Testimonials
Irene Smith (founder: Service Through Touch, San Francisco)
May 2, 2017
I attended a brilliant presentation last night at the Zen Hospice Project. Dr. Lyn Prashant, founder of Degriefing, spoke to a group of caregivers giving us information, tools and inspiration for being with our own or someone else's grief.. S0 what makes Lyn different? She talks on "Somatic" grief. Lyn talks about the body and how to transform our grief into fuel for life. A colleague in the 1980's we have remained in contact for over 25 years. Last night was such a sweet moment.
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Christine Brusati, CMT
Certified Level 2 Degriefing Practitioner
I am writing this letter of recommendation on behalf of Lyn Prashant. I met Lyn in 2010 when she presented an introduction to Degriefingâ to my Integrative Medicine Program class. She was so passionate about her subject matter and was a very engaging speaker. I have had the honor and privilege to study with her, assist in her trainings, and see her present at The Mourning Conference and the annual Association for Death Education and Counseling.
Lyn is very intuitive and perceptive when addressing groups. While assisting her in workshops, I have seen how she seamlessly reworks her agenda in a moment’s notice to accommodate where the group is at. This is one of her gifts and one of the main tools of Degriefingâ. She is impeccable with her word, always avails herself for follow up questions with students and attendees, and shares many of her resources, which she has gathered throughout her career. I highly recommend her as a speaker, educator and practitioner.
Sincerely,
Christine Brusati
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Alan Pedersen http://www.everashleymusic.com
Dear Gloria Horsely, I am writing to you because I met an incredible woman in Brookings, Oregon last month when we presented our workshop. The full day event included a workshop for professionals and the bereaved presented by a woman we had never heard of. At a dinner the evening before with the folks hosting the event we were able to meet Lyn Prashant and share a bit about ourselves with her and learn about her work.
Lyn’s story and background are fascinating and amazing. Currently she is a grief counselor living in San Francisco and teaches on grief at the University of California at Berkeley. She is a professional’s professional yet she can communicate grief and loss and how to process grief in simple language like no other I have heard. Lyn’s unique insight on grief and her incredible workshop on what she terms “De-Griefing” simply blew Mitch and I away. Lyn is one of the few people I have ever heard who would win the respect of an audience of bereaved parents with her message even though she has never lost a child.
This woman, whose journey into grief began with the death of her husband Mark many years ago, led her to work with Elizabeth Kubler Ross, and Stephen and Ondrea Levine. I must say Dr. Gloria, Lyn Prashant is an amazing speaker with a most powerful message to share. In all my years of doing this I would have to say that nobody has impressed me more or taught me more than what I learned in Lyn’s workshop. She is interesting, extremely knowledgeable, original, and yes even funny…she is incredible.
Lyn has been a key-note speaker at the Mayo clinic and has reached a point in her life where she wants to speak more and Mitch and I want to help her share her wonderful work with the bereaved in any way we can. After our workshops in Brookings the three of us sat down together and decided that Lyn would join us at both of our workshops in Miami and Boca Raton, Florida in November. She has an incredible heart and her knowledge of the effects of grief on the physical body as well as her insight for professionals is absolutely powerful information.
I am giving Lyn the information about the Open to Hope website as she would be a valuable contributor to the site. I will also send a copy of this to Neil. Lyn would also be a tremendous guest on Healing the Grieving Heart. We told Lyn all about you and Heidi and your work and would love for you to know her and have her as an asset to all that you do.
Blessings,
Alan Pedersen http://www.everashleymusic.com
"Lyn Knows first hand the depth of healing that grief calls for. She is committed to serving those in difficulty, and she is a highly skilled worker."
- Stephen and Ondrea Levine
Authors "Who Dies", "One Year to Live" Seminar Leaders on "Conscious Living/Conscious Dying"
"[...] Perhaps it was because of my own personal journey and what I have experienced this past year that made this one of the best workshops I have ever attended. It released many stored up tears and began the healing journey. It brought me face to face with the reality of how can we be effective in our parishes if we are not in touch with our own pain and grief. [...]
