Dr. Jessica Thomas

31/08/2026

Grief is about far more than death.

The form of loss that emerged for Meital during her W&W mindful photo walk was the loss of place—of country, of culture, and of proximity

Meital explored her lived and felt experience of relocating and living in another country—the complex space of being physically here while remaining emotionally and culturally connected to somewhere else.

Physical distance does not erase cultural belonging. She described the experience of living within one society while remaining emotionally tethered to another.

Through her Within & Without™ practice and experience, mindful photography became a way to explore this *in-between*—the shifting experience of belonging, identity, distance, and grief.

“My dual position—both insider and outsider—has heightened my awareness of how grief is socially constructed and collectively processed.”

Thank you Meital for sharing your images and reflections that emerged from this exploration.

*Consider joining me for the Fall W&W intro class. Apply on the the program page in the comments*

30/08/2026

After years of studying, teaching and sitting alongside experiences of grief, I’ve learned that death education is as much about how we live as it is about how we die.

We shouldn’t have to wait until loss enters our lives before learning how to speak about death, support someone who is grieving or understand the many ways a relationship can continue after someone dies.

For National Grief Awareness Day, I’m sharing a few things I wish more people knew about death, grief and the importance of making space for both.

What do you wish more people understood?

28/08/2026

What becomes possible when grief is given a stage, a story and somewhere to be witnessed?

https://mailchi.mp/2c8daa708cca/drjessicathomas-12898686?e=039bbcb8a7&utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAUAUu5wZG9mAmZkaWQWUNeY7xHPnjdG4bDZwU5mAk9iBRCpQ2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp2ZaOkvqaX66zsmTjaYptK7HY13zusu9mrz46j0J14E-er3e4m0cEp9FhgP1_aem_LN1onm65bCrKc6MpJycSkA

26/08/2026

Nature can offer a quiet invitation to reconnect.
A changing sky.
The rhythm of waves.
A bird moving through the trees.
Light falling across the landscape.
The feeling of our feet on the earth.

These moments can remind us that we are part of something larger and interconnected—even when grief makes us feel profoundly alone.

This is one of the places where Within & Without™ Therapeutic Mindful Photography intersects with grief work.

W&W invites us to slow down, become present, and use photography as a way of noticing, exploring, and expressing our lived experience. Rather than simply documenting what we see, we can become curious about what we are drawn to, what we notice, what we feel, and what meaning we make from the image.

Join me in Sept/Oct for my Within & Without™ Intro training. Program page link in comments!

21/08/2026

Hi! I am excited to announce that registration is open for my Fall Intro to therapeutic mindful photography class. If you are inspired by or curious about the intersections of creative expression, aesthetic perception, symbolism, death, personal and transpersonal narratives, meaning-making, and the impactful role of aesthetic interventions in the grieving process- please consider joining! Additionally, in January I will be offering an advanced class for those who have completed the Intro class. Learn more and apply on the program page-click on my bio to find the W&W program link.

21/08/2026

Hi! I am excited to announce that registration is open for my Fall Intro to therapeutic mindful photography class. If you are inspired by or curious about the intersections of creative expression, aesthetic perception, symbolism, death, personal and transpersonal narratives, meaning-making, and the impactful role of aesthetic interventions in the grieving process- please consider joining! Additionally, in January I will be offering an advanced class for those who have completed the Intro class. Learn more and apply on the web page, and also check out my August newsletter- link in the comments. And, as always, reach out with any questions!

For professionals in the grief and death industry who are seeking to integrate a Within & Without™ therapeutic mindful photography program into their work.

19/08/2026

Hi, I’m Jessica 👋

I’m a grief therapist, educator, professor, clinical supervisor, author, and the creator of the Within & Without™ therapeutic mindful photography method.

For more than a decade, my work has explored grief, death and dying, psycho-spiritual development, creativity, mindfulness, and the ways we make meaning from our experiences.

Much of this work is personal to me, too. After losing my father suddenly when I was 21, and later experiencing the anticipated death of my grandmother, I became deeply curious about the different ways we experience loss—and what it can look like to make space for grief rather than turn away from it.

Today, I teach courses on death, grief and psycho-spiritual development, lead trainings and community events, and help professionals explore creative, grief-informed practices through Within & Without™.

I’m also the author of Choosing Light: Transforming Grief through the Practice of Mindful Photography and Self-Reflection, where I bring together much of the research, reflection and practice that has shaped my work.

Around here, you can expect conversations about grief and loss, mindful photography, death education, creativity, meaning-making, upcoming trainings, my podcast, and probably a little nature along the way.

I’m glad you’re here. 🤍

30/07/2026

Lotus season. 🪷

13/07/2026

LC must be one of the most beautiful campuses.

04/07/2026

A morning walk.💛