Dr. Sue Johnson, the legendary leader in transforming the field of couple, family, and individual psychotherapy with the transforming power of emotion and interpersonal dialogue, tragically passed away April 23, 2024, at the end of a courageous journey with cancer. It has been wonderful to read the messages of support and comfort as we grieve our great loss together. Even nearly a month on, this loss is deeply felt. I wrote a letter to Sue in tribute.
Dear Sue,
I’m writing this letter to you and to everyone whose lives you have changed. You taught us how to hold each other tight. You taught us that love sense is the axis of the world – that it is not only okay but mandatory for our survival that we depend on one another.
You have helped the world make love sense out of our basic mammalian needs – that when we speak of love, we normalize our fragile need for one another; and that the more we lean on others the more we are strengthened, and the more flexible and resilient we become.
In your journey of passing beyond this life, you have left us all with a huge, aching hole in our hearts, with a fire burning in determination to keep shouting all the lessons you have given us. Shouting with joy, and whispering, simply, softly, slowly about the hope to discover and create a better, more loving world.
Your enormously positive, transformative influence on so many people leaves us dedicated to continuing to carry on your legacy! Together we will carry the torch that lights the way toward hope and rebuilding relationships when ruptures shatter trust.
Your brilliant mind, compassionate heart, and clever development of the EFT model built on love integrating humanistic, systemic, and attachment themes, have ignited a fire burning in our hearts. This fire is inextinguishable. We remain committed to sharing, expanding, and weaving together the threads of your profound gift.
You have valiantly traveled the journey with cancer, persevering with dignity when your body was struggling and carrying on in such a magnanimous way. Most of us had no idea how much your body was suffering. You’ve shown us the value of every attachment strategy: Firing up with force, tamping down the pain, holding close our dear ones. Your strength and love are enough to energize us all for as long as we have breath. Your life and now your death continue to change us all in startling new ways!
Now we are certain that you will never be far from us, continuing to energize and inspire us with your presence. Broadening and building the circle of love. We address you now as you have so often addressed us:
“Sweetie!”
Sweet Sue, Beloved Sue.
With Love,
Lorrie
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