Our Staff

Compassionate, patient and experienced in the field of bereavement support and crisis and trauma work

Counselor, author, consultant, local and national presenter

“Spending my days with grieving children, teens and their families is one of my greatest honors. It is a privilege to witness the courage and power of the human spirit’s ability to transform pain into hope and suffering into strength.”

For 30 years, I have worked in the profession of end of life care and bereavement as a licensed social worker in hospice, a school grief counselor, program coordinator and co-owner of a private grief counseling practice. My career has been dedicated to providing support and counsel to children, teens, young adults and adults through individual counseling, grief support groups, and crisis and trauma work.

In addition, throughout my extensive career, I have presented locally and nationally on the topic of childhood bereavement, planned and facilitated family grief retreats and support groups for people living with cancer and their caregivers. My lifework has allowed me to author two books, Hope Heals: A Journal of Love, Loss and Memories and Words to Live By, write developmental grief support curriculums and other grief support booklets and published articles. It has been a privilege to have sat beside hundreds of hospice patients during their final breaths and to have counseled thousands of clients coping with the death of their loved one.

Calming, skilled listener, and empathetic to the unique needs of grieving children, teens, and families.

Counselor, educator, and local presenter

My work with grieving children and families began nearly 20 years ago while I was working as a hospice social worker. I found great privilege in being trusted to provide intimate in-home emotional support to families while anticipating the death of their loved one.

As a licensed clinical social worker, I have spent thousands of hours counseling grieving children, teens, young adults and their families through individual counseling, family counseling, grief support groups, and crisis and trauma response. Many years were spent supporting grieving children and teens in a school based grief support program. Within this program I was involved in crisis and trauma work in schools, in addition to the weekly grief support to students. I love the energy and natural wisdom of the children and teens that I have been privileged to support! I have co-authored a published school based grief curriculum, and presented on the topic of children’s grief, planned and facilitated family grief retreats. I am passionate about educating, and bringing awareness to the unique and individualized needs of childhood bereavement.

David is a seasoned executive leader and compassionate relationship builder with nearly 30 years of experience cultivating lasting partnerships in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, including Susan G. Komen, March of Dimes and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. His diverse background as a small business owner, event and national account director and major gift fundraiser positions him to make a lasting impact at The Grief Club. Equally important, David brings lived grief experiences, heartfelt storytelling and empathetic care to every interaction with donors, grieving families and the broader community.

Originally from Wisconsin and a proud graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, David is deeply devoted to his wife, Melissa, of 25 years and their daughter, Sophie. He enjoys golf, long lake walks, cooking, 80s pop and yacht rock, travel, Peloton rides and time with loved ones. With purpose, passion, and energy, David is committed to helping ensure hope, healing and belonging at The Grief Club of Minnesota.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for the past 25 years I have experience working with individuals, couples and families in the areas of grief, end of life care including palliative care and hospice. I have facilitated many grief groups over the years including the death of a spouse, family nights for single parent/guardian and children grieving the death of a loved one, and have volunteered at many family grief retreats. I am trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), a tool to support those who’ve experienced trauma. ART is a way to address the trauma, opening up possibilities of grieving and healing.

I view grief as a normal response to a death and support finding meaning and purpose in the midst of transition, sadness and grief. The support of a trained listener helps as you seek to make meaning of changes and return to preferred ways of functioning or optimally, finding new ways of seeing life and living fully.

Being a part of The Grief Club of Minnesota is an honor to me. It is a humbling experience to walk alongside kids, teens and families as they navigate a death and learn new ways of being in the world while remembering their loved one and engaging in the present.

My history as a high school teacher, a yoga instructor, training in crisis care and working in leadership in multi ethnic settings has guided me to the meaningful work that is at The Grief Club.

I believe grief is a natural response to death, and I consider it a privilege to journey with children, teens, and families as they sort through the complex layers of loss. I have a Master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, I am particularly passionate about childhood bereavement and helping families navigate developmental responses to grief. I am deeply grateful to be a part of The Grief Club, a place where families can receive support and pursue healing together.

My 15 years of experience as a school counselor and a master’s degree in counseling provided a strong foundation in supporting children, teens, and families through challenging life experiences. This meaningful work, along with my personal passion for supporting grieving families, brought me to The Grief Club of Minnesota in 2024, where I am grateful to be counseling grieving individuals and families, helping them honor their grief while also finding hope for their future.

As a grief counselor, I believe grief is a unique and personal experience, and that healing begins with having space to feel, express, and make sense of loss without judgment. With individualized support, I use narrative, mindful, and interactive approaches to help clients explore their stories, emotions, relationships, and experiences of loss while developing healthy ways to cope and understand their grief. I support meaning-making and healthy adaptation while recognizing that grief involves both experiencing the loss and learning to live life after loss.

My goal is to create a compassionate space where children, teens, adults, and families feel seen, heard, and understood while discovering their own strengths and sources of support. I believe that grief and hope can exist together, and that it is possible to honor what has been lost while continuing to grow, connect, and find meaning in life.

Jenny brings a strong background in nonprofit leadership, office operations and community engagement to her role. She is passionate about creating smooth systems, supporting strong teams and serving meaningful causes. Jenny feels honored to support a mission that walks alongside families during some of life’s most difficult moments.

Outside of her work, Jenny is a proud wife and mom, a devoted dog lover (times two!), and a self-proclaimed Diet Coke enthusiast. She believes deeply in the power of connection, kindness and finding joy in everyday moments