We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jan Mitchell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jan below.

Hi Jan, thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

Hello & thank you for this opportunity! My defining moment came unexpectedly and tragically when my husband, Steve Mitchell, passed away February 27, 2017~ 2 weeks after my favorite holiday, Valentine’s Day. His death followed a spinal cord injury from a fall that resulted in a broken neck and subsequent septic complications in a healthcare establishment (read, neglect). At just 38 years old, I was suddenly a widow with a 14-month-old daughter and two older daughters ranging from tweens to teens. My life as I knew it was shattered. I was thrust into a new reality—one where I had to not only grieve the loss of my husband but also help my daughters navigate their grief.

During this devastating time, I sought therapy for our family. This helped us learn how to manage the overwhelming grief and rebuild our lives and identity. The personal process of rediscovering who I was without Steve and what my life could look like was incredibly challenging, but it also set the stage for what would come next.

Lesson Learned:
My defining moment came from the pain of loss. It taught me the profound lesson that purpose can emerge from tragedy. While I couldn’t control what happened, I could choose to heal & to move forward. By turning my grief into a mission to help others, I found a new path—one filled with purpose, healing, and service to others. It’s a reminder that even in our darkest moments, we have the power to create light, not just for ourselves, but for others as well.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Before the loss of my husband, Steve, we were a blended family of four daughters—two from my previous relationship, one from his, and our youngest daughter together. Steve and I were married for 5 ½ wonderful years and shared a deep love for community service. His passing was unexpected and devastating, and I experienced the full spectrum of grief—depression, anger, denial, and even something called “widow’s fire,” which is the ache of craving intimacy with a partner who is no longer there. There was a moment when I feared that accepting my grief would consume me completely, but instead, the opposite happened. Embracing and processing the pain set me free.

Many people see me today and think my journey was smooth, but it was anything but. I worked hard for my healing because I knew I needed to be whole—not only for myself but for my daughters. I became committed to grief wellness, working to process my emotions in a healthy way—mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

As I shared my journey, I co-authored the anthology “Suddenly Single: Surviving the Demise of Your Relationship”, which connected me with women facing the same heartbreak of becoming single, whether through breakups, divorce, or widowhood. Writing that chapter was a powerful healing experience, and it led to the creation of my first solo, but second book, “Suddenly Single: Navigating Grief While Colliding With Purpose”, which focused specifically on widows like myself. It provided practical guidance on managing life, parenting, finances, and even new love after loss. The overwhelming response I received from other widows confirmed what I had felt: younger/young”ish” widows, still raising children and building careers, were in desperate need of support.

Driven by this need, I founded She Moves Forward, Inc.™️, a nonprofit that provides grief wellness support to women who are ready to rediscover their lives after loss—whether that loss is through death, divorce, or other major life changes. I also became a certified grief coach to help women navigate this journey with both heart and expertise. It was during this time that I coined the term “heal forward™️,” which encapsulates my belief that while we cannot avoid grief, we can choose to process it in a way that leads us toward healing and a new, fulfilling life.

But my journey with grief did not end there. Shortly after launching She Moves Forward, I became a caregiver for my mother, who is battling mid-stage dementia. Caring for her reopened my heart to another layer of loss and grief, but it also deepened my empathy for caregivers, who face their own unique struggles. This led me to expand She Moves Forward, Inc.™️ to support caregivers as well. From that experience, I authored “How to NOT Go CUCKOO While Caregiving : 7 Tips to Manage Stress and Grief While Caring for Your Loved One “, a guide filled with practical tips and humor to help caregivers manage their stress and grief.

Living in a multigenerational household with my 8-year-old daughter and 7-year-old granddaughter, I saw firsthand how children, too, experience grief. To help them process it in a healthy way, my girls, Ava & Liah (granddoll) and I created “Happy Heavenly Birthday, Daddy!,” a coloring book that tells their story and allows children to express their emotions through art.

Today, She Moves Forward, Inc.™️ partners with large nonprofits to provide grief wellness education and support to both widows and caregivers. My journey—both personal and professional—has taught me that even in our darkest moments, there is a way forward. Purpose can be born from pain, and by sharing my story, I hope to give a voice to those who are still navigating their way through loss. What sets me apart is that I don’t just talk about grief & wellness; I’ve lived it. And now, I’m here to help others heal forward, too.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A major lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that my grief was more powerful than my ability to heal. After losing Steve, I found myself, years later, holding onto my grief, using it as an excuse for poor decisions and allowing it to define me.

While it’s true that grief clouds our judgment in the beginning, I eventually realized I was clinging to it, letting it define me and adopting a victim mentality. It became easy to fall back on, “I’m a widow—don’t blame me.” I had become comfortable with grief, using it as a crutch rather than a catalyst for growth.

I had to have a hard conversation with myself. I was using grief as a crutch, and that mindset wasn’t serving me anymore. I had began to heal & I needed to allow myself to embrace wellness just as I had allowed myself to embrace my grief. However, I kept denying my progress because it didn’t “feel fair” to heal & grow…without Steve. It wasn’t until I chose to accept & embrace the healing that had taken place and stop leaning on my grief that I began to truly move forward. This shift required me to stop doing it all on my own and allow myself to ask for help, embrace support, and trust in the power of healing.

Through this, I learned that while grief is a part of my journey, it doesn’t have the right to control my ability to heal and live fully.

Similarly, I had to unlearn the mindset of doing everything on my own. As a single mom and later a wife, I was used to being self-reliant. After Steve’s passing & since becoming a caregiver, I found myself needing to balance my resilience with allowing myself to seek support. This journey has taught ( & continues to teach) me that while strength and independence are crucial, embracing help and community is equally important, something I also share with my clients in their journey to grief wellness.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Other than training and knowledge, the most helpful element for succeeding in my field is empathy. Working in grief wellness, especially as someone who helps people navigate loss, requires a deep understanding of human emotions and the ability to connect with others on a profound level. Clients need to feel seen, heard, and understood, and that only comes from a place of genuine empathy.

Empathy allows me to create a safe and non-judgmental space for clients, where they can express their deepest pain and emotions. It helps me listen more effectively, intuitively understand their needs, and tailor my support to their unique journey. It’s not just about having the right words or strategies—it’s about truly being present with someone in their pain, validating their experiences, and guiding them through their healing process in a compassionate way.

Another essential factor is authenticity. Sharing my own story of loss and the challenges I’ve faced as a widow and caregiver has allowed me to build trust with my clients. Being authentic means showing up as my true self, embracing vulnerability, and offering support from a place of lived experience, not just theory. This creates a deeper connection and inspires clients to move forward in their own healing journeys.

Lastly, resilience is key. Supporting others through grief can be emotionally demanding, so maintaining my own emotional and mental well-being is vital. It requires me to practice what I preach—prioritizing self-care, setting boundaries, and continually processing my own grief journey. This resilience enables me to stay grounded and present for my clients, helping them to “heal forward” even in the most challenging times.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shemovesforwardinc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_janmitchell/profilecard/?igsh=cWV2eHhidjd4M2pq
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffani.ari?mibextid=zLoPMf
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-mitchell-30a339158?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app

Image Credits
Michelle Lineka Co. Joni Streit Photography