- Rose Coulter, RN, Assistant Director, Nurse Ministries Network
Read full testimonial here >
"To beautiful Lyn, you were my guiding light and angel in 2012. I shall always be grateful to have met and worked with you. You helped me find peace and grace throughout my painful and raw grieving process."
Love, love Jane xox
Jane Gould
"You are so good at all of this...your passion is wonderful...you are a gift to all those you encounter and are able to guide."
- Candi LaClair, South Norwalk Connecticut
"I am so honored to have been taught by the best to be present for my patients and families. You are the pivot that brought me back to hospice."
- Melody Coombs Albreski, Co-ordinating Supervisor Miner's Colfax Medical Center, Raton, NM
"I want to thank you for the most amazing time this morning at St Luke’s. I so thoroughly enjoyed everything you had to say, and all the things you showed us with a 'client' on the massage table.
As I mentioned, I am with the Mitchells Plain Community hospice branch, and I was delighted with your singing bowl and your mention of the tuning fork. I have used both of these in Mitchells Plain for the past two years, and once the patients got over their suspicion of me and my funny ways, they have grown to love both the bowl and the fork. Thank you for the tip of putting it on the body, I have always held it above.
So, thank you again for sharing your time and expertise and great personality with us! It was a hugely beneficial morning."
Morag Mc Allister, St. Luke's Hospice, Cape Town, South Africa
"Lyn Prashant seriously made an impact on me and the other members of the course. Her knowledge of the topic and her ability to communicate and facilitate this course was phenomenal."
- Lisa Asbury, Data Recovery Systems, Novato, CA
-You are a good Lady and do such good work, thank you and may God continue to bless you.
Sharon Belisle, Chaplain
St. Vincent’s Mercy Medical and Regional Trauma Center, Toledo, Ohio
"Lyn is the most phenomenal teacher/speaker I have had the pleasure to hear and witness in action on the subject of grief and bereavement. Her heart, knowledge and natural empathy are a refreshing model in providing tools and insight into the grieving process."
-Namaste, Mitch Cormody
"Lyn has considerable facilitating skills to help the group dynamics achieve insight."
- Rick Isaacs, Administator, Hillside Care Center, San Rafael, CA
"Lyn Prashant is amazing. Her insight and compassion are unbounded."
- Jenna McClure, Artist and Photographer, Petaluma, CA
"I also attended Lyn Prashant's session on degriefing a rural community. Lyn, if you are reading this, thank you so much for sharing your experience with us...it was very inspiring to see your concern for this community and how much time you spent asking questions and getting to know the community months before you went there."
- Cheryl Amari, MA, CT
"Congratulations! I am quite taken with your idea that "conscious caregiving" can avoid the burnout that is endemic to nursing. Best of luck developing that idea."
- Susan Dorey, San Rafael CA
....I would want you to know....
That telling me I had courage...
and to take all the time I need...
and your loving love...
guided me to profound change.
It is the most life changing miracle I have experienced.
~mermasté~
Deb Gitlin, Group Facilitator Children's Bereavement
Kara Grief Support Palo Alto, CA
"Lyn, We were quite taken with the course as well as your presentation. I hope you are still doing your meaningful work in educating people about the grieving process. I am now a hospital Chaplain, and you shared some wonderful words to help in this ministry. God Bless you."
- Kandi Mount, Bella Vista, AR
"Lyn, thank YOU for the outstanding presentation on Monday. I came away grateful you spend some of your time in San Miguel...and are here for the first moments of Hospice San Miguel. I have recommended to the board that they attend your 3 day workshop..(and will make the same recommendation to all in ear shot!! )...and after putting the Hospice care team together in the next week or so...have you develop a specialized training experience for the team. I'm sure Milou will let you know about this when our ducks are in order. I'm personally looking forward to your workshop with great anticipation... Thank you for sending the articles...they will add significantly to creating the foundation those of us involved with Hospice San Miguel need so urgently."
