Episode 288: The Power of Communication in Relationships with Heather Browne Artwork

Beyond the Loss: Life and Identity After a Child Dies

Over time, the conversations we choose to have begin to reflect what matters most.

If you’ve been part of this podcast, you’ve heard me speak about human development, systems thinking, and the ways we make meaning of our lives and work. That work continues—and remains at the core of my coaching and professional practice.

What has changed is the space where I am choosing to have a different kind of conversation.

After the death of my son, Michael, I felt called to create a more personal place—one that speaks directly to the experience of loss, and to the questions that emerge when life no longer looks the way it once did.

That space is now Beyond the Loss.

This podcast is for parents who have lost a child, and for those who support them. It is not about fixing grief or finding closure, but about understanding how we continue to live, to make meaning, and to become—after loss.

If you are looking for my current podcast,
you will now find me there.

I invite you to join me on Beyond the Loss.

You are welcome.

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Beyond the Loss: Life and Identity After a Child Dies

Episode 288: The Power of Communication in Relationships with Heather Browne

April 10, 2024 • Sharon Spano • Episode 288

0:00 | 50:51

Communication is a powerful tool in any relationship that can define positive or negative outcomes depending on how it’s approached. There are so many factors that influence how we communicate, namely, technology, intention, emotions, timing, and so much more! At the end of the day, the words are just the vessel for the expression of thoughts and feelings and the sooner we reverse the backward way in which we communicate, the stronger our relationships will become.

Today, psychotherapist and author, Dr. Heather Browne joins us to discuss how powerful communication can be in relationships. Heather was inspired to become a therapist by her paranoid schizophrenic mother and her passion for wanting to help people. She believes we communicate backward and aims to help her clients (and the world) learn how to understand each other and become curious about communication.

In this episode, we break down four critical questions to ask before having a conversation, how the digital age has changed the way we communicate, why texting is for information not conversation, how COVID has changed relationship-related issues, and so much more! Be sure to tune in to learn some powerful communication tools, where you can find Heather’s book, and how to connect with her to transform your relationships.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

Heather tells us about her schizophrenic mother and how she has affected her life and work.
How compassion and love helped Heather handle her mother’s paranoid episodes.
What made Heather decide to become a psychotherapist and help other people.
Why Heather thinks we communicate backwards and why we need to reframe that habit.
A breakdown of the four critical questions she suggests we ask before having a conversation.
How communication and relationships have changed since COVID and the digital age.
Why Heather believes that information is appropriate for text but conversation isn’t.
How to decide what method of communication to use when conversing with people.
Why Heather loves the phrase: “Help me understand.”

Transcript: Here

Heather Browne:

Website: drheatherbrowne.com/

Linktree: linktr.ee/drheatherbrowne

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drheatherbrowne/

TEDx: drheatherbrowne.com/tedex

Instagram: instagram.com/dr.heatherbrowne/

Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.heatherbrowne

TikTok: tiktok.com/@heathermbrowne

Sharon Spano:

Website: sharonspano.com