Elpis Vision
We are stewards of a restorative community for hope and healing, for the exploration of strength-building and self-efficacy, as well as for fostering roots of connection and camaraderie. We honor the lived experiences of individuals, schools, educators, organizations, and communities impacted by societal strain and pain. Hope and joy and personal faith are cultivated and nurtured through reflection, storytelling, and story-catching shared experiences. Through the proactive and creative building of relationships and community, lives can be positively impacted to thrive
Meet
Steven J.
Karaiskos, Ph.D.
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Founder and CEO
Steven J. Karaiskos, Ph.D. is an educator and emotion scientist who brings over 25 years of experience and a deeply personal understanding of loss, healing, and human connection to every space he enters. As a long-term suicide loss survivor, Steven’s lived experience is at the heart of his work, fueling his commitment to creating communities where people feel seen, heard, and valued.
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Whether leading keynotes, designing workshops on empathetic listening, mentoring grieving teens, or guiding educators in building emotionally safe classrooms, Steven weaves together research, real-life stories, and practical tools with honesty, depth, and warmth. He is a dynamic speaker, a compassionate storycatcher, and a steady presence in times of growth and grief alike.
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Steven is also a proud uncle, godfather, brother, son, and friend. Through every role, he moves with the belief that care is a form of courage and that offering hope—actively and intentionally—is one of the most powerful things we can do for one another.
My Work
I lead intentional, thoughtful, individualized professional development, workshops, personalized mentoring, and organizational consulting rooted in dignity, reflection, listening, and well-being.
1:1 Grief Mentoring
Grief is complex, personal, and not one-size-fits-all. My 1:1 support sessions are designed to offer individualized, grief-informed care rooted in dignity, empathy, and emotional safety. Whether you're navigating suicide loss, anticipatory grief, or another form of heartbreak, these sessions are a place to be met exactly where you are.
I design and facilitate powerful, customized workshops for educators, clinicians, and community leaders centered on SEL, community-building, empathetic listening, and educator and student well-being. Topics also include grief literacy, dignity-driven care, and suicide prevention and postvention. Whether in-person or virtual, each experience is tailored to your community’s values, needs, and culture because healing and connection aren’t one-size-fits-all.
Steven is a dynamic, story-rich speaker known for blending lived experience, emotional science, and practical tools with honesty, insight, and compassion.
Common speaking topics include:
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Suicide loss & the power of postvention
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Grief literacy & community healing
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LGBTQIA+ grief & belonging
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The psychology of hope
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“Heart Work” in leadership
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Empathetic listening as a foundation for connection and change
I have been featured at national and international conferences, including the American Association of Suicidology, Long-Term Loss Conference, LOSS Conference, and the National Alliance for Children’s Grief, among others.
Online Peer Support Groups
I facilitate a variety of virtual support groups through Coping After Suicide ©, each grounded in care, lived experience, and community connection.
Current Groups Include:
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Teens (ages 13–18) who have lost a loved one to suicide
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Twentysomethings navigating life and grief in early adulthood
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Adults who’ve lost a parent to suicide
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LGBTQIA+ individuals who’ve experienced suicide loss
These closed groups offer weekly connection, reflection, and shared understanding over the course of 10 weeks.
They are not therapy, but they are profoundly supportive—centered on peer connection, empathetic listening, and emotional safety.
Optional follow-up support is available.
Virtual Workshop Series
I also lead two 6-week virtual workshop experiences designed to deepen reflection, community, and healing around grief and suicide loss.
Current Workshop Offerings:
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Who Am I Now? – A space for individuals navigating identity shifts and meaning-making in the wake of grief
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Beside Them – For those supporting someone who has experienced a suicide loss (friends, spouses, parents, peers, coworkers)
Both workshops offer guided conversation, creative reflection, and practical tools to support personal growth and compassionate presence.
Workshops are held online, once a week for six weeks, and can be customized for schools, organizations, and community groups.
Writing & Storytelling
My writing explores grief, identity, and community in deeply human ways. Follow my ongoing series “I’m Still Sad” on Substack and stay tuned for upcoming book projects weaving together narrative, research, and hope.
Tiny Hope Notes (Coming Soon!)
Short, meaningful messages, delivered digitally or by mail,that offer gentle care, validation, and encouragement.
Created for those in grief, those supporting someone, or anyone in need of a reminder: you’re not alone.
Current Community Connections
The way Steven approaches his work is transformative by nature, he sees people for who they are and what they carry with them, always. His reflective and thoughtful style is powerful and ground-breaking, consistently keeping both the head and the heart integrated into the way he interacts, educates, and supports. He is truly a pioneer in fostering organizational change, increasing its adaptability and flexibility by helping them to see further, think wider, and be far better than they were before.”
Kacy C. Maitland, LICSW, Chief Clinical Officer
Samaritans, Inc.