I imagine a career marked by compassion, imagination, and an uncommonly clear purpose for Brook McClintic. Clinical psychologist, artist, author, educator, nonprofit leader, and co-founder of Judi’s House, a Colorado organization that helps children and families grieve over a loved one.
Personal experience, familial influence, and a belief that children deserve significant help at their most difficult times shaped her career. McClintic raised awareness of childhood grief as a public health issue through psychology, creative expression, research, and community action.
Growing Up in Ithaca Michigan
Brook McClintic grew up in Ithaca, Michigan, a small rural community with a population of roughly 3,000 people. Her childhood environment gave her an early view of the challenges faced by families in places where behavioral health services could be limited.
Her mother worked as a psychiatric nurse, while her father led a local county social services agency. At home and in the community, McClintic saw how emotional distress, poverty, family crisis, and trauma could affect children. She also saw how much difference a caring professional could make.
She intended to be a child psychologist by age 11. Early purpose was not abstract. It showed an increasing recognition that children typically endure terrible events discreetly, especially when parents struggle to find treatment.
The rural setting of her childhood became part of her professional compass. It helped her understand that mental health care must be accessible, welcoming, and responsive to the realities of ordinary families.
Education and the Beginning of a Professional Mission
McClintic attended Albion College in Michigan and graduated in 1997. Her studies included psychology, visual arts, and public service. This combination became a blueprint for the work she would later develop.
Psychology gave her tools for understanding development, trauma, grief, and family relationships. Visual arts offered another language for experiences that can be difficult to express with words. Public service connected both areas to the needs of communities.
After moving to Colorado, she earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2003. She was trained to work with children and adolescents and examine their carers, schools, communities, and healthcare providers.
McClintic eventually became associated with the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where she served in clinical teaching and academic roles. She has also participated in professional task forces, educational programs, and national conversations about grief support.
Meeting Brian Griese
Brook McClintic met Brian Griese when he was a rookie quarterback for the Denver Broncos. Their relationship developed around shared values, including a strong desire to help children dealing with trauma and loss.
Brian carried his own experience of childhood bereavement. His mother, Judi Griese, died of breast cancer when Brian was 12 years old. That loss shaped his life and later became the inspiration for Judi’s House.
Brook and Brian married in May 2004 in the United States Virgin Islands. Their partnership joined personal understanding with professional purpose. Brian brought the perspective of someone who had lost a parent as a child, while Brook brought clinical training and experience supporting young people.
Together, they created a family and a nonprofit organization built around the idea that grief should not have to be faced alone.
Judi’s House and a New Model for Grief Care
Brook and Brian co founded Judi’s House in 2002 in the Denver area. Named in memory of Brian’s mother, the organization provides free support to grieving children, teenagers, young adults, and caregivers.
McClintic became a central force in developing the organization’s programs, research, and clinical philosophy. She served as chief executive before transitioning into board leadership and broader strategic work.
Judi’s House has supported thousands of people since its founding. Its services include group programs, counseling, family support, education, and community outreach. The organization has expanded its facilities and reach while maintaining a focus on families who might otherwise struggle to find specialized grief care.
The work is grounded in the Comprehensive Grief Care model. This approach treats grief as a deeply personal process rather than a condition with a fixed timetable. It recognizes that two children can experience the same loss and respond in completely different ways.
Understanding Comprehensive Grief Care
The Comprehensive Grief Care model is family centered, developmentally informed, and trauma aware. It combines prevention, early intervention, clinical support, education, and research.
One of its main themes is supporting children inside their families. Grieving children may require help with sadness, anger, fear, sleep, school performance, or behaviour. The surviving carer may also be dealing with financial stress, weariness, loneliness, and parenting after bereavement.
The model therefore includes caregivers rather than treating them as observers. It also uses peer connection to reduce isolation. Children often find relief in meeting others who understand experiences that classmates or neighbors may not share.
Pathfinders is crucial to this work. It usually involves 10 sessions with parallel groups for children, teens, young adults, and carers. Discussion, storytelling, art, play, psychoeducation, coping, and family communication exercises may be included.
A child might draw a picture of a memory, identify physical signs of stress, create a plan for handling a difficult day, or talk about how grief affects school and friendships. These activities give shape to feelings that can otherwise remain like fog.