- Martha
Thank you again for the workshop, for your work, for sharing it. Very glad I got the opportunity. I had been looking rather longingly, at those back issues of massage and bodywork and your articles, and wondering how I could get a copy. Thank you for sending them! Just beautiful. After reading through them, I was also more impressed at how succinctly you covered all the bases, as it were, all the information vital to the work, in the space of that one, seemingly simple and clearly presented workshop. I was especially impressed with how you were able to compress such a lot of deep and important info on a subject so deep and wide, in a really easily acessible way. I am, among other things, a midwife and teacher of midwives. One of the books on my required reading list for aspiring midwives is 'Who Dies' by Stephen Levine, because I feel so deeply that the space we share coming in is very very similar to the space we share going out, and so many of the issues and the practices, and even the fears, are similar. Thanks again and i hope your foot heals quickly and well. Love,"
- Alison
"As a hospice counselor, the deep understanding and 'hands-on' empathy that Lyn brings are a tremendous comfort to herclients."
- Rick Isaacs, Administator, Hillside Care Center, San Rafael, CA
"When I took Lyn's seminar I learned to be more aware of myself as I interact with my clients and to be more aware of non-verbals and the specific relationship between somatic complaints and grief."
- Cindy G, Social Worker, Indiana
"Your class was wonderful and very powerful. I have recommended you to several people."
-Joan Lamphier, CEO, Lamphier-Gregory Oakland, CA
"Your work is moving and straight from the heart. Thank you, and God Bless You!"
- Rita Widegren, Nurse, San Rafael, CA
"I was concerned that Degriefing might be too depressing for a luncheon, but I feel great! I learned so much from your presentation. A million thanks."
- Sandy Jones, Accountant and President Fairfax Rotary Club
"Dr. Mark Schillinger, D.C., was so right when he referred me to you. You are the roto-rooter of relationship... gentle, but ruthless!"
- Maureen Shaffer, Executive, Marin County CA
"Lyn's work proved highly satisfying for all the staff who attended her in-service presentations, and very practical results are emerging on the floor of the care facility... more presence and openness and a greater understanding of the dynamics of pain in our institutional lives."
- Rick Isaacs, Administator, Hillside Care Center, San Rafael, CA
"Lyn's unique combination of wisdom, knowledge and experience from an array of disciplines enriches her work in a vitally important area. I am so proud and pleased that we are able to offer her classes at Redwood Community Education."
- Kay Slegle, Administrator of Marin County Adult Education
" I recently attended a memorial for a lovely young woman who died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism. I thought of you many times when I was at that memorial, seeing so many faces I last saw at Robert's memorials. It was bittersweet, and I missed him more that day than ever. I was keenly aware of what the grief stricken were going through as I observed the familiar, ritualized business of death. They could not really even believe what had happened. I saw it. I had written a card after I heard; and I found out that my card alone was the one that made the family feel the teensiest bit better. All I can tell you Lyn, is if that is true, it is ONLY because of the time I spent with you after Robert's death. My time with you doesn't protect me for life from the natural course of grief that will surely wind its way through my life again. But in a certain way I am more prepared, less frightened of the predictable physical and emotional manifestations that were so overwhelming after Robert died. And most of all, I am better able to truly mourn WITH someone in an authentic way, the way you did with me. That's a lot! I still miss Robert on some days like it was the first month. I think that isn't going to change if it hasn't by now.
I'm comfortable with that, in fact I count on it.
Thank you again, now almost three years later. "
With love and gratitude,
Christina Gray, Nicasio, CA.
graychristina@icloud.com
- Stephen and Ondrea Levine
Authors "Who Dies", "One Year to Live" Seminar Leaders on "Conscious Living/Conscious Dying"
"[...] Perhaps it was because of my own personal journey and what I have experienced this past year that made this one of the best workshops I have ever attended. It released many stored up tears and began the healing journey. It brought me face to face with the reality of how can we be effective in our parishes if we are not in touch with our own pain and grief. [...]
- Rose Coulter, RN, Assistant Director, Nurse Ministries Network
Read full testimonial here >
"To beautiful Lyn, you were my guiding light and angel in 2012. I shall always be grateful to have met and worked with you. You helped me find peace and grace throughout my painful and raw grieving process."
Love, love Jane xox
Jane Gould
"You are so good at all of this...your passion is wonderful...you are a gift to all those you encounter and are able to guide."
- Candi LaClair, South Norwalk Connecticut
"I am so honored to have been taught by the best to be present for my patients and families. You are the pivot that brought me back to hospice."
