We were lucky to catch up with Quantrilla Ard recently and have shared our conversation below.
Quantrilla, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Grief manifests in various ways. Typically, we push it to the side or tuck it away to deal with it at a more opportune time, only to realize that time never comes. As someone familiar with many types of grief, I held on to the lessons I’d learned and the strategies I was given because who really wants to talk about grief and loss? Little did I know that grief and loss are on our minds much more often than any of us wants to admit. For years, I have walked alongside countless friends, family members, and others, helping them name, navigate, and reframe their grief journeys, and the older I become, the more I witness the need for this type of work in a more formal, structured way. I get to share my story and the strategies that have helped me with others, providing a path forward through one of life’s most difficult challenges – grief and loss.
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?
I came into this work through my grief journey, beginning with the loss of my mother. That journey was compounded with several additional losses, including a miscarriage and an unexpected move that uprooted our family’s life. I offer grief coaching that helps people name their grief, identify grief norms that shape their process, and reframe grief from a big, scary monster to a companion and teacher.
I use strategies from my personal experience and education in Health Psychology that walk them through practical coping skills and empowerment that do not lessen the pain, but allow them to gain a sense of control over their responses to their grief journey and grieve well. I help fellow grievers get unstuck and accompany them with grace and understanding.
What I am most proud of is that this work is rooted in experiential knowledge and what I have observed coming alongside other grievers through the years. While I am still navigating my own grief (meaning I haven’t figured it all out yet lol), you will be working with someone who is just a few steps ahead, reaching back to lend a hand. I want folks to know that they are not alone in their grief and that nothing they are doing or experiencing is wrong or bad – grief is a normal, human response to loss. My mission is to show them the healthiest way to navigate their loss while validating and honoring it every step of the way.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I am a huge believer in the authentic sharing of stories and experiences. The majority of my growth has resulted from doing just that. Another huge area of audience growth I’ve observed comes from engaging with people who bring you joy and encourage your personal well-being. I’ve gained so many new friends this way! I love having conversations in the comments section, and it organically creates community in the most beautiful and unexpected ways. Be generous with your love on social media, and it will return to you tenfold. Also, to note, this is a slower process, but a genuine one. The people you develop real relationships with are the ones who stay and engage with you as well.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
One of the things I believe helped build my reputation within my market is storytelling. The coaching and strategic consulting I am engaged in require this skill. Your audience needs to know you are credible and that you can be trusted with whatever they are coming to you for. Whether a physical product or a service, connecting with your audience through storytelling makes it personal. Although I have the professional credentials to offer coaching services, that isn’t what draws people in. It is my story, my personal, lived experience that solidifies and validates the value of what I offer. I’ve often heard the phrase, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” This is the core of why I show up in this space as a grief coach and why my story is such an important part of that work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thephdmamma.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quannyboo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thephdmamma
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quantrilla-ard-phd-mph-mphil-chw-96b2374/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/qyard08
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@quantrillaardthephdmamma
- Other: https://www.threads.net/@quannyboo?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Image Credits
Quantrilla Ard