An eight week online course for people ready to befriend their grief through creative practices.
Have you expereinced a loss that fundamantally changed you and your world? Are you seeking tools and practices to support you to feel alive again?
Hi, I’m Jen Ripa and after losing a child and husband within four years of each other, I’m no stranger to grief.
Slowly, over the last 10 years, I discovered the keys to having my grief be a doorway to transcendence so I could access the things I’d been searching for…
• Hope
• Joy
• Laughter
• Purpose
I’d be honored to show you how too.
Prefer to sit back and listen these days?
Allow me to say hello, hold your hand and guide you through how the course works.
An online grief membership that offers live community experiences to work through your grief in creative, joyful ways while feeling less alone.
This is for you if you’ve lost a significant person such as a:
• Child
• Partner
• Sibling
• Parent
• Close friend
No loss is too big. If you have experienced a loss to addiction or suicide you are welcome in our circle.
Hi I’m Jen Ripa
For a while, I asked myself this question every day:
“How do I love a life I don’t want?”
I lost my son in 2016 to cancer. He was 16 years old. Four years later, I suddenly lost my husband of 25 years, at the beginning of the pandemic. I thought my life was over both times. I did not think I could go on.
Fast forward to today, I no longer ask myself that question every day.
I don’t need to because I love my life.
Would I trade all the knowledge, wisdom, strength, and experience I have gained to have the family I used to have again? Yes, I would. I might make the trade to experience it for five minutes. It’s a good thing that I don’t have that choice. This is how grief is, though.
I have grown my heart big enough to hold all of this simultaneously. I miss my son and late husband who I lost. I miss my old family. I miss my old life. But I also like the person I have become because of these losses.
I have so much more love and appreciation for myself, for others, and for life. I live more boldly and bravely. I am grateful for the life I have because it’s still a full and vibrant life.
I know a braver and more alive version of you and your life awaits you too. If you know somewhere in your bones that you can feel better than this and you’re willing to just inch in that direction, The Creative Cocoon can support you.
This isn’t your typical grief group.
You may have already tried a few of these common pathways to heal from your grief:
Path 1: Free online grief groups.
These can be helpful as you feel as sense of solidarity and kinship. However, because they’re free, they often have loose moderation and no one trained to help you move beyond your grief.
The group may reinforce your desire to sit in your grief instead of inspiring you to heal and the bar for what is acceptable may be too low to really support you when you feel tender.
Path 2: In-person grief groups
There is enormous relief in sharing your story out loud and being witnessed. Seeing real faces and getting out of the house is helpful.
However, I’ve noticed there is a circularity to in-person grief groups. Each time, the same people show up and share their stories over and over. This can be hard to listen to as another grieving person.
Path 3: 1:1 grief counseling
It’s wonderful to have a counselor or therapist who can hold space for you individually. However, you may have done months of 1:1 sessions and still feel like you haven’t been able to move beyond your grief.
This is because talking alone won’t shift the grief you’re holding in your body. It only half releases it. Physically moving the grief from your body allows healing at a deeper level.
Introducing a new pathway where you won’t just be repeating your story over and over again.
You’ll be moving through your grief and releasing the trauma stored in your body with multi-sensory, creative practices.
So what does that even mean, you might be wondering?
Introducing: All the tools I’ve found to be life-changing for processing my own grief.
Grief Yoga
Sense: Movement
Non-strenuous, chair-based practices that move grief out of the body.
Art Making
Sense: SIGHT & touch
Delight in color texture and being able to create and control something when life feels uncontrollable.
Gong/Meditation
Sense: SOUND
Perfect if you struggle to clear your head, the gong will help your brain arrive straight into a deep meditative state.
Creative Writing
Sense: SIGHT & TOUCH
Writing is a tool to understand and work through your grief while sharing your stories with the group.
Essential Oils & Flower Essences
Sense: SMELL & TASTE
A gentle way to transform mental and emotional energy.
Grief & Health Coaching
Sense: SOUND & SIGHT
A holistic look at your whole self: body, mind and spirit — Where do you need tending?
“I worked with Jen over the course of 9 months, and from the very first call felt right at home and comfortable being open and vulnerable in her presence.