- Melody Coombs Albreski, Co-ordinating Supervisor Miner's Colfax Medical Center, Raton, NM
"I want to thank you for the most amazing time this morning at St Luke’s. I so thoroughly enjoyed everything you had to say, and all the things you showed us with a 'client' on the massage table.
As I mentioned, I am with the Mitchells Plain Community hospice branch, and I was delighted with your singing bowl and your mention of the tuning fork. I have used both of these in Mitchells Plain for the past two years, and once the patients got over their suspicion of me and my funny ways, they have grown to love both the bowl and the fork. Thank you for the tip of putting it on the body, I have always held it above.
So, thank you again for sharing your time and expertise and great personality with us! It was a hugely beneficial morning."
Morag Mc Allister, St. Luke's Hospice, Cape Town, South Africa
"Lyn Prashant seriously made an impact on me and the other members of the course. Her knowledge of the topic and her ability to communicate and facilitate this course was phenomenal."
- Lisa Asbury, Data Recovery Systems, Novato, CA
-You are a good Lady and do such good work, thank you and may God continue to bless you.
Sharon Belisle, Chaplain
St. Vincent’s Mercy Medical and Regional Trauma Center, Toledo, Ohio
"Lyn is the most phenomenal teacher/speaker I have had the pleasure to hear and witness in action on the subject of grief and bereavement. Her heart, knowledge and natural empathy are a refreshing model in providing tools and insight into the grieving process."
-Namaste, Mitch Cormody
"Lyn has considerable facilitating skills to help the group dynamics achieve insight."
- Rick Isaacs, Administator, Hillside Care Center, San Rafael, CA
"Lyn Prashant is amazing. Her insight and compassion are unbounded."
- Jenna McClure, Artist and Photographer, Petaluma, CA
"I also attended Lyn Prashant's session on degriefing a rural community. Lyn, if you are reading this, thank you so much for sharing your experience with us...it was very inspiring to see your concern for this community and how much time you spent asking questions and getting to know the community months before you went there."
- Cheryl Amari, MA, CT
"Congratulations! I am quite taken with your idea that "conscious caregiving" can avoid the burnout that is endemic to nursing. Best of luck developing that idea."
- Susan Dorey, San Rafael CA
....I would want you to know....
That telling me I had courage...
and to take all the time I need...
and your loving love...
guided me to profound change.
It is the most life changing miracle I have experienced.
~mermasté~
Deb Gitlin, Group Facilitator Children's Bereavement
Kara Grief Support Palo Alto, CA
"Lyn, We were quite taken with the course as well as your presentation. I hope you are still doing your meaningful work in educating people about the grieving process. I am now a hospital Chaplain, and you shared some wonderful words to help in this ministry. God Bless you."
- Kandi Mount, Bella Vista, AR
"Lyn, thank YOU for the outstanding presentation on Monday. I came away grateful you spend some of your time in San Miguel...and are here for the first moments of Hospice San Miguel. I have recommended to the board that they attend your 3 day workshop..(and will make the same recommendation to all in ear shot!! )...and after putting the Hospice care team together in the next week or so...have you develop a specialized training experience for the team. I'm sure Milou will let you know about this when our ducks are in order. I'm personally looking forward to your workshop with great anticipation... Thank you for sending the articles...they will add significantly to creating the foundation those of us involved with Hospice San Miguel need so urgently."
- Martha
Thank you again for the workshop, for your work, for sharing it. Very glad I got the opportunity. I had been looking rather longingly, at those back issues of massage and bodywork and your articles, and wondering how I could get a copy. Thank you for sending them! Just beautiful. After reading through them, I was also more impressed at how succinctly you covered all the bases, as it were, all the information vital to the work, in the space of that one, seemingly simple and clearly presented workshop. I was especially impressed with how you were able to compress such a lot of deep and important info on a subject so deep and wide, in a really easily acessible way. I am, among other things, a midwife and teacher of midwives. One of the books on my required reading list for aspiring midwives is 'Who Dies' by Stephen Levine, because I feel so deeply that the space we share coming in is very very similar to the space we share going out, and so many of the issues and the practices, and even the fears, are similar. Thanks again and i hope your foot heals quickly and well. Love,"
- Alison
"As a hospice counselor, the deep understanding and 'hands-on' empathy that Lyn brings are a tremendous comfort to herclients."
