Revolutionizing the Way We Talk About Grief – Exclusive Interview with Karen Bulinski Mathison
- Brainz Magazine
- Sep 23
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 1
Karen Bulinski Mathison is the founder and CEO of The Naked Grief, LLC, and a grief coach, death doula, and content creator based in Camden, DE. With a master's in mental health and wellness and advanced certifications in grief, coaching, and art therapy, she brings both professional insight and personal understanding to her work. Having navigated multiple profound losses herself, Karen's approach is honest, compassionate, and refreshingly real. She's the creator of the Grief Garden children's stories and is dedicated to transforming pain into purpose. Through her writing, programs, and heartfelt advocacy, Karen empowers others to find hope and healing after loss.
Karen Bulinski Mathison, CEO, Grief Coach, Death Doula
Who is Karen Bulinski Mathison?
I am a solo parent and widow, raising two boys with the loving support of my mom who lives just a few minutes away (it truly takes a village, and three spirited cats). Seven years ago, I lost my husband at 40 years of age, the father of my children and my partner in life. My journey through grief began before living it though, having worked in the death care industry for more than three years prior to becoming a widow. Since the death of my husband, I have lost my father, grandmother, pet, and the first and last man I ever loved (first in my 20s and after widowhood at 45).
Navigating my own grief journey began with me returning to school and earning a Graduate degree in Mental Health and Wellness with an Emphasis in Grief and Bereavement, along with postgraduate certificates and certifications in life coaching, death doula, art therapy, emotional trauma first aid, and traumatic grief. I have found that my greatest passion is helping others navigate their own grief journeys. My approach is rooted in lived experience, professional training, and a deep belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and supported as they heal.
What inspired you to start The Naked Grief?
The Naked Grief began back in 2012 with a simple ladybug poem, just a small spark of hope during a dark time. Over the years, it's grown and transformed, just like I have. What started as a quiet, creative outlet has become a mission, to create a space where people can be real about their pain and find meaning in the messiness of loss.
How do you define "healing" after loss?
Healing isn't about "getting over" grief, it's about learning how to carry it more comfortably. Grief never truly disappears, but we can soften its edges. For me, healing means finding new ways to let love be present, even when it hurts. It's about honoring what we've lost while giving ourselves permission to keep living and loving, just in a different way.
What makes your approach to grief different from traditional grief counseling?
I'm a coach, not a counselor, and I lead with both my lived experience and my education. Every week, I share evidence-based practices alongside what's actually worked for me in real life. I'm open about my own story because I believe vulnerability invites others to share theirs. Grief is so personal, every relationship and loss is unique, but we all need to know we're not alone. By sharing best practices and honest stories, we help each other stand a little taller, feel more supported, and truly be seen and heard.
Who benefits most from your support communities and programs?
My support communities are for anyone who's experienced loss, whether it's fresh or years in the past, and especially for those who feel like their support system has faded or just "doesn't get it" anymore. So many people need a space where they can talk about sensitive dates, sudden waves of sadness, or memories that still sting, without feeling rushed to "move on" or getting the dreaded eye roll.
The lifeline extends through churches, hospice teams, funeral homes, and cemeteries, letting me step in where they may not be able to reach, bridging the gap when schedules or time zones make connection difficult. And for businesses, offering The Naked Grief as a mental health resource provides employees vital support, at no cost to the company, showing care and understanding where many workplaces fall short. For those organizations wanting to go a step further, they can even use our engagement tracker information to offer reimbursement or extra recognition to employees who invest in their own healing, making it easy to support staff in a truly meaningful, compassionate way.
My programs are self-paced, but they come with genuine support, a grief coach who checks in, monthly self-assessments to help spot when someone may need more guidance or a different kind of support from me, and real community connection. The support communities are affordable, costing less than most monthly gym memberships, and you don't have to worry about scheduling appointments or turning on your camera for Zoom calls. Because while every loss is unique, the feelings we experience are often shared, and having a place to connect with others who truly understand makes all the difference.
Every business or organization with people will face loss at some point. When grief isn't addressed, it can build up and spill over in unexpected ways, even something as small as a bad day at work or a credit card not working can trigger a bigger emotional response. That's why I use stories, including examples from shows like Friends, to show how stress and grief can pile up if we don't have the right support in place.
How does vulnerability play a role in the healing process?
Vulnerability is the heartbeat of healing. When we share our stories, no matter how messy or raw, we create a sense of community and support that helps everyone feel less alone. It's not about having all the answers, it's about showing up as we are, and letting others do the same.
What are the most common obstacles people face when grieving?
One of the biggest hurdles is feeling like there's a "right" way to grieve. There isn't. Everyone's path is different, and there's no map for the rough terrain of loss. Some days it's a steady climb, other days it's rocky or feels like you're walking alone.
People often think they have to follow certain steps or timelines, but what they really need are tools they can grab when they're ready. Even admitting you feel stuck and want help is a huge first step, and it's one of the hardest. My goal is to help people know it's okay to find their own way, at their own pace.
What tools or practices do you provide to help someone rediscover themselves after loss?
I blend evidence-based tools with the Grief Garden series, a collection of stories and resources that focus on emotions and the companions we meet on our grief journey, rather than rigid "stages." My goal is to help people move away from the noise of "chirpers" (those well-meaning but unhelpful voices) and toward faith, love, and hope. Love changes shape after loss, but it never disappears. Sometimes, healing is just about finding a new way to wrap your arms around that love, so the void doesn't feel quite so empty.
In what ways have you seen grief lead to personal growth?
Grief always changes us, even if it's not the kind of growth we would have chosen. Sometimes we hold onto pain because we're afraid letting go means forgetting the love or memories we shared. But real growth is learning how to move forward while still honoring what we've lost, not holding on so tightly that we forget how to live, but not letting go so much that we lose the meaning, either.
It's about finding a balance between remembering and living, and that's where the real transformation happens.
What should someone expect when they reach out to you?
The first thing I ask is for complete honesty, with themselves and with me. There's a self-assessment that helps pinpoint where they are in their grief, who or what they're missing most, and what parts of life are being affected, work, relationships, family, even daily routines.
We look at what they want to tackle first, maybe it's having better conversations with their kids, reconnecting with a partner, or just making it through the week. That first assessment helps me guide them to the right support community and gives them the tools to start empowering themselves on their own healing journey.
Karen's grief wisdom
At the end of the day, grief isn't something to hide from or "fix", it's something to honor, feel, and move through together. My mission with The Naked Grief is to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are, no masks or expectations, and find support that's both real and relatable. Whether you're just beginning your journey or carrying years of unspoken pain, you deserve to be seen, heard, and gently guided toward hope. This is what "Raw Grief, Real Healing" means to me, embracing every messy, beautiful part of the process and discovering that healing is possible, even when life feels unrecognizable. You're not alone. There's a whole community here, ready to walk with you.
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