She is an extraordinarily attentive listener, seems to know precisely the right questions to ask, and always responds with love and compassion. I highly recommend that anyone looking to move through challenging situations work with Jen.”
Stephanie L.
I believe you have the ability to choose how you move through your grief.
You have more agency than you realize. You are writing the script of the relationship you have with the person who died. That relationship is ongoing and transforming.
Is it going to be one of survivor guilt and shame forever? Or will you be the hero of your own story?
Using multi-sensory practices literally brings us back to our senses. When we can relax and be present in the moment instead of being stuck in the past or worried about the future, we remember that we are innately separate from our grief. It doesn’t have to be your identity anymore.
You know that grief isn’t a linear journey
from denial to acceptance.
During our time together, we’ll dip in and out of these three phases, allowing you to process your grief at your own pace and in your own way. Our intention is that over time you’ll have less caterpillar/mud days and more good days, focused on the future as you go through the membership.
Caterpillar Phase
There are certain times when you need to accept that you’re feeling really down.
This might happen around anniversary dates or holidays. Or anytime you’re trying to make a big step forward, like date a new person, move or get a new job. This is when you’re in the mud with your grief.
Cocoon Phase
Here, you’re actively engaging with your grief so that you can release it and embrace more joy.
In the cocoon, the caterpillar turns completely into this goo and then reassembles. In a similar way, your grief journey completely reshapes your life. This community guides you to be intentional in this journey.
Luna Moth Phase
Now, you’re actively designing how you want to move forward in this next phase of your life with your grief.
Now that you’ve done some healing and your grief is no longer owning you, what do you really want? How can you look forward and embrace life more fully?
This is THE ONLY program which offers such a diverse range of creative healing tools to release sadness, regret and guilt in the lightest, most joyful way!
It means you’ll have so many different creative pathways to discover what you connect with and love (you might just find a creative passion and hobby you never knew existed that will help you come alive again).
Also, by processing your grief in such diverse ways, you have more chances to dislodge it and dissolve it. Everyone’s grief is so unique and it’s important you try a variety of approaches to find your best fit.
Let’s explore the creative healing tools we’ll be playing with:
Grief Yoga
One thing no one tells you is how physically painful grief is. My back felt like it was on fire and my chest felt like broken glass.
Grief yoga is incredibly effective in moving grief and trauma out of your body, shifting from a space of constant stress and worry to calm.
I started practicing it after my late husband died and I was struggling with panic attacks. Within two months, I noticed I wasn’t having any more panic attacks or if I felt them coming on I knew I could mitigate them. It was remarkable!
Grief yoga can be done all in a chair. It’s not physically demanding, is easy, accessible and doesn’t require any yoga experience. Best of all, you don’t have to invest a huge amount of time each week to experience shifts.
Art Making
It has been scientifically proven that if you do something with your hands for just 20 minutes, without being overly tied to the outcome, there’s a profound shift in your body’s vagal system, which controls your ability to relax.
Art making is a gentle, non-confrontation way to express what you may not be able to put into words. If you have no art experience, that is perfect. We are not here to judge or critique each other’s art or make fine art masterpieces. We’re here for the process and how it will make us feel.
The visual delight of playing with color, the soothing feeling of getting your hands dirty with clay and the joyful feeling of creating something from nothing will enliven your day and give you something light to look forward to.
Gong & Meditation
I know what you’re thinking – how can you possibly expect me to clear my mind and meditate when my mind is on overdrive?
That’s where the power of the gong comes in. The sound of the gong helps your brain arrive at a state of deep meditation without the work of meditation. Amazing, right? Most people who go to meditate find quieting the noise feels like an uphill battle and learning to meditate during a crisis is not the right time.
The gong is our shortcut to getting to the alpha (calm focus or flow) and possibly theta (deep relaxation) states in the brain. That alone is deeply healing because you may not have had an experience of being awake and relaxed for months or even years.
Creative Writing
A year after my son, Oliver died, I started writing. That was one of the most transformational things I did for my grief because I was able to witness myself tell my grief story in a lot of different ways and have compassionate listeners listen.
Brene Brown tells us that guilt and shame multiply in the dark. Openly expressing our grief story allows us to dislodge anything that might be stuck to let more love, light and self-acceptance in. We’ll each write a response to our interpretation of a piece of contemporary poetry and read it out loud to the group. You don’t have to worry about what other people are going to say. You just get to be witnessed and then we move on which is deeply healing.