- Rick Isaacs, Administator, Hillside Care Center, San Rafael, CA
"When I took Lyn's seminar I learned to be more aware of myself as I interact with my clients and to be more aware of non-verbals and the specific relationship between somatic complaints and grief."
- Cindy G, Social Worker, Indiana
"Your class was wonderful and very powerful. I have recommended you to several people."
-Joan Lamphier, CEO, Lamphier-Gregory Oakland, CA
"Your work is moving and straight from the heart. Thank you, and God Bless You!"
- Rita Widegren, Nurse, San Rafael, CA
"I was concerned that Degriefing might be too depressing for a luncheon, but I feel great! I learned so much from your presentation. A million thanks."
- Sandy Jones, Accountant and President Fairfax Rotary Club
"Dr. Mark Schillinger, D.C., was so right when he referred me to you. You are the roto-rooter of relationship... gentle, but ruthless!"
- Maureen Shaffer, Executive, Marin County CA
"Lyn's work proved highly satisfying for all the staff who attended her in-service presentations, and very practical results are emerging on the floor of the care facility... more presence and openness and a greater understanding of the dynamics of pain in our institutional lives."
- Rick Isaacs, Administator, Hillside Care Center, San Rafael, CA
"Lyn's unique combination of wisdom, knowledge and experience from an array of disciplines enriches her work in a vitally important area. I am so proud and pleased that we are able to offer her classes at Redwood Community Education."
- Kay Slegle, Administrator of Marin County Adult Education
" I recently attended a memorial for a lovely young woman who died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism. I thought of you many times when I was at that memorial, seeing so many faces I last saw at Robert's memorials. It was bittersweet, and I missed him more that day than ever. I was keenly aware of what the grief stricken were going through as I observed the familiar, ritualized business of death. They could not really even believe what had happened. I saw it. I had written a card after I heard; and I found out that my card alone was the one that made the family feel the teensiest bit better. All I can tell you Lyn, is if that is true, it is ONLY because of the time I spent with you after Robert's death. My time with you doesn't protect me for life from the natural course of grief that will surely wind its way through my life again. But in a certain way I am more prepared, less frightened of the predictable physical and emotional manifestations that were so overwhelming after Robert died. And most of all, I am better able to truly mourn WITH someone in an authentic way, the way you did with me. That's a lot! I still miss Robert on some days like it was the first month. I think that isn't going to change if it hasn't by now.
I'm comfortable with that, in fact I count on it.
Thank you again, now almost three years later. "
With love and gratitude,
Christina Gray, Nicasio, CA.
graychristina@icloud.com
July 16, 2008
Ms. Lyn Prashant
Degriefing
P. O. Box 1501
San Anselmo, CA 94979
Dear Lyn:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your hard work and professionalism during our week-long Degriefing seminars held in our community last November.
From the initial phone conversation and continuing planning sessions we had regarding the issues in our community and the needs of our citizens, you demonstrated passion and concern for the individual needs and also the community’s needs. You worked with me and lead me through the planning process to find the best possible balance in meeting those identified needs.
Your extensive communication skills and knowledge of the grief process and its rituals was evident in the planning process, preparation of the handouts, and most importantly in the confident and competent level of presentation at each session of the seminars. Your ability to meet each person on their level and assist each person with identifying their own strengths and abilities to work through their losses was expressed to me for several weeks following the weeklong event. I cannot tell you, how impressed and happy each person was after having the opportunity to listen and participate in the sessions.
In addition, each and every person that had the opportunity to have a one-on-one session with you was so thankful to have been able to sit down with you. Each person expressed to me how helpful this was to them. Many had had recent significant losses and were having a difficult time coping with day to day events.
As the week came to an end, I witnessed you change gears in your session with our Long Term Care residents and help to bring an entire community together to end the week with our Candlelight Memorial Ceremony. The event had a definite impact of not only allowing families to have some closure to difficult events, but also allowed the opening of a new door that many had been unable, prior to your seminars, to visualize through their pain.
