Grief Coaching: The Sanctuary Within
Grief Coaching Services
Navigating Loss, Discovering Meaning, Rebuilding Life
Meet Your Guide: Susan Sterkenberg, PhD
I bring not only professional expertise but also personal depth to every partnership at Catalyst for Renewal Studio. With a doctorate in psychology specializing in grief, "all but dissertation" in adult education and leadership, and three decades of professional development, change management, and executive coaching, my approach is holistic and transformative.
After losing my 23-year-old son, I created the "Sanctuaries of Renewal" Inner Roadmap--a model forged from research, tradition, and lived experience. This innovative inner map is at the heart of my work, my upcoming book, and all grief-related retreats and webinars.
Together, we discover sanctuary--even in sorrow--using imaginative, actionable steps paired with deep compassion and hope.
Credentials:
· Doctorate in Psychology (Specialty: Grief Transformation)
· ABD, Doctorate in Adult Education & Leadership
· 30+ years in organizational development & executive coaching
· Speaker, retreat leader, and author of Sanctuaries of Renewal--An Interior Roadmap for Transforming Grief into Hope
Your journey matters. Let's find renewal--using a map designed for depth, healing, and transformation. Let's heal, grow, and transform together.
You belong here--let's walk your path together. Link to jump to options
The Sanctuaries of Renewal Inner Roadmap
My coaching is anchored in the Sanctuaries of Renewal Inner Roadmap (also known as the Interior Grief Roadmap), an integrative model I developed that synthesizes:
· Classic change theory (Prochaska, Norcross & DiClemente)
· Liminal transformation frameworks (Wendling)
· Deep spiritual wisdom (Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle)
· Contemporary grief research and existential psychology
Unlike traditional grief models that focus primarily on coping skills or prescribed stages, the Sanctuaries of Renewal provides a sanctuary-based approach--seven interior "rooms" where you can rest, reflect, and move at your own organic pace through the landscape of loss.
Core Principles:
· Non-linear: Grief doesn't follow a straight line; you may revisit rooms multiple times
· Self-paced: Your readiness guides the journey, not external timelines
· Sanctuary-focused: Each room is a safe space for being, not just doing
· Transformation-oriented: Moving beyond survival toward meaning-making and renewed purpose
· Existentially grounded: Addressing identity, purpose, values, and legacy
Services Offered
1. Individual Grief Coaching
Focus: Meaning-making, identity reconstruction, and life rebuilding after significant loss
Ideal for:
· Individuals who have stabilized from the initial shock of loss and are ready to explore deeper questions
· Those seeking to make meaning from their experience rather than just "get through it"
· People who feel directionless or adrift after loss and need a compass for the interior journey
· Individuals grappling with existential questions: "Who am I now?" "What matters?" "How do I live with this?"
What We'll Work On:
· Navigating the seven rooms of the Sanctuaries of Renewal Inner Roadmap at your own pace
· Creating personalized sanctuary spaces for reflection and healing
· Exploring existential questions about identity, purpose, and meaning post-loss
· Developing rituals and practices that honor your grief while opening pathways forward
· Rebuilding your life in ways that integrate the wisdom grief has revealed
· Discovering how to carry your loss while fully engaging with life again
Individual Grief Coaching
Your individual grief coaching sessions are a $135 investment per 60-minute session. This reflects doctoral-level expertise combined with 30+ years of experience and a specialized framework designed specifically for grief transformation. Package options make this work even more accessible: a 4-session package is $500 ($125/session), an 8-session package is $960 ($120/session), or a 12-session package is $1,380 ($115/session—15% savings). These sessions provide personalized support as you navigate meaning-making, identity reconstruction, and life rebuilding after loss.
2. Specialized Support for Complex Grief
Focus: Working with clients who are "stuck" in their grief journey while maintaining healthy overall functioning
Ideal for:
· Individuals who remain in precontemplation across multiple areas of their grief
· Those experiencing prolonged complications but who are otherwise emotionally stable
· People who need deeper therapeutic support before or alongside meaning-making work
This service bridges grief counseling and grief coaching. I can work therapeutically with clients who need help moving through stuck points--unresolved guilt, complicated attachment dynamics, trauma responses--while keeping the ultimate focus on transformation and meaning-making.
Note: This is not crisis intervention or treatment for severe depression/anxiety/PTSD. Clients needing clinical mental health treatment will be referred to appropriate resources.
Specialized support for complex grief is a $150 investment per 60-minute session. This therapeutic depth addresses complications like prolonged precontemplation, unresolved guilt, or complicated attachment dynamics—providing the clinical support needed before or alongside transformation work. Package options are available: 6 sessions for $840 ($140/session) or 10 sessions for $1,350 ($135/session). This bridges grief counseling and coaching while keeping you focused on eventual meaning-making and renewal.
3. Grief Transformation Intensive
A 3-Month Guided Journey Through the Sanctuaries of Renewal
Ideal for:
· Individuals ready to fully engage with their grief transformation
· Those seeking structured support with flexibility
· People who want dedicated time to deeply explore meaning, identity, and renewal
Program Highlights:
Month 1: Foundation & Orientation
· Two 90-minute sessions to map your grief journey and establish your sanctuary spaces
· Introduction to the seven rooms and assessment of where you currently dwell
· Development of personalized practices and rituals
· Weekly email support
Month 2: Deep Exploration
· Four 60-minute sessions focusing on the rooms calling to you most
· Exploration of existential questions and meaning-making
· Integration of unfinished business, compassion work, and identity reconstruction
· Two "in-between" 20-minute check-in calls
Month 3: Integration & Emergence
· Three 60-minute sessions supporting integration and reengagement with life
· Development of your legacy vision and purpose moving forward
· Creation of ongoing practices and structures for continued growth
· Final 90-minute session: celebrating transformation and planning next steps
The 3-Month Grief Transformation Intensive is a $2,400 investment in your healing journey. This includes 9 deep, personalized sessions plus ongoing support as you navigate the seven rooms of the Sanctuaries of Renewal at your own pace. Most clients find this represents life-changing value at approximately $200 per session—less than they might spend in traditional therapy, but with a focus on meaning-making, identity reconstruction, and creating a life that honors both your loss and your future. Payment plans are available: pay in full for $2,400 (includes a $100 bonus resource package), spread over 3 months at $850/month ($2,550 total), or over 6 months at $450/month ($2,700 total).
4. Step Into Renewal: Weekend Grief Retreat by the Sea
A Transformative 2-Day Immersive Experience
Who are you becoming after loss? What new meaning can emerge when you're held by nature, creativity, and community?
This intensive weekend retreat brings the Sanctuaries of Renewal Inner Roadmap to life through immersive, multi-sensory experiences in a coastal sanctuary. Gather by the ocean and among the trees to honor the past, anchor in the present, and gently shape a hopeful future.
What Makes This Retreat Unique:
· Co-created experience: Select from resources and activities that resonate with you
· Nature immersion: All meals and breaks outdoors; ocean and forest settings
· Multiple healing modalities: Art, ritual, movement, writing, and contemplative practice
· Tangible takeaways: Create a personal memory totem and guided memory book
· Technology integration: Optional digital memory wall for preserving your journey
· Inclusive spirituality: Space for all beliefs and meaning-making approaches
· Small group size: Maximum 25 participants for intimate community
· Trauma-informed facilitation: Grounding, choice, and emotional safety throughout
The Retreat Experience:
Day 1: Understanding, Expression & Remembrance
· Welcome circle with intention setting and mindful centering
· Grief education session normalizing your experience
· Personal memory totem creation with natural and art materials
· Guided memory book project with reflective prompts
· Aromatherapy and mindfulness practices
· Evening sound healing or live music
· Candlelight remembrance ceremony
· All meals served outdoors with ocean or forest views
Day 2: Renewal, Identity & Forward Movement
· Sunrise meditation or gentle yoga in nature
· Creative writing ritual: letter to self or loved one
· Resiliency and goal-setting workshop
· "Who Am I Now?" guided visualization and creative expression
· Identity collage, self-portrait, or nature metaphor creation
· Existential dialogue on meaning-making and transformation
· Collaborative memorial creation (ocean release, tree planting, group art)
· Closing integration circle and farewell ritual
What You'll Take Home:
· Completed personal memory book capturing stories, lessons, and affirmations
· Handcrafted memory totem as a symbol of your journey
· Access to digital memory wall (if you participated)
· Comprehensive resource packet with grief education and resiliency exercises
· New practices and rituals for ongoing healing
· Connection with a supportive community of fellow travelers
· Renewed sense of identity and purpose moving forward
Step Into Renewal: Weekend Grief Retreat by the Sea
is a $695 investment per person for this transformative weekend experience. This all-inclusive price covers two full days of programming, all meals served outdoors in nature, comprehensive materials and art supplies, personal memory totem creation, guided memory book project, access to the digital memory wall, and complete resource packet—all facilitated in an intimate group of maximum 25 participants. Early bird pricing of $625 is available for those who register 60+ days in advance. A limited number of scholarship spots at $495-$550 are available for those with financial need. (Note: accommodations are not included; participants arrange their own lodging.)
Upcoming Dates: [List dates or visit website for current schedule]
5. Group Coaching: The Grief Transformation Circle
6-Week Small Group Journey (Maximum 8 participants)
Focus: Community-based exploration of the Sanctuaries of Renewal with peer support
Ideal for:
· Those who find strength in shared experience
· People seeking both structure and community
· Individuals who have moved through initial acute grief and are ready for meaning-making
· Those who prefer ongoing weekly support over intensive experiences
Program Includes:
· 6 weekly 90-minute virtual sessions
· Rotating focus through key rooms of the Roadmap
· Facilitated discussion, guided reflection, and peer witnessing
· Private online community for between-session support
· Digital workbook for individual reflection
· Recorded sessions for review
The Grief Transformation Circle is a $397 investment per participant for this 6-week journey. At approximately $66 per 90-minute session, this represents exceptional value for structured support within a caring community of fellow travelers. This includes all 6 weekly virtual sessions, access to our private online community for between-session connection, a comprehensive digital workbook, and recordings of all sessions for review. With a maximum of just 8 participants, you will experience both intimate group support and individual attention. Early bird pricing of $347 is available for those who register 30+ days before the cohort begins, and payment plans of 2 installments ($210 each, $420 total) are available.
Ready to Begin?
The journey through grief is not one you should walk alone. Whether you're standing at the threshold, deep in the middle rooms, or emerging into new life, I'd be honored to companion you.
Next Steps:
1. Schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation to discuss your needs
2. Complete a brief intake questionnaire about your loss and what you're seeking
3. Begin your journey through the Sanctuaries of Renewal at your own pace
Contact
Susan Sterkenberg, PhD
Founder: Catalyst for Renewal: Career and Life Transitions Coaching | Grief Coaching
Email: pennsusan01@outlook.com
Website: www.catalystforrenewalstudio.com
"Grief is not something to get over. It's something to walk through
--and discover who you're becoming on the other side."
