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How To Deal With Grief and Trauma

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You can't go through life without experiencing loss and trauma the question is how do we deal and live with the grief and pain? Join Nathalie Himmelrich, grief expert and author, talking to people who have experienced grief and trauma first-hand. If you want to be inspired by others who traveled through their grief and trauma, found that healing is possible, and came out the other end knowing they can survive and thrive in life after loss. For more info: www.nathaliehimmelrich.com

Location:

Switzerland

Description:

You can't go through life without experiencing loss and trauma the question is how do we deal and live with the grief and pain? Join Nathalie Himmelrich, grief expert and author, talking to people who have experienced grief and trauma first-hand. If you want to be inspired by others who traveled through their grief and trauma, found that healing is possible, and came out the other end knowing they can survive and thrive in life after loss. For more info: www.nathaliehimmelrich.com

Language:

English

Contact:

41763802738


Episodes
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175 The Many Faces of Trauma | Migration & Displacement Trauma: Losing Home, Language, Self

2/22/2026
Send a text Migration and displacement can be traumatic not only because of what prompted the move, but because the nervous system loses multiple safety cues at once—home, language, social rules, community, and familiar identity. In this episode, we explore migration and displacement trauma as both a trauma pathway (chronic stress, uncertainty, vigilance) and a grief pathway (loss of belonging, status, and “nervous system home base”). Using simple polyvagal-informed language, we look at why safety cues disappear, how identity disruption adds a second layer, and what helps in realistic, culturally respectful ways. We close with a grounding practice designed to support “two homes”: honouring roots while allowing slow settling. In this episode, you’ll learn Grounding practice (2–3 minutes): “Two Homes” Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. What’s next: Community Shock: Disasters & Public Events (No War Content) Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:15:42

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174 The Many Faces of Trauma | Society-Shaped Trauma (Part 2): Poverty, Insecurity & Social Exclusion

2/20/2026
Send a text Chronic scarcity and instability can shape the nervous system in ways that look like anxiety, irritability, shutdown, or “burnout,” even when a person is working incredibly hard to survive. In this episode, we explore poverty, insecurity, and social exclusion as a society-shaped trauma pathway—where the threat is often not a single event, but ongoing conditions with limited control and limited recovery. Using simple polyvagal-informed language, we name common “invisible injuries” of scarcity stress, why shame so often gets layered on top, and what helps realistically—without pretending that regulation solves structural problems. We close with a short grounding practice designed to create a stabilising sense of contact, support, and one manageable next step. In this episode, you’ll learn Grounding practice (2–3 minutes): “3-Point Stabiliser” Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. What’s next: Migration & Displacement Trauma: Losing Home, Language, Self Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:13:07

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173 The Many Faces of Trauma | Society-Shaped Trauma (Part 1): Discrimination & Minority Stress

2/17/2026
Send a text Discrimination and minority stress can create a chronic nervous-system load: not only dealing with the moment, but also anticipating bias, managing risk, and constantly scanning for safety and belonging. In this episode, we explore minority stress as an accumulation of experiences—overt discrimination, microaggressions, stereotyping, exclusion, and the invisible effort of code-switching or masking. Using simple polyvagal-informed language, we look at how chronic vigilance can keep the body in mobilised protection or shutdown, and we offer practical ways to support regulation without minimising the reality of the environment. We close with a short grounding practice focused on orienting to neutral and welcoming cues, and anchoring a sense of belonging in the self. In this episode, you’ll learn Grounding practice (2–3 minutes): “Orient + Belonging Cue” Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. What’s next: Society-Shaped Trauma (Part 2): Poverty, Insecurity & Social Exclusion Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:14:46

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172 The Many Faces of Trauma | When the Environment Is the Threat: Chronic Stress Without an Exit

2/15/2026
Send a text Not all trauma comes from a single event. Sometimes the trauma pathway is the environment itself—ongoing pressure, instability, or threat with little realistic ability to escape or recover. In this episode, we explore “chronic stress without an exit” as a nervous system pattern that can keep the body stuck in mobilised protection (wired, urgent, hypervigilant) and, over time, slide into shutdown (numb, foggy, depleted). Using simple polyvagal-informed language, we name common “invisible injuries” that can look like burnout or personality changes, and offer realistic support strategies that don’t rely on toxic positivity or impossible self-care. We close with a one-minute downshift practice designed for busy, high-load lives. In this episode, you’ll learn Grounding practice (1–2 minutes): “1-Minute Downshift” Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. What’s next: Society-Shaped Trauma (Part 1): Discrimination & Minority Stress Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:13:28

