The day I lost my first husband to suicide, I felt like the world had stopped. A grief so raw and overwhelming - especially at five months pregnant. I didn't know how to breathe around it. I thought my life was over too.
But that wasn't the first time I'd faced loss. I'd lost my dad at 20 and my mum at 34. Life had taught me early that grief doesn't follow rules, timetables, or expectations.
Those losses didn't just shape me - they showed me how completely grief can unravel a person, and how much it matters to have someone beside you who isn't trying to hurry you along or tidy it up. That's why I created Afterglow.
I work with people holistically - which means we don't just talk about grief, we work with the whole of you. Your body, your nervous system, your sense of who you are now and who you're becoming. At your pace, in your own way.
I know grief doesn't go away. There's no quick fix, and I'll never pretend otherwise. But I also know - from my own life and from the people I've sat with - that it is possible to feel steadier. To take small steps forward. To find meaning and even moments of light alongside the loss.
I offer:
• 1:1 Coaching - tailored to your journey, whether you're just starting to seek support or looking for something more sustained
• Afterglow Circles & The Afterglow Collective - small, intimate group spaces to share, reflect, and connect with others who truly understand
• In-person sessions in Liverpool, in calm and grounding spaces - or online, so support can reach you wherever you are
Alongside Afterglow, I run LoveLossDiscoballs - a greeting card business inspired by life, love, and loss. It reminds me every day that even after profound grief, life can hold beauty, creativity, and connection. I bring that same belief into every session I offer.
I would be honoured to walk alongside you - a calm, safe space to feel, reflect, and gently find your own afterglow.
My Story
How I’m Trained to Support You
My training is grounded in the belief that grief deserves more than a checklist.
I'm a Trauma-Informed Holistic Grief Coach, having completed the Holistic Grief Coach Certification®, accredited by both the ACCPH and the IPHM. My training focused on supporting people through grief in a safe, compassionate, and trauma-aware way - both one-to-one and in group settings.
Grief coaching isn't therapy or counselling - we don't revisit or delve into past trauma. Instead, we work forward together using a holistic approach, supporting the whole of you: mind, body, and spirit. As part of my certification, my coaching sessions were reviewed and assessed, and I work within clear ethical boundaries - including recognising when coaching is the right support, and when someone might benefit from therapeutic or clinical care alongside or instead of our sessions.
This work matters to me, and I take the responsibility of holding space for grief seriously. I'm always learning, always reflective, and I bring both professional training and lived experience of profound loss to every session - which shapes how I show up: gently, honestly, and always at your pace.
If you're unsure whether coaching is right for you, I offer a free, no-obligation call to explore what support might feel most helpful. 🧡
“I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with Rachel on a weekly basis for six months. What truly sets her apart is the combination of her lived experience and her deep knowledge of grief and related fields. She is deeply trauma-informed and consistently creates a sense of safety, even in the most vulnerable moments. Rachel has an amazing ability to listen beyond words and gently translate my loose feelings and scattered thoughts into something that makes sense. She has also been a profound source of inspiration in showing how grief and sorrow can be transformed into something meaningful, and even light. I’ve felt held, understood, and supported throughout our work together. I’m deeply grateful for the way she has walked alongside me ”