My name is Mike Wadel and I have been a grief recovery specialist since 2004. I was trained and mentored by former National and International Grief Recovery Method Trainer, the late Dr. Nancy Martin.
My grief recovery journey began when Nancy came to my office asking me to produce a video for her (my wife and I own an ad agency) about grief recovery... and because she had a non profit, she wanted it for FREE. As I rolled my eyes and scrambled to find excuses as to why I was just too covered up to help her "at this time", she asked me not to make a decision until I took her class to see what she was talking about. My will power gave way and I attended the class, intent on it being a fact finding mission... and boy did I find facts.
The fact was that I was living my life out of a broken heart.
The fact was that a heart attack at 26 years old, two divorces, devestated children, broken relationships, business struggles, by-pass surgery, betrayal, a 100 lb weight gain and a whole list of destructive bad habbits and life threatening addictions were symptoms of the undiagnosed emotional cancer that had kept me in a perpetual spiral of self destructive behavior, mood swings and bad choices.. I had always felt as though I was meant to soar, but instead I kept nailing my feet to the floor.
And perhaps most sadly, the fact was that I couldn't see how my unpredictible behavior kept the people I cared about consistantly on edge and pulling away.
The fact was I needed The Grief Recovery Method, and didn't have a clue.
You see, I thought I had dealt with the hurts I had experienced... I learned to suck it up and be strong. I learned when I experienced a loss, hurt or regret, I just held it inside where no one could see and I quickly replaced what was gone with another relationship or changed the situation entirely... after all, big boys don't cry.
Through this grief recovery program, I was shown that the tools I had been given to navigate the ups and downs of life were myths. I quickly realized that if I was ever going to rise out of the perpetual funk I was in, I had to learn to let go and move on... and that is where my journey began. Through the program I was given action steps that made sense and a plan to regain the quality of life I so desired. Needless to say, Nancy got the video for FREE.
Through her guidance and inspiration, I found my calling and have taught these principles in the US, Kenya, Uganda, Russia and the Ukraine. I hold a Masters Degree with Distinction in Pastoral Counseling and am executive director of the Chattanooga Center for Grief Recovery where we offer Grief Support "One on One" as well as 8 session "Grief Recovery Support Groups". We peroidacally hold specialty classes and seminars in "Pet Loss" and "Helping Children With Loss". As an Advanced Level II Grief Recovery Specialist, I am certified to provide "On-Line, One on One" grief support as well as offer "2 day Grief Recovery Personal Workshops" both Online and In Person. I also serve the Grief Recovery Institute as a GRM Specialist Trainer, and offer private trainings, workshops, webinars and more.
That's my story. I'd really love to hear yours.
Mike
Through the internet, I have been able to reach well beyond our geographical boundaries and bring this lifechanging program to people like you, all around the world.
But I am very accessable for in person classes for anyone in the Southeast United States or Central Florida depending on the season. Chattanooga Tennessee, the Scenic City of the South serves as the hub of the many major cities in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. The Chattanooga Center for Grief Recovery is centrally located (within 2+/- hours) from Nashville Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, Birmingham Alabama, Atlanta Georgia, and Ashville North Carolina and locally serves area cities including Chattanooga, Cleveland, Athens, Dunlap, South Pittsburg and more in Tennessee; Ringgold, Ft. Olgethorpe, Chickamauga, Dalton, Rome, Trenton and surrounding areas in Georgia. My second location in The Villages Florida is a 55+ Living Resort between Ocala and Orlando.