Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gina Moffa. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Gina, thanks for joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

As a grief and trauma therapist, I was under water during the pandemic. Before Covid-19 came, there was a study done that estimated that 57% of Americans were currently experiencing grief. That means every other person you see is greiving–– and, yes, “is” grieving in the present tense; grief never truly goes away. Spring of 2020, Covid increased that number, bringing loss to millions more doorsteps.

I was getting calls from people all over the country requesting grief therapy support, and being just one person, I could only help so much. I realized in these calls, there were so many people without access to specialized grief care, whether because of finances or location. It was a defining moment for me, when I felt powerless to help at the time. But, what it did was propel me to decide that I’d write a book that is meant for those enduring grief and loss, not just death related loss, but loss of all kinds. I wanted to give people the chance to have that access to as specialized self help as possible. And, through a mix of hard work, determination and miracles, I wound up getting a major book deal and my book, Moving On Doesn’t Mean Letting Go: A modern Guide to Navigating Grief will be out in the world this summer. It’s changed my life, my perspective and my sense of hope in being able to connect to and with people really struggling with grief. This is a gift I could never have imagined in the hardest time this planet has collectively seen in decades. Since writing my book, my entire life has opened up, and I have been connected to people in ways I’d never have dreamed and there is a beautiful grief community forming in my life. That was the hope and the goal…

Gina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a trauma informed grief therapist with a private practice in New York City. At this point in my career, I have nearly twenty years of experience working in different types of institutions in New York City, from Mt. Sinai Hospital Center to 92NY (formerly, The 92nd Street Y). I began in various social work roles and worked my way up to director positions, working with many different groups of people. This includes, in no particular order, Holocaust survivors and older adults in life transitions, low-income, inner city populations struggling to attain basic daily needs, teens and adults alike deeply challenged by addiction and trauma histories, people enduring severe mental illness diagnoses in inpatient (and outpatient) hospital settings, as well as asylum seekers trying to escape further trauma and harm- people from all walks of life, grappling with the most challenging life (and death) circumstances– these courageous humans have been my teachers. I have been immensely privileged to journey alongside them during their darkest moments.

Bringing grief and loss understanding, education and support to those who need may need it is a serious passion of mine, and I just truly want to continue to help people to feel less alone. This world has enough uncertainty, divide and pain…and we all just want to belong, feel safe and connected.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I grew up thinking I’d be a musical theatre actress. There was never a doubt in my mind that I’d be a singer. Through life circumstances and inevitably different choices, I fell into being a therapist. I’d come from a family that didn’t even believe in therapy, or reliving the past in any way, so it’s still funny to think I not only went, but became a therapist. Despite not having the path I always thought I’d take, I feel the overlap is still there– there is SO much creativity in being a therapist. And, it’s about feeling out the person in front of you with all senses, being attuned and using whatever skills, ideas, insights and innate therapeutic talent, to connect and move the person to a different place. In this way, I accomplished my childhood dream, since that’s what a stage singer/actress does when they connect with the audience. The only difference is that I get to be a traveling companion with someone on their journey, I get to see it through and it’s nothing short of privilege and honor to be in this position.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

In order to be good a therapy, coaching or any kind of real helping profession, you have to be willing to listen radically to someone– what they say and what they don’t. What their body tells you and what it tries to hide. You have to be willing to learn constantly and also be willing to be wrong. Wisdom is, after all, in whatever works!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ginamoffa.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ginamoffalcsw
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ginamoffalcsw
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginamoffa4/

Image Credits
Jenny Moloney Photography