Trainer at The Grief Recovery Institute/Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist®/Interfaith Minister/Life Coach
Email: hopefulheartsolutions@gmail.com
Phone: 631-353-7551

I can honestly say that I truly love what I do. I consider it an honor and a privilege to be with people during their most difficult and challenging times in their lives. Whether sitting across from someone either in my office or online, individually or in a group setting, I find nothing more rewarding than watching the dots connect, hearts being healed and the light coming back on in their eyes.

I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Hofstra University in 2000 in Speech-Language Pathology. I worked in various settings from hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practice, and preschool settings. While that career served me well for many years, I gradually noticed my desire to change my focus of helping others in a different way. I also became aware that whether it was close friends, colleagues, acquaintances, or strangers that people would often seek me out to talk. I can’t tell you how many times people have said to me, “I can’t believe I’m telling you this. I’ve never shared this with anyone.”

I was led to attend the world renowned One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in Manhattan, NY. Through my rigorous training, I was provided with a set of innovative tools that I have seen dramatically and effectively change people’s perspectives as well as their lives. In fact, defining spirituality and seeing how you can implement spiritual principles pragmatically and effectively into your life is often the missing piece in producing lasting and meaningful change.

As an interfaith minister, I reveled in supporting people individually, giving talks, and running workshops. Soon after, I began to have an influx of people seeking help for grief and loss. Always wanting to give the people I work with the best of the best, I set out for a separate certification through the American Academy of Grief Counseling where I became a certified Grief Coach. Going even further, I then attended even more extensive training through The Grief Recovery Institute on The Grief Recovery Method® first as a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. This is where my work really took off. As a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, I was able to help people as never before by showing them how to heal quickly from the inside out. I was then chosen to be in a selective class of Advanced Grief Recovery Specialists and have had the privilege of helping and supporting now hundreds of people through the process of Grief Recovery.

I then was invited to be part of a select group and asked to be a Trainer for The Grief Recovery Institute.  I humbly accepted and am thoroughly enjoying training others in this very powerful program, The Grief Recovery Method.

This line of work hit home for me when my younger brother suddenly and tragically died in February 2018. I thank God everyday for Grief Recovery because it allowed me to grieve my brother normally and naturally. I also had the tools to complete any unfinished business with my brother and could remember him in the way I wanted to, with deep love and fond memories.

There are many.

To date, I run groups and workshops, give lectures to other professionals on the topics of grief and spirituality as well as work intensely and individually with people and help them achieve all that life has to offer. I often pinch myself that I get to do what I love each and every day. Someone once told me, “Gwen, when you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life.”

How very true that is.

Available Programs

PRESS

 
 
 
 
