversation
How I Work
Turning lived experience into meaningful support
The Grief Recovery Method® helped me begin working through my own unresolved grief. I became a Certified Specialist to facilitate this program so I could offer that support to others.
Today, I work with individuals, families, workplaces and community groups experiencing many different forms of loss.
My role isn’t to tell someone to forget, get over or move on from what happened. It is to provide a compassionate space where grief can be spoken about honestly, conflicting emotions can be understood and meaningful steps towards healing can begin.
Have You Met My Grief?
Finding different ways to talk about grief
I believe honest conversations about grief can happen in many different places.
My book, Have You Met My Grief?, was written as a relatable resource and practical toolkit for people experiencing devastating loss – and for those who want to support them.
The book later became an award-winning cabaret performance, bringing storytelling, popular music and humour together to explore the light, shade and unpredictability of life after loss.
Through writing, individual support, workshops, speaking and performance, my aim remains the same: to make grief feel less isolating and help people recognise that healing is possible.
Every loss – and every relationship – is unique.
There is no universal timetable for grief and no single way to move through it.
You don’t have to forget the person or life you have lost. With time, meaningful action and the right support, it is possible to carry your memories forward while creating space for purpose, connection and happiness again.
Jodie xx
Ready When You Are
Your next step can simply be a conversation.
If you’re unsure where to begin, a free phone call is a gentle first step. Jodie will listen, learn a little about what you’re experiencing and help you decide what kind of support may be right for you.
No pressure. No obligation. Just a conversation.