Essential Oils & Flower Essences
Smell is a powerful sense that can have a profound impact on our emotions, mood, and overall well-being.
When you repeatedly experience a particular scent in a relaxing context, your brain forms associations between that scent and the feeling of relaxation. Over time, the scent alone can trigger a relaxation response.
Flower essences are a really gentle way to balance our emotions and promote relaxation by working on emotional and energetic levels.
Essential oils in a diffuser are an effective way to fall asleep, which is a common struggle when navigating grief.
Holistic Grief Coaching
As a certified Grief Educator, certified Life Coach, certified Health Coach, and certified Expressive Arts Coach, I can help you look at your self-care holistically across your mind, body and soul.
From offering nutritional advice if you struggle to remember to eat, to supporting you to uncover your purpose after loss and how to make meaning out of loss that feels senseless, I am here to support you. My core belief is that there is no timeline for grief and that everyone grieves differently. I will guide you with compassion and non-judgment.
I will lean on my own personal grief experiences, 15 years of experience working with clients, and a variety of healing modalities to support you in moving forward in your grief healing journey.
“Jen is highly attuned to the nuances and moods of the group, responding to shared stories with great respect and insight.
I have been so impressed by Jen’s capacity for deep listening. Her leadership skills are evident in her ability to carefully coach participants to go a little deeper or see a new angle while she safely holds the space around their vulnerability.”
Susan B.
I won’t just be teaching you based on my own lived experience.
I also have 15+ years of coaching, creative and healing experience. I have been a life coach and sound healer for 15+ years as well as a yoga and meditation teacher for 6 years.
I also bring with me the experience of the following certifications:
• Certified Grief Educator
• Certified Master Coach
• Certified Expressive Arts Coach
• 3 x 200 hour yoga certifications.
• BFA in Fine Art and lifelong artist
• Certified Wild Writing Teacher
• Certified Reiki Master
• Certified Shamanic Practitioner
• Certified Flower Essence Practitioner.
This means you know I’m qualified to help all different kinds of people, with their own unique grief journey and will never shoe-horn you into approaches just because they worked for me.
Here’s what you’ll get each month:
Can’t make the calls? Don’t worry, replays will be available so you can watch at your own pace.
One 2 hour grief transformation call per week.
Here I’ll be combining grief yoga, poetry, creative writing, expressive arts therapy, the gong, coaching and the opportunity to share and connect as a group.
One 90-minute Co-working workshop per week.
This is where we’ll work on specific fun projects like a handmade scrapbook, creating a vision board, writing a poetry collection and creating a nature walk sensory book.
Instant access to a library of resources to dip into.
Here I’ll be combining grief yoga, poetry, creative writing, expressive arts therapy, the gong, coaching and the opportunity to share and connect as a group.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the calls be for the membership?
Group Coaching Call Wednesday 1-3 pm EST
This call will bring together grief coaching, chair grief yoga, expressive arts, contemporary poetry, and sound healing & meditation. Jen will lead the group through exercises utilizing these tools live on the call. All calls will be recorded.
Coworking sessions:
During these 90 minute sessions you will have a chance to slow down and use the tools mentioned in the Wednesday call. You will also have the opportunity to go into small breakout groups and share your art and writing in small groups. Each time slot of the Thursday calls will cover the same materials. Please choose one Thursday call to attend. The instruction and co-working portions of the call will be recorded and the personal sharing portions of the call will not be recorded.
Do I have to be on-camera or can I have it switched off?
No! You are more than welcome to switch your camera off if you would prefer not to be seen. I’d encourage you to do what you feel comfortable with.
Is sharing optional if we don’t feel comfortable yet?
I would never want you to share your story if you don’t feel ready. Feel free to ask to be skipped if you prefer to.
How do I know if I’m ready to do this work and be part of this community? I’m worried I’m not at the right place yet for it.
Everyone processes their grief differently, so there is no easy way to determine this. It is important, however, that you’re able to hold space for someone else’s grief. If you’re still in the early stages of grief, you may not have the capacity to witness someone else’s grief. If you’re not able to listen respectfully to someone else sharing their story, then this won’t be the right space for you. If this sounds like you, The Creative Cocoon may not be the best option for you, but I am available for 1:1 coaching to give you individualized support to help you get to a better place to be part of the group in time.
