Emmaus Collective · Coaching with Joe McGarry
You don't have to walk this road alone.
Most people carry grief and hard seasons by themselves. I walk beside grieving men, congregations, coaches, and chaplains, so they can carry it differently and find the road forward.
- ICF Professional Certified Coach
- 18 years in parish ministry
- Prison chaplain
- Dean, School of Lay Ministry
Sound familiar?
You've been carrying it a long time.
You're still functioning. Showing up, getting it done. But the fuse is shorter, the days are longer, and the meetings keep going in circles.
You think you should be handling this by now. Talking about it feels like weakness, or like one more burden on people who are already tired.
Nobody should have to carry a loss, a hard season, or everyone else's pain alone.
Not ahead of you with answers. Not behind you with judgment. Beside you.
Your guide
I couldn't talk about losing my dad for a long time. When I finally did, other men started telling me about their losses too, and I heard the same sentence again and again: “I've never told anybody that.”
I'm Joe McGarry. I've sat with people in hospital rooms, prison cells, and at council tables for more than 25 years. Like the stranger on the road to Emmaus, I won't fix you or lecture you. I'll walk with you, ask good questions, and stay on the road. More about me →
The plan
Three simple steps
Talk
Book a pressure-free conversation. Tell me what's been weighing on you, and be heard.
Plan
Together we figure out what would actually help, and build a simple plan that fits your road.
Walk
We take small, steady steps at your pace. Grief doesn't run on a timeline, and you won't be rushed.
Why it matters
Where the road can lead
If nothing changes
- Unspoken grief doesn't disappear. It shows up in your marriage, your body, your work, your temper.
- Congregations that never name their losses stay stuck in the same anxious meetings.
- Helpers who never set down other people's pain slowly burn out.
What can change
- You can talk about it without coming apart.
- You carry it differently, and it stops running your life.
- Your church can stop asking “Are we dying?” and start asking “Who are we called to be now?”
- You're not alone on this road anymore.
Every road is different, and grief doesn't come with guarantees. But nobody has to walk it alone.
Who I walk with
Where are you on the road?
Pick the door that fits. Not sure? Book a conversation and we'll figure it out together.
Men in Grief
For men carrying a loss, whether or not you've ever called it grief. A small group of men and a coach in your corner.
Walk with us → ChurchesCongregations
For pastors, councils, and congregations facing grief, decline, change, or a stuck season. Plus the School of Lay Ministry.
Learn more → Coaching for coachesCoaches
For coaches who want to deepen their craft and presence, from someone one level ahead on the same road.
Book a conversation → Chaplain coachingChaplains
For chaplains and CPE students who carry everyone else's pain. Coaching from someone doing the work right now.
Book a conversation →In their words
What clients say
I really enjoyed my sessions with Joe. Joe is a great listener and I felt comfortable talking with him. He provided me with tools to overcome an issue, which will help me live more positively. I highly recommend his service.
Rosie T.Joe really listened to me and he helped me overcome issues that I was experiencing. I felt like I was able to talk about anything and Joe would not judge me.
James S.One-on-one coaching. I work with five to seven individual clients at a time, so each person gets real attention. Let's start with a conversation.
Book a conversation →Not ready to talk yet? Start here.
Navigating Grief: A Journey of Understanding and Healing
A short, practical guide to help you put words to what you're carrying and take a first step toward hope. Enter your name and email and it's yours, free.
Get the free guide
Wherever you are on the road, start with a conversation.
Most people carry grief and hard seasons by themselves. You don't have to. No fixing. No judging. Just a road, and someone beside you.
Book a conversation →Emmaus Collective is an independent coaching practice, separate from the Connecticut Department of Correction and from any church or denomination. Coaching is not a substitute for therapy or medical care. If you're in crisis, call or text 988.