Jul 19, 2026
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
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1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency,
This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.