What is the weekly time commitment?
There is a total of 3.5 hours of calls each week, however, there is no pressure to attend every call.
How will the group be moderated? What will and won’t be allowed to ensure we all feel safe?
The bar for what is acceptable in this group will be VERY high so that each woman feels safe. As your moderator, I take this role very seriously, because I’ve been burnt before by groups that allowed certain behaviors that didn’t feel good to me. For example, one common thing I have experienced in grief groups is people “silver lining” me – they would say “At least you have other children” when hearing my story of losing my son, Oliver. When we try to offer a silver lining, while well-meaning, it minimizes people’s experiences and makes them feel like their grief is less important than someone else’s. In this group, we believe that EVERYONE’S grief is valid and treated equally. We will not allow grief comparisons. Discrimination of any kind (such as religion, race, sexual orientation or any other discrimination of any beliefs others might hold is not welcome here.) There will also be no solicitation in this group. We’re not trying to fix each other or offer each other advice. We’re just going to listen and let people bear witness because when people tell their story, their grief transforms.
Will there be a Facebook Group?
No, there will not be a Facebook Group, as many grieving people find Facebook activating. Instead, we will have a community wall on the platform that will work like a Facebook Group. You’ll be able to share and respond to people’s comments.
What if I want to cancel my membership?
When you choose the month-to-month option, you are welcome to cancel your membership at any time, no questions asked. You will lose access to the content when your next billing cycle begins. You can also rejoin any time! When you chose the yearly option, you can cancel after 12 months. Your annual payment will never be automatically renewed.
Is this a replacement for grief therapy?
No, this course is designed to supplement grief therapy. This is not medical advice and cannot take the place of any medical advice or treatment.
How do I know if this membership is right for me?
The community is right for you if:
- At least a small part of you knows that your loved one who died wants you to be happy
- You believe that the relationship you had with your loved one has changed but is not over.
- You want more for yourself.
- You have decided that you are ready to let some light back in.
- You are able to hold space for others grief.
- You are open to hearing multiple perspectives on God, the Divine, Source, or Great Spirit, even if they are not your personal beliefs and you will be respectful of others perspectives.
- You want to be in a loving and supportive community
- You want to feel and experience unconditional love.
Can I add on private coaching with Jen?
Yes! You can also choose the membership option at the bottom of this page which includes 4 x 90 minute coaching session, or 6 x 60 minute coaching sessions. Alternatively, please email Jen at jen@thrivologie.com and write “Private Grief Coaching” in the title and we can discuss alternative options.
I still have a question, can I send you an email?
Absolutely, I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about the group. Send me an email at jen@thrivologie.com with your question.
This process can transform your grief, even if you’re thinking…
“I don’t know if I have the energy to participate. It sounds like a lot of hours on Zoom.”
Oh, I hear you. I know how draining grief can be and how even small things can feel challenging. The important thing to remember is that this work won’t feel like “work”. It’s light. It’s gentle. It’s creative. It’s designed so you don’t have to use up a bunch of mental energy thinking. In fact, you’ll likely find it is actually energy-giving, not energy-draining. You’ll reconnect with those childlike parts of yourself you’ve likely disconnected from like play, delight, creation and imagination – those activities where time stops and relief is found.
There is also no pressure to make every call as we understand that those muddy days come and go without warning. You also only need to commit to one month, so if you discover it’s not right for you, it’s only a small investment that you’ve made. Feel free to cancel online right away – no questions asked.
“I’m not sure I’m ready to heal and move on. Giving up my grief seems like I would be giving up the person I lost and not honoring their memory.”
I know you might be feeling a little lost right now. Maybe you’ve always struggled to find your “thing” and feel like you’ve never excelled in something. You might feel you’re boring or unimpressive. But I promise you, I haven’t met a single person in the program who didn’t have amazing qualities once we dove beneath the surface. Revealing these qualities will be eye-opening.
It’s time for the sun to come back out for you. I see you. I am holding you in my heart.
“Not only has Jen done her own deep healing work, she is also an expert at holding sacred space for women and guiding them on their inner journey of healing, growth and transformation.” Michelle B.