I'm now a certified Grief Recovery Specialist - and here's why it matters.

This month marks a deeply meaningful milestone for me — I’ve officially completed my certification as a Grief Recovery Specialist through The Grief Recovery Institute. I’ve always believed that grief is something no one should have to face alone. It’s why I founded the Lean on Me Network Association — to help build a stronger, more compassionate Alberta where everyone has access to grief support, regardless of their financial situation, location, or background.

But recently, my commitment to this mission became personal in a new way. I’m proud (and honestly a little emotional) to share that I’ve completed my certification as a Grief Recovery Specialist through The Grief Recovery Institute.

My training was a journey filled with beauty, pain, and healing.

This wasn’t just another professional credential to add to my resume. It was an experience that profoundly impacted me on a personal level. Part of becoming certified meant going through the full Grief Recovery Method program myself. I thought I knew grief — I’ve studied it, worked with it, supported others through it — but going through the process opened doors inside me that I didn’t realize were still closed.

I faced many forms grief I’ve been carrying quietly for most of my life: one example is the loss of safety and security in my childhood. That wound has shaped who I am in ways I hadn’t fully acknowledged. Through this program, I found a space to name it, feel it, and start letting go of the emotional pain I didn’t even realize I was still holding. I let that pain go so that I could be free.

I say “start” because grief recovery isn’t about magically being “over it.” It’s about giving ourselves permission to acknowledge and process what we’ve lost — not just people, but experiences, dreams, safety, trust — and begin healing so that grief no longer controls us.

This journey has made me more determined than ever to expand Lean on Me’s work. I’m not just funding training for others anymore; I’m living proof of its power. I know what this work can do for someone because I’ve felt it myself.

And here’s the truth: most people never get this chance. Therapy is expensive. Grief support programs are rare, especially in rural communities. Many don’t know where to turn, and others feel ashamed to even ask for help. That’s why Lean on Me exists — to remove those barriers, to fund training for people who can serve their communities, and to ensure that vulnerable populations — seniors, children, First Nations communities, low-income families — are never told, “There’s nothing you can do," or "You'll get over it eventually.”

Grief touches 100% of us. It’s part of being human. But support for grief is treated like a privilege instead of a right. I’m working to change that.

So today, I invite you to be part of this movement with me. If you’re someone who has ever wondered, “Could I help others through their grief?” — the answer is yes, and I would love to help fund your training or take you through the program so that you can begin your healing journey. If you’re a business or community organization looking for meaningful ways to give back — we need you. If you’re someone carrying grief and not sure where to turn — reach out. You are not alone.

My journey isn’t over. I believe that, together, we can build something powerful: a province where no one walks through grief in isolation.

Thank you for walking this road with me.

Yours,

Jes Knoop

Founder