Thank you again for all your dedication, passion, and personal ability to touch people and assist them through difficult events. I look forward to the opportunity of working with you long into the future.
Respectfully,
Melody Albreski, RN
Director of Education
Miner's Colfax Medical Center
Raton, New Mexico
Ms. Lyn Prashant
Degriefing
P. O. Box 1501
San Anselmo, CA 94979
Dear Lyn:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your hard work and professionalism during our week-long Degriefing seminars held in our community last November.
From the initial phone conversation and continuing planning sessions we had regarding the issues in our community and the needs of our citizens, you demonstrated passion and concern for the individual needs and also the community’s needs. You worked with me and lead me through the planning process to find the best possible balance in meeting those identified needs.
Your extensive communication skills and knowledge of the grief process and its rituals was evident in the planning process, preparation of the handouts, and most importantly in the confident and competent level of presentation at each session of the seminars. Your ability to meet each person on their level and assist each person with identifying their own strengths and abilities to work through their losses was expressed to me for several weeks following the weeklong event. I cannot tell you, how impressed and happy each person was after having the opportunity to listen and participate in the sessions.
In addition, each and every person that had the opportunity to have a one-on-one session with you was so thankful to have been able to sit down with you. Each person expressed to me how helpful this was to them. Many had had recent significant losses and were having a difficult time coping with day to day events.
As the week came to an end, I witnessed you change gears in your session with our Long Term Care residents and help to bring an entire community together to end the week with our Candlelight Memorial Ceremony. The event had a definite impact of not only allowing families to have some closure to difficult events, but also allowed the opening of a new door that many had been unable, prior to your seminars, to visualize through their pain.
Thank you again for all your dedication, passion, and personal ability to touch people and assist them through difficult events. I look forward to the opportunity of working with you long into the future.
Respectfully,
Melody Albreski, RN
Director of Education
Miner's Colfax Medical Center
Raton, New Mexico
This is a letter of reference from the Shimmick construction company. A
company tragedy occured and the life of a young worker was lost. Click on the following pages of the letter to zoom in on them.
 Page 1 June 2016 Hello Lyn, Your intuition, knowledge, loving heart and grounded interface of grief were so rejuvenating to my work. I look forward to applying your thoughts, and reading more about grief—thank you for the articles and guidance! Blessings-Namaste’, Vincenza Baldino San Francisco, CA |
 Page 2 March 2016
Dear Lyn, You have to be one of a kind Lyn as compared to the many counselors write-ups I’ve viewed in the past. I read the bios of those who deal with everything vs. being specialized in one field as you are. You have an uncanny sense of perception as though you have special abilities enabling you to see right through a person’s soul. Thank you so much. Sincerely, Amber Davis, Alberta, Canada |
St Luke's Hospice
Cape Town, South Africa.
To Whom it May Concern:
Reference for Dr. Lyn Prashant
Dr. Lyn Prashant is a certified grief counsellor with 28 years’ experience in the field. She is multi-skilled having extensive training in bereavement counselling and knowledge of somatic health care practices, being a qualified physical education teacher, massage therapist, yoga instructor and grief counsellor. She has developed a very unique and successful approach to grief counselling called “degriefing”.
This approach provides relief for the emotional distress and physical discomfort that grief-related problems bring. Her approach is holistic and embodies both verbal communication techniques and somatic treatments such as massage, breathing, yoga, music therapy and self-care techniques.
Lyn teaches, lectures and writes about grief. She has worked with multi-cultural communities both professional and lay persons. She has helped many individuals and communities suffering from personal and societal multiple loss and trauma in a practical way.
Her particular passion is to teach new ways of coping with loss and grief and to prevent burnout of the care giver. She provides education courses for health care practitioners that have had great impact on the audience. Her knowledge of the topic and ability to communicate are excellent.
She is a very skilled and compassionate facilitator and is able to meet both individual and community needs.
On behalf of St. Luke’s Hospice, I would like to endorse Dr Lyn Prashant’s work as being of great value in the field of grief, loss and bereavement.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Eliza-Jane Kenyon
Mrs. Eliza-Jane Kenyon