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171 The Many Faces of Trauma | Medical & Birth Trauma: When Help Hurts

2/12/2026
Send a text Medical and birth trauma can happen when care meant to help also involves fear, helplessness, loss of control, or violations of consent and dignity. In this episode, we explore why “routine” experiences can still leave lasting nervous system imprints, especially when a person feels rushed, unheard, exposed, or powerless. Using simple polyvagal-informed language, we look at fight/flight and shutdown responses in medical settings, common aftereffects like avoidance of care or panic in clinics, and practical ways to reclaim choice. We close with a grounding practice that emphasises resourcing and choice—two key ingredients for nervous system safety. In this episode, you’ll learn Grounding practice (2–3 minutes): “Resourced Breath + Choice Point” Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. What’s next: When the Environment Is the Threat: Chronic Stress Without an Exit Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:18:25

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170 The Many Faces of Trauma | Single-Incident Trauma: When “Before” and “After” Split

2/10/2026
Send a text Single-incident trauma can create a sharp “before and after” in the nervous system—where an overwhelming event leaves the body stuck in protection long after it’s over. In this episode, we explore how trauma memories can be stored as sensory fragments and threat predictions, why triggers can feel like the event is happening again, and how avoidance develops as a protective strategy that can shrink life over time. Using simple polyvagal-informed language, we look at mobilised protection (fight/flight) and shutdown, and offer practical first steps for helping the nervous system update from “then” to “now.” We close with a grounding practice that uses the senses plus a temperature cue to anchor the present moment. In this episode, you’ll learn Grounding practice (2–3 minutes): “5–4–3–2–1 + Temperature” Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. What’s next: Medical & Birth Trauma: When Help Hurts Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:13:09

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169 The Many Faces of Trauma | Betrayal Trauma: When Trust Becomes Unsafe

2/7/2026
Send us a text Betrayal trauma can be uniquely disorienting because it not only breaks trust—it can disrupt your sense of reality and self-trust. In this episode, we explore betrayal trauma as a nervous system injury that often leads to hypervigilance, rumination, shutdown, and relationship fear. Using simple polyvagal-informed language, we look at why the body moves from connection to surveillance after betrayal and how healing often centres on truth, boundaries, and rebuilding trust in yourself. The episode ends with a short “Truth Anchor” practice to stabilise the present moment. In this episode, you’ll learn Grounding practice (2–3 minutes): “Truth Anchor” Related Episode: Ambiguous GriefCheck the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. What’s next: Single-Incident Trauma: When ‘Before’ and ‘After’ Split Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:15:08

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168 The Many Faces of Trauma | Intergenerational Trauma: What Gets Carried Forward

2/5/2026
Send us a text Intergenerational trauma is what happens when the impact of trauma is passed down through families and communities—through nervous system patterns, emotional rules, family roles, and the stories we inherit about safety, trust, and worth. In this episode, we explore how people can carry burdens that didn’t start with them, why this isn’t about blaming previous generations, and how healing begins by naming what you’re holding and choosing what you want to continue—or interrupt. Using simple polyvagal-informed language, we look at how children’s nervous systems entrain to the adults around them, shaping a baseline of mobilised protection or shutdown. We close with a gentle practice to help you release what isn’t yours to carry. In this episode, you’ll learn Grounding practice (2–3 minutes): “Release What Isn’t Yours” Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. What’s next: Betrayal Trauma: When Trust Becomes Unsafe Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:14:01

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167 The Many Faces of Trauma | Developmental Trauma: A Brief Map (Building on Earlier Episodes)