  EXCELLENT  
  
 Based on 10 reviews 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 nicholas arakas 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
grief recovery was an amazing experience that I will forever be grateful for, and will recommend to all of my loved ones. thank you gwen!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Barbara Keague 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
I completed the grief recovery process with Gwen a few years ago. Unresolved grief with my moms untimely death was my focus. It was an exceptional experience. To this day I carry a sense of peace, resolve and relief when I think of my mom.
I was intrigued by the new practice of Havening that Gwen offered. I harbored painful, frightening memories of a past relationship. My dad was dying from cancer in Ireland, during this scary time in my life. I had intense feelings of sadness, anger and regret. My own traumatic experience prevented me from being totally present for my dad and siblings during this time.
Gwen guided me through particular scary and painful memories of that time, while using the Havening techniques, in an effort to reduce and resolve the fear and anxiety associated with these memories. Gwen provided a secure and calming atmosphere with her gentle voice and clear, patient direction. The experience was powerful and productive. I do not know or understand the Intricacies of this technique. What I do know is that at the end of our time together, a feeling of relief and calmness washed over me. Those feelings i was enslaved by, no longer haunt me! My perception and feelings surrounding that time have changed for the better. I have forgiven myself and my ex. I achieved freedom.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Jody Britt 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Gwen worked with me on specific childhood trauma memories with the Havening Technique. The experience felt powerful and yet at the same time safe. Her ability to create a safe space between us allowed me to access some very intense emotions and memories all while being guided gently by Gwen to process them effectively using Havening tools. I felt a good shift and a sense of calm around this particular memory. I also gained new empowering insights and thoughts about that particular time. I'm very grateful for the work I was able to to with Gwen.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Holly Strelzik 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Gwen is a pure minded, compassionate, brilliant person who thru her ability to ask open ended questions brings the client to awareness and self peace.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Erika Nadeau 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
I first met Gwen 3 years ago when I attended a 2-Day Grief Recovery Workshop. Aside from what that workshop did for me in terms of healing from the loss of my father, working with Gwen inspired me to become certified myself. Three years later, I am now a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and I have been working with Gwen in a coaching capacity. Her guidance, knowledge and support has allowed me to step through any fears I may have had. She supported me throughout my entire pilot program, and I am forever grateful for that. She will always be an important part of the support system I have created for myself so I can find my own success as a Grief Recovery Specialist. Anyone who makes the decision to work with Gwen is lucky to have her on their team.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 John Levender 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
I went into the Grief Recovery Workshop
not knowing anything about it, good or bad. I felt it was great right from the outset. Gwen Russo was forthright with her own experience (s) which I felt put all at ease. She has a real talent for communicating clearly what we are doing at all phases of the workshop. She  is the quintessential professional in my humble opinion. Gwen had all in attendance at a high level of comfort with one another as well as with her hours into the workshop. That in and of itself is remarkable considering hours earlier we had all been complete strangers. I left the workshop feeling extremely gratified knowing how to handle loss of all kinds in a much needed fashion. Grief recovery means feeling better about life’s take-a-ways. I now have a method for doing so due to Gwen Russo.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Jenifer Tresha 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Gwen is amazing and helped me immensely with my personal grief recovery journey. She has such a big heart and played a huge role in my recovery. I am so thankful for her!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Glenn Liebman 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
My 21 year old daughter discovered Gwen from Hopeful Heart Solutions in the Summer of 2019 and started the grief recovery program with her. Gwen was a God send to my daughter. She not only helped her process her grief and pain but also helped her to see life in a hopeful optimistic way. I started Gwen’s grief recovery program shortly after my daughter and it was also life changing for me. I had been holding onto to so much stuff that Gwen helped me process and release. She has a kind compassionate way in her approach and has been a blessing for our whole family. We cannot thank her enough for how much she has helped our family!!!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Valerie Stelloh 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
I lost my dog Jake on June 29, 2020  and the pain was more than i could bear. Jake was 12 years old and he got sick only 2 short weeks before he died of cancer. After about 4 weeks of thinking maybe it will get better over time, I called Gwen. I had done the grief recovery method program in the past for other losses, so I knew it how well it works.

The program is really special for so many reasons. First, it is not therapy. It is a program specifically designed to treat grief and loss. Secondly, the program helps me to realize that all of those feelings that I was experiencing in grief, are normal and natural human emotions and that there is not anything wrong with me for feeling them. It allowed me to take a look back at my entire relationship with Jake and really see how significant of a relationship it was and always will be. It addresses each point of that relationship. And then I was able to express anything that I needed to in order to heal from the pain, shame, anger and hurt that was hanging over me. I experienced a realization that although these emotions are normal to have, it is not OK to continue on living life that way.. feeling like I had cinderblocks strapped to my legs... my heart was so heavy. Life is for the living and there is a way to let go of the pain and move on.

It really works.

I didn’t think there would ever be a day that I could think about my Jake and have a huge smile on my face rather than crying hysterically. Today I found myself thinking about Jake and had a good laugh. My soul felt whole and healed. I experienced a warm sense of gratitude that I got to be this little furry boy’s dog-mom for 12 years. That is the miracle of the grief recovery method. I am forever grateful to Gwen!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Alaxandra Rutella 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Working with Gwen at hopeful heart solutions was an experience that I didn’t know I needed desperately. GRM (grief recovery method) addresses more than the loss of people due to death, but also loss of relationships, loss of security due to big life changes. Loss affects us in ways we don’t even realize. For me, it was lack of focus, procrastination, awful time management, body pains, and a million other ailments. My body was screaming for emotional trauma healing...and that’s exactly what I got when going through the work with Gwen. I have peace in my life, my business is thriving, my relationships are closer than I ever thought possible, I no longer feel like I have adhd or depression (both are lifelong diagnoses). I know it sounds too good to be true, but it isn’t. If your heart is broken from loss of any kind, this work & Hopefuk Heart Solutions is for you. I felt safety, compassion and I felt heard. Gwen held a sacred space for me to do this work & I will forever be grateful to her. Now, I just need to apply GRM to other losses in my life! Because the true healing never stops, and that’s the hard truth we all run away from. Let this work heal your heart and give you hope...it did exactly that for me.