Katie Roule Cantrell
Grief companion for mothers after pregnancy and infant loss
About
When you're a bereaved mother, grief doesn't keep a convenient schedule. I've been there and I get it. Your baby should be in your arms right now, and you need to talk about them. Right. Now. Not next Thursday at 2 PM.
That's why I offer grief support differently. Instead of meeting only at scheduled times, we'll have an ongoing conversation you can come back to whenever you need it. Send me a private video, audio, or written message whenever you need to talk, any time day or night.
When my firstborn died at one day old, I was fortunate to have a few people in my life who let me talk about him whenever I needed to. That experience shaped the kind of support I want to give other grieving mothers.
When we connect, you won't ever have to ask if it's a good time or wonder whether you should keep your grief to yourself. I want to hear your baby's story, and I want you to have the experience of telling it.
We might go back and forth several times in a day. Sometimes you might not need me for a couple of days. You don't have to use a certain amount of support to make it "worth it." You'll know that I'm here and that you have somewhere to say what you need to say, when you need to say it. I won't always answer right away, but I will answer as soon as I'm able to give you the presence you deserve.
I'm not here to fix your grief. I don't think loving and missing your baby is something that needs to be fixed. I think it is something that needs to be shared. I want you to experience what it is like to tell another person the truth about your grief.
You can talk about your baby here.
That's why I offer grief support differently. Instead of meeting only at scheduled times, we'll have an ongoing conversation you can come back to whenever you need it. Send me a private video, audio, or written message whenever you need to talk, any time day or night.
When my firstborn died at one day old, I was fortunate to have a few people in my life who let me talk about him whenever I needed to. That experience shaped the kind of support I want to give other grieving mothers.
When we connect, you won't ever have to ask if it's a good time or wonder whether you should keep your grief to yourself. I want to hear your baby's story, and I want you to have the experience of telling it.
We might go back and forth several times in a day. Sometimes you might not need me for a couple of days. You don't have to use a certain amount of support to make it "worth it." You'll know that I'm here and that you have somewhere to say what you need to say, when you need to say it. I won't always answer right away, but I will answer as soon as I'm able to give you the presence you deserve.
I'm not here to fix your grief. I don't think loving and missing your baby is something that needs to be fixed. I think it is something that needs to be shared. I want you to experience what it is like to tell another person the truth about your grief.
You can talk about your baby here.
Packages
Grief Companionship
My core offering. Ongoing private conversations continuing month by month for as long as you want it.
One Day Together
In honor of my son's one day of life, I offer 24 hours of support at no cost to any bereaved mother who needs someone to talk to.
24 hours of grief companionship, completely free.
My son, Roscoe, lived for one day. In honor of his life, I offer one day of support to any bereaved mother who needs someone to talk to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do you support?
I support mothers whose babies have died through miscarriage, stillbirth, TFMR, neonatal or infant death, and SIDS.
Your loss does not have to be recent. You may be in the first terrible days, years into living without your child, or somewhere in between. There is no point at which too much time has passed to talk about your baby.
Your loss does not have to be recent. You may be in the first terrible days, years into living without your child, or somewhere in between. There is no point at which too much time has passed to talk about your baby.
What is your experience with loss?
My firstborn child, Roscoe, died at one day old in 2012.
I developed cervical insufficiency during my pregnancy and, despite an emergency cerclage and ten days of hospital bedrest, Roscoe was born extremely prematurely. He weighed 1 pound, 11 ounces. After initially doing well in the NICU, his condition suddenly deteriorated the following day, and he died in my arms.
I know what it is to love a child who died, and to keep being his mother afterward.
I developed cervical insufficiency during my pregnancy and, despite an emergency cerclage and ten days of hospital bedrest, Roscoe was born extremely prematurely. He weighed 1 pound, 11 ounces. After initially doing well in the NICU, his condition suddenly deteriorated the following day, and he died in my arms.
I know what it is to love a child who died, and to keep being his mother afterward.
What training do you have?
I have a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling and a certification in Compassionate Bereavement Care. I have been trained in peer support as well as grief companioning.
During graduate school, I created and taught a training for fellow master's level counselors in how to care for women after miscarriage.
During graduate school, I created and taught a training for fellow master's level counselors in how to care for women after miscarriage.
How does ongoing support work?
We'll stay connected through Marco Polo, a free app that lets us exchange private video, audio, and written messages without having to both be available at the exact same time.
You can send me a video when you want to talk face-to-face, and audio message when you don't feel like being on camera, or write to me when that feels easier. You can reach out when something is actually happening, rather than trying to save it fotr an appointment later.
I'll respond through Marco Polo, too, and our conversation will continue from wherever we left off. If you don't already use the app, I'll send you a link to download it and connect with me when your support begins.
You can send me a video when you want to talk face-to-face, and audio message when you don't feel like being on camera, or write to me when that feels easier. You can reach out when something is actually happening, rather than trying to save it fotr an appointment later.
I'll respond through Marco Polo, too, and our conversation will continue from wherever we left off. If you don't already use the app, I'll send you a link to download it and connect with me when your support begins.
When will you respond to my messages?
You can send me messages whenever you want, day or night. You will have the choice to send video recordings, audio recordings, or written messages, depending on what makes you most comfortable and feel most connected.
I won't always answer right away, but I will almost always respond within 24 hours, and usually MUCH sooner. When I respond, you'll have my full attention. I'll remember what you've told me, and we'll pick up where we left off.
Sometimes we might go back and forth several times in a day. Other times you might not hear from me until later that day or the next. Part of what I wnt this support to be is one real person being there for another, while we are both living our lives.
I won't always answer right away, but I will almost always respond within 24 hours, and usually MUCH sooner. When I respond, you'll have my full attention. I'll remember what you've told me, and we'll pick up where we left off.
Sometimes we might go back and forth several times in a day. Other times you might not hear from me until later that day or the next. Part of what I wnt this support to be is one real person being there for another, while we are both living our lives.
Is this therapy?
No, this is not therapy. After completing my master's degree in counseling, I made a deliberate choice not to pursue licensure as a therapist, and offer a different kind of support.
There are times when therapy, psychiatric care, medication or other clinical services are deeply important. But I don’t believe grief itself needs to be treated as a disorder. Grief is a human response to losing someone we love, and our grief-averse culture gives us far too few places to express our grief openly, and for as long as we need.
That's the kind of space I offer here.
There are times when therapy, psychiatric care, medication or other clinical services are deeply important. But I don’t believe grief itself needs to be treated as a disorder. Grief is a human response to losing someone we love, and our grief-averse culture gives us far too few places to express our grief openly, and for as long as we need.
That's the kind of space I offer here.