2/2/2026
Send us a text Developmental trauma often forms through chronic, repeated stress during childhood—especially when safety, support, and repair are inconsistent. In this episode, you’ll get a clear, non-overwhelming map of what developmental trauma is, why it affects so many areas (regulation, identity, relationships), and how it can show up later as survival patterns like scanning, pleasing, protecting, or disconnecting. Using simple polyvagal-informed language, we explore how a developing nervous system adapts to ongoing stress. We close with a gentle “pendulation light” practice to help the body experience movement between tension and neutral, supporting regulation without forcing a story. In this episode, you’ll learn Grounding practice (2–3 minutes): “Pendulation Light” Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. What’s next: Intergenerational Trauma: What Gets Carried Forward Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:14:56

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166 The Many Faces of Trauma | The Wound in the Bond: Attachment & Relational Trauma

1/31/2026
Send us a text Attachment and relational trauma can be hard to name because it often doesn’t come from one dramatic event—it forms through patterns over time: inconsistency, emotional absence, unpredictable caregiving, chronic criticism, or rupture without repair. In this episode, we explore attachment as nervous-system education through relationship, and why closeness can become a trigger for protection (anxiety, control, people-pleasing, withdrawal, shutdown). You’ll learn a simple polyvagal-informed lens for understanding relational responses, plus practical starting points for repair and regulation. We close with a short grounding practice designed to support boundaries while staying connected. In this episode, you’ll learn Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. What’s next: Developmental Trauma: A Brief Map (Building on Earlier Episodes) Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:17:46

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165 The Many Faces of Trauma | Before Words: Understanding Preverbal Trauma

1/28/2026
Send us a text Preverbal trauma can be hard to name because it often isn’t stored as a clear story. In this episode, we explore how early experiences, which occur before language development, can shape the nervous system through implicit memory and felt sense. You’ll learn why people can say “nothing happened” and still carry intense body reactions, relationship patterns, or shame responses that feel bigger than the moment. Using simple polyvagal-informed language, we’ll look at how early safety is wired through connection, and what helps when the body remembers what the mind cannot. The episode ends with a varied, trauma-neutral grounding practice using senses and gentle movement. In this episode, you’ll learn preverbal traumaimplicit memoryfelt senseGrounding practice (2–3 minutes): “Senses + Support” Check the website for free resources available to both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. What’s next? The Wound in the Bond: Attachment & Relational Trauma Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:17:08

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164 The Many Faces of Trauma | Small t, Big T and the Missing Middle

1/26/2026
Send us a text “Small t” and “big T” are common trauma terms meant to validate, but they can also trigger comparison, minimisation, or shame. In this episode, you’ll learn what these labels usually mean, why they sometimes backfire, and how to replace ranking with a more compassionate, nervous-system-based framework. You’ll also get a simple reframe list (cumulative, relational, chronic vs single-incident, acute) and a short grounding practice to help your system step out of comparison and back into the present. In this episode, you’ll learn big Tsmall timpact + support + recoveryGentle reminders Check the website for free resources available to both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. What’s next Next episode: Before Words: Understanding Preverbal Trauma We’ll explore how the body can carry trauma from experiences that happened before you had language and how to work with it gently. Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:14:11

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163 The Many Faces of Trauma | When the Body Learns Danger: What Trauma Is (and Isn’t)

1/23/2026
Send us a text Trauma isn’t only about what happened—it’s about what happened inside your nervous system when an experience was too much, too fast, too soon, or too long, without enough support, choice, or protection. In this episode, we clarify what trauma is (and isn’t), using simple, polyvagal-informed language—so you can replace shame and confusion with understanding. You’ll also be guided through a short grounding practice you can use anytime. In this episode, you’ll learn stresstraumaadaptationssafety & connectionmobilised protection (fight/flight)shutdown protectionGentle reminders Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. Coming next: Small t, Big T—and the Missing Middle We’ll explore why these terms can be helpful, where they can become misleading, and how to use them without comparison or shame. Share this episode with someone who… Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:16:36

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162 The Many Faces of Trauma | The Trauma Map: How This Series Works

1/21/2026
Send us a text Welcome to the first episode of my new series “The Many Faces of Trauma.” In this opening episode, I share why I’m creating this series and how I’ll guide you through different trauma types in a way that’s clear, gentle, and not overwhelming. I introduce the “trauma map” I’ll be using across two seasons, explain what I mean by “trauma types” (as pathways, not labels), and offer a simple, polyