Sitting in the Space with Mary

Send us Fan Mail In the continuation of this story Till shares her experience of having her stillborn baby and about life following. Having a team around her who knew her story and could help manage periods of anxiety were paramount. These days Till is a peer supporter through Red Nose which offers and provides support in various ways to couples and families who have had a pregnancy or an infant l...

Send us Fan Mail October is the month for commemorating pregnancy and infant loss. My mission is to continue to highlight the support available to women and families who suffer the loss of their baby from the early weeks of gestation, through to full term. Red Nose is an organisation who does amazing work with families who suffer these losses and this episode is Part One from the personal experien...

Send us Fan Mail There are times in the course of our lives when we need to feel the feelings and recognise that we all experience losses and hence will grieve. Insights in this episode from pastoral practitioner and counsellor Lynette Adams who shares her sensitivity and insight into this tricky human condition of grieving. I welcome you to a gentle discussion of the topic. References from episod...

Send us Fan Mail The cancer experience for all patients is unique. With breast cancer in particular, there are many different stages and variations of the disease and so too treatment options and felt side effects. My guest, Luana shares her experience, and proves as encouragement to be proactive in breast cancer screening, and the trusting in the good medical care on offer here in Australia. Ment...

Send us Fan Mail Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is the specialised small group led training for those of us who work in the Spiritual Care and Pastoral Care fields. This long distance interview with Michelle Benjamin is worth the little bit of static ... Unable to get Michelle face to face for this interview, I was still delighted that over the phone she was able to beautifully convey some of t...

Send us Fan Mail If someone at our workplace is experiencing BIG emotions what do we do... are we worried that by acknowledging it they may become flooded or overwhelmed? Do we have the time to give a colleague, friend or patient we are working with a micro moment of attentive presence? What might happen if we do? These are some of the questions Karlee Guest discusses in this episode. Karlee is a...

Send us Fan Mail Police Chaplains provide spiritual, emotional and wellness support to members of the Police Force. In this sharing by David, we learn of the challenges and rewards of working in remote areas of WA as well as some traumatic situations. David's open reflections are inviting and warm-hearted. It is wonderful to Sit together in this Space for the commencement of Season 2. Referen...

Send us Fan Mail An exciting and varied line up of guests for this season!  The first episode is coming to air next Wednesday 12th March, where I'll be sharing a conversation with one of the Western Australian Police Force Chaplains, David Ladner.  Tune in to discover the unique role Police Chaplains play in supporting the Police Force. Support the show Please contact me if you would like to...

Send us Fan Mail Mother's Day can be tough when you miss Mum, even when they can be Hard task Masters, can't remember who you are anymore, or have been gone for a long... long... time now.  This episode is brought forward a week, while the theme of Mother's Day  is still current as it falls in the month of May in Australia.  The guests sharing about their mums are Lynette Adams, Kim...

Send us Fan Mail Please don't be put off by this title!  Mums are unique and so too are our relationships with them... Just experiencing Mother's Day 2024 is cause for great celebration of the role of motherhood, and an opportunity to reflect on what our mothers have done for us. Part one of this theme has 3 guests who share the good memories and lessons they learned from  their mums.......

Send us Fan Mail Nurse Manager of a busy Birth Suite - Joan Cunningham brings her steadfast wisdom, experience and compassion to the couples in her care.  This episode focus is on the care provided by midwifes when supporting couples experiencing pregnancy loss. The introduction to this topic from the perspective of the care-givers is I hope, a gentle way to open the conversation a little more aro...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I invite you on a journey of discovery with the wise and gentle Nat Kay, into the world of Somatic psychology and spiritual insights.  Natalie has for over a decade developed her practice by exploring the interplay between bodily awareness and curiosity to enhance connections within client relationships.  This conversation is for those who wish to attune to their o...

Send us Fan Mail Bob is an inspiration in the manner in which he recognised and reached out for help following the sudden death of his wife Amanda in October 2022.  Realising that grief can not be out-run he trialled a number of supports,  tools, theories and activities to help himself work through challenging emotions. His story about the life  shared with his beautiful and talented wife is  ende...

Send us Fan Mail Brent had some signs and symptoms of Colorectal cancer, but at the youngish age of 43 years was shocked to realise that he needed extensive treatment to deal with this cancer.  Family and community surrounded him with love and support and he now reflects  on prioritising family time,  being more present and finding the things to bond over. Support the show Please contact me if you...

Send us Fan Mail Dr Ian Simms, providing some insight into the rewarding role of pastorally caring for the frail, aged and often isolated members of our community in aged care. Ian says "There is something about Pastoral Care that contributes to the wholeness of the person" which looks beyond only the medical concerns. This episode explores the initiatives  Connect  the 40% : Linking the...

Send us Fan Mail Kathy, her husband and daughters fiercely stand behind their son and brother who suffered a life altering injury 10 years ago. The story of triumph over adversity and 'normality' in this episode is heartwarming and inspiring. In Kathy's words, "He survived that accident for a reason, and I was going to help him be the best person he could possibly be."  Su...

Send us Fan Mail Peter Bothe, much loved and respected Secondary College Principal took on the challenge of cancer treatment against tough odds.  In this episode he shares the 'behind the scenes' of what that was like, and what kept him going.   Support the show Please contact me if you would like to listen to a certain aspect of the emotional experience around medical diagnosis, treatme...

Send us Fan Mail Reference to Fran will be made by many people who have worked in the field of Pastoral Services in WA as I indeed do.  And why she begins this conversation of, Sitting in the Space, of difficult situations and emotions. Fran has worked as a Pastoral Services Practitioner for over 16 years. She currently manages a team of Practitioners who provide emotional and spiritual support to...

Send us Fan Mail Launching Sitting in the Space. Hello!  After many years of meeting patients and medical & care staff in hospitals, I have come to know that we as humans share common experiences.  It is a tough Space to be in. As a patient it can be frightening receiving news of a diagnosis, it can be frustrating waiting for surgery and the time it takes to heal, and for each of us, how do we...