Additional services may include individual counseling, family therapy, couples support, play therapy, ongoing Connections groups, and school based education. The model also emphasizes training professionals so that grief informed care can reach more communities.
Research Through the JAG Institute
McClintic has also helped advance the research and training mission connected to Judi’s House through the JAG Institute. The institute focuses on childhood bereavement research, professional education, and national advocacy.
CBEM, the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model, is crucial to this work. It estimates how many US children are affected by parent or sibling death. The approach helps plan, fund, and raise awareness by displaying childhood bereavement’s size.
This research reflects McClintic’s broader approach. She combines clinical compassion with measurement and evaluation. Her work asks not only whether support feels helpful, but also how programs can be improved, expanded, and made available to more families.
Brook McClintic as an Artist and Author
McClintic identifies with art. She painted portraits and resilience themes in oil. Her visual art mirrors her psychological practice’s attention, patience, emotional honesty, and respect for unique stories.
She has also created illustrated children’s books and contributed to creative educational efforts. For McClintic, art is not merely decoration. It can serve as a bridge between inner experience and shared understanding.
This creative perspective appears in the programs associated with Judi’s House. Drawing, painting, play, memorial projects, and other expressive activities can help children communicate when direct conversation feels too intimidating.
The Griese Family
Brook and Brian Griese have two children, Annalia Rose, often called Lia, and Nate. The family has maintained a relatively private personal life while remaining connected to the mission of Judi’s House.
They have spent time between Colorado and California, including the Cupertino area and mountain communities such as Fraser. Outdoor activities have been part of family life, including skiing, hiking, and time in nature.
The family also includes Ivy, a miniature golden retriever. Like many family dogs, Ivy is part companion and part household source of comfort.
McClintic says parenting taught her sadness, caregiving, and perseverance. Parenting offered her new perspective on family loss concerns and obligations. It also strengthened her opinion that children need honest explanations, reliable carers, and space to grieve.
| Family member | Publicly known role |
|---|---|
| Brook McClintic | Clinical psychologist, artist, author, and nonprofit leader |
| Brian Griese | Former NFL quarterback, coach, broadcaster, and nonprofit co founder |
| Annalia Rose Griese | Daughter, known within the family as Lia |
| Nate Griese | Son |
| Ivy | Family dog |
Recognition and Continuing Work
McClintic has received professional recognition for her service in childhood bereavement. Her work has included national presentations, educational leadership, research development, and participation in organizations focused on grieving children and families.
She has also received an Excellence in Service Award from the National Alliance for Grieving Children. Her professional responsibilities have evolved over time, from direct organizational leadership to board service, research, teaching, and advocacy.
The work of Judi’s House continues to grow through new facilities, community events, training programs, and research initiatives. McClintic remains connected to the organization’s direction and to the larger effort to make grief support a normal part of community care.
FAQ
Who is Brook McClintic?
Brook McClintic is a clinical psychologist, artist, author, educator, and nonprofit leader known for her work with grieving children and families. She co founded Judi’s House with her husband, Brian Griese.
What is Judi’s House?
Judi’s House is a Colorado nonprofit bereavement center founded in 2002. It provides free grief support, counseling, group programs, education, and resources for children, young adults, and caregivers.
Who is Brian Griese?
Brian Griese is a former NFL quarterback who played for teams including the Denver Broncos. He later worked as a coach and broadcaster. He co founded Judi’s House with Brook in memory of his mother, Judi Griese.
What happened to Brian Griese’s mother?
Judi Griese died of breast cancer when Brian was 12 years old. Her death became a central inspiration for the creation of Judi’s House.
What is Comprehensive Grief Care?
Comprehensive Grief Care is a family centered model that supports grieving children and caregivers through group programs, counseling, education, creative activities, and research informed services. It views grief as unique, ongoing, and influenced by development and family relationships.
What is the Pathfinders program?
Pathfinders is a structured group program commonly organized across 10 sessions. Children and caregivers participate in age appropriate groups that address grief, coping, communication, memories, emotions, and resilience.
How many children does Brook McClintic have?
Brook McClintic and Brian Griese have two children, a daughter named Annalia Rose, known as Lia, and a son named Nate.
What role does art play in Brook McClintic’s work?
Art gives children and families another way to express memories, emotions, and hopes. McClintic’s own work as an oil painter and author complements her belief that creativity can help people process difficult experiences.
