Dr. Heidi

Dr. Heidi Horsley (click here for CV) is a bereaved sibling and internationally known grief expert. She was recently on ABCs 20/20 as a guest expert helping audiences understand the complexities of the grief process. Dr. Heidi is a Licensed Psychologist and Social Worker. She hosts the syndicated talk radio show, Healing the Grieving Heart, which can be heard live every Thursday. This show is one of the top ranked shows on Health Voice America and is re-broadcast on the new women’s channel (Greenstone Partnership) and on World Talk Radio, the World’s Largest Radio Network. She is co-founder of the Open to Hope Foundation, and serves on the advisory board of Our Conservatory, a music library for at risk kids.

Dr. Heidi currently teaches several courses at Columbia University School of Social Work, including Grief, Loss and Bereavement. Her book, TEEN GRIEF RELIEF: Parenting With Understanding, Support and Guidance, written with her mother, Dr. Gloria Horsley, was putlished in the Fall of 2007.

Dr. Heidi works as a psychotherapist and researcher for the FDNY-Columbia University Family Guidance Program, a program that provides ongoing intervention to families of firefighters killed in the World Trade Center. In addition, she conducts ongoing workshops with 9/11 bereaved siblings. She presents numerous seminars throughout the country and conducts annual workshops at National Compassionate Friends Conferences. Dr. Heidi is in the 2007 edition of Marquis Who’s Who in America.

Dr. Heidi received her clinical training at Manhattan Psychiatric Center, St. Lukes/Roosevelt Hospital and California Pacific Medical Center in the adult and child psychiatry departments. In addition, she has a wide range of clinical experience which includes work in a university counseling center, a residential treatment center, a mental health clinic, a juvenile detention center, and several school settings.

Dr. Heidi’s academic credentials include a doctorate in psychology (Psy.D) from the University of San Francisco, a masters degree in social work from Columbia University (MSW) and a masters degree in counseling from Loyola University in New Orleans (MS).

Dr. Heidi’s research interests and publications are in the area of grief and loss. Her psychology Doctoral Dissertation was on the sudden death of a sibling, and she has published several articles on grief and loss. Dr. Heidi resides in New York City with her husband Markus and their two children.

Dr. Heidi has extensive experience doing seminars and presentations. Below you will find a list of Dr. Heidi’s public appearances:

MEDIA APPEARANCES :

Hudson Valley, NY Radio Station: WHVW AM. Bounce Back with Jillian Quinn Show. Interviewed as guest expert on Bouncing Back After Loss of A Sibling. Sept. 28th, 2009
Springdale, OH. WMKV89.3 FM. http://www.wmkv.org. Host: Sue Zimmerman. Interviewed as expert guests on Teen Grief Relief. June 26, 2008.
Gainsville, Ga – VoiceAmerica.com/The Parent’s Hour, Producer/Host: Dr. Arline Kerman, interviewed as expert guests on Teen Grief Relief, December 7, 2007.
American Israelite Journal, interviewed about the holidays and grief. Monday, December 3, 2007
Athens, GA WTNI-AM Talk Radio. Producer/Host: Barbara, interviewed about book Teen Grief Relief, November 15, 2007
Los Angeles CA CRN Talk Radio, Los Angeles, CA, Host: Jack Roberts, interviewed about all the losses brought on by CA wildfires, November 9, 2007
Gulfport, MS, WTNI Talk Radio AM 1640 / The Morning Show. Host: William Sackett & Ken Allen, interviewed about grief/loss as a result of Hurricane Katrina, November 9, 2007
Los Angeles, CA CRN Talk Radio, Los Angeles, CA. Host: Jack Roberts, interviewed about loss of one’s home in CA wildfires, October 17, 2007
Healing After A Death, Radio show guest on http://www.healthradio.net/, spoke as a grief expert on issues & clinical interventions related to the death of a family member, Feb. 26, 2007
20/20 (ABC), New York City, New York, September 8th, 2006
Sibling Loss. Radio show guest on Life After Loss, KTOE Radio, 1420 AM, Minnesota, August, 2005

SEMINARS & PRESENTATIONS

“Finding Hope Again After Loss,” The Compassionate Friends 32nd National Conference; Portland Oregon, 2009.
“What Parents Need to Know About Teen Grief,” The Compassionate Friends 32nd National Conference; Portland Oregon, 2009
“Siblings Grieve Too,” The Compassionate Friends 32nd National Conference; Portland Oregon, 2009.
“Finding Hope After Loss,” Bereaved Parents of the USA, 2009 National Gathering; New York, NY.
“Grief, Loss and Healing in The Age of the Internet,” Assoc. for Death Eduation and Counseling, ADEC 31st Annual Conference, Living Beyond Loss; Dallas TX.
“It Takes a Village: Building Networks of Support,” A loss and grief seminar for Mental Health and Medical Professionals. The National Compassionate Friends Conference; Nashville TN, July 17, 2008
“What Parents Need to Know About Teen Grief,” Workshop for parents, focusing on how to help bereaved teens and young adults. The National Compassionate Friends Conference; Nashville TN, July 2008.
“Adolescent Sibling Panel,” Moderated a bereaved teen panel for adolescents. The National Compassionate Friends Conference; Nashville TN, July 2008.
Adoption and Loss: A seminar for parents who have adopted inter nationally, Gladney Center for Adoption, The Family Education Program, July 12 2008.
Helping Teenagers Deal with Loss A seminar for healthcare professionals, Florida Hospices & Palliative Care 23rd Annual End-of-Life Symposium, Orlando Florida, March 27, 2008.
“Helping Families Continue Bonds After Loss. A seminar for the public and professionals, University of Utah College of Nursing, SLC, UT, May 13, 2008.
Letting Go of Anger Surrounding The Loss. A workshop for 9/11 bereaved siblings. FDNY Counseling Service Unit, Brentwood, NY., November 7, 2007.
Helping Teenagers Deal with Loss, A presentation for grieving teens & their parents, The Church of the Assumption, Fairport, NY, Sept. 19, 2007
Helping tenagers Deal with Loss, A seminar for professionals. University of Rochester School of Nursing. Rochester, NY, Sept. 18, 2007
Unique Aspects of Teen Grief: How Can We Help Them? A seminar for professionals. The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. NY, NY, April 11, 2007.
Coping with Sibling Loss During the Holidays, A workshop for 9/11 bereaved siblings, FDNY Counseling Service Unit, Staten Island, NY, Dec. 14, 2006
From Tragedy to Triumph: Healing after Loss, A seminar for professionals. The Institute for Urban Family Health, NY, NY, Dec. 11, 2006
Adolescent Bereavement Interventions, Columbia University Human Behavior Social Environment, Social Work Class, guest lecture, November 15, 2006
Working with Bereaved Individual’s Impacted by Terrorism and Trauma, Columbia University Contemporary Social Issues Course, Social Work Class, guest lecture, November 2, 2006
Healing the Broken Bond: Mourning Pregnancy Loss. A Workshop for individual’s who have suffered a pregnancy loss and professionals who work in the field. Columbia University Center for Women’s Reproductive Care, NY, NY, October, 18th, 2006
“Reflections of Our Journey,” Workshops focusing on the last 5 years, for 9/11 bereaved siblings, FDNY Counseling Service Unit, Fort Totten, Queens, NY, August 29th, 2006; Staten Island, NY, August 15th, 2006
“Making the Best of the Worst: A Message of Hope for Grieving Teens,” A workshop for professionals, The National Compassionate Friends Conference, Deerborn, MI, July 2006
“Adolescents/Young Adults Grieve Too,” Workshops for parents, focusing on how to help bereaved teens and young adults. National Compassionate Friends Conferences, Deerborn MI, July 2006; Boston MA, July 2005; Atlanta GA, July 2004
“Children Grieve Too”, Workshops for parents, focusing on how to help bereaved children. National Compassionate Friends Conferences, Deerborn MI, July 2006; Boston MA, July 2005; Atlanta GA, July 2004
“Bereaved Adult Sibling Workshops,” National Compassionate Friends Conferences, Deerborn, MI, July 2006; Boston MA, July 2005; Atlanta GA, July 2004
“Anger After a Sibling Death,” Workshop’s focus is on the legitimate anger that bereaved 9/11 siblings have, and productive ways to manage and channel those feelings, FDNY Counseling Service Unit, Staten Island NY, May 1, 2006
“Helping Families Continue Bonds After Death:” A Florida Hospice Palliative Care Webinar, May 31, 2006
Continuing Bonds After the Death of a Sibling, Workshops for 9/11 bereaved siblings, FDNY Counseling Service Unit, Long Island NY, March 4th, 2006; Staten Island NY, Dec. 8th, 2005
Siblings The Forgotten Mourners,Interactive workshops exploring the unique issues of 9/11 bereaved siblings, FDNY Counseling Service Unit, Long Island, NY, November 5th, 2005; Staten Island NY, October 29th, 2005
What to Say When There is Nothing to Say,A workshop for professionals, The National Compassionate Friends Professional Day, Boston MA, July 2005
Adolescent Sibling Panel,vModerated a bereaved teen panel for adolescents. The National Compassionate Friends Conference, Boston MA, July 2005
Adolescent Bereavement, Research Findings, Columbia University Foundations Social Work Course, guest lecture, April, 2004 & October, 2003
Adolescent Grief,vColumbia University HBSE Social Work Course, guest lecture, March 2004
Parenting Workshops, FDNY/Columbia University Family Assessment Program, focusing on parenting issues with bereaved FDNY widows, 2004 & 2003
Child Bereavement, Columbia University HBSE Social Work Course, guest lecture, November, 2003
Issues of Grief and Loss, University of San Francisco, inservice training seminar for psychology doctoral students, 2000 & 1999
Issues of Grief and Loss in the Therapy Session, guest lecture for masters level clinicians, University of San Francisco, 1999
Effective Uses of Positive Discipline, provided training to parents to improve communication and discipline, Presidio Child Development Center, 1999 & 1998, San Francisco, CA

Dr. Heidi Horsley, PsyD, LMSW, MS
Columbia University – Adjunct Professor
Radio Show CO-Host – http://thegriefblog.com/
FDNY-CSU/Columbia University Family Guidance Program – http://fdnycolumbia.org/new/
Grief Consultant
heidi@thegriefblog.com