Why I Stand Behind the Grief Recovery Method - And Why You Should Consider Getting Trained

Training to be a Certified GRM Specialist can be done online (thanks, COVID), from your own home.

As a funeral director, grief advocate, and founder of the Lean on Me Network, I’ve had the immense honour—and responsibility—of walking beside people during some of the hardest moments of their lives. And what I’ve come to believe, without a doubt, is this:

Grief isn’t something to fix. It’s something to move through—with support, with intention, and with courage.

That’s why I stand firmly behind the Grief Recovery Method (GRM)—and why I encourage others to not only explore it and utilize the program, but to become trained in it.

Whether you're a professional caregiver, a community leader, or simply someone who wants to help others heal, this work will change your life—and the lives of those around you.

What Makes GRM So Different?

The Grief Recovery Method isn’t just a concept—it’s a structured, proven process created by grievers, for grievers, and used worldwide for over four decades. I'll share a quote from Stephen Moeller, a Funeral Director since 1978:

to tell grievers they "must" go through these stages serves no purpose and does nothing to help in their emotional recovery. It would be great if we could fit all grievers into these five boxes, so we would know how to deal with them, but it does not work that way. Each person is different. Each loss is different. Grief is emotional, not intellectual. The Grief Recovery Method is founded not on putting people in a convenient box, but rather on helping them discover what is incomplete and unfinished in each individual relationship, so that they can take the necessary action to deal with that unfinished business on an emotional level.

It's not about "managing" grief, and it's definitely not about pushing people into boxes like the five stages. GRM gives people real tools to process emotional pain safely and completely.

Thanks to formal research conducted through Kent State University, GRM has been recognized as an evidence-based program. That means it's not just compassionate—it’s effective.

But even more powerful than the research is the moment someone realizes they don’t have to carry their grief alone anymore.

Why Training Matters

Becoming a certified Grief Recovery Specialist wasn’t just a professional step for me—it was personal. It is so important for me to be the change I want to see. I want to lead by example, and I want to be able to fully support new specialists as they begin offering programs for their communities. I want to make sure I know the material so I can be a resource as well, not just a figurehead that calls for action but remains stagnantly in the background.

During the training, you don’t just learn how to guide others—you go through the process yourself. And let me tell you: it’s profound. I uncovered grief I didn’t even realize I was still carrying. I laid it down. And I came out stronger, clearer, and more capable of truly helping others.

If you've ever felt called to help people through loss, this is the training that gives you the tools and the confidence to do it powerfully.

At Lean on Me, our mission is simple:

No one should be denied support because of where they live, what they earn, or who they are.

That’s why we fund therapy for vulnerable Albertans—and why we fund GRM training for people in rural communities, First Nations, senior care, and more.

Because when you train one person, you empower an entire community.

Grief doesn’t mean you're broken. It means you're human.

And with the right support, healing is not only possible—it’s inevitable.

If you’re ready to show up more powerfully in your community...If you want to build a legacy of compassion and leadership...If you want to change lives—including your own...

Then let me say this with full confidence: You can. And you should.

The Grief Recovery Method is how we start.

Yours,

Jes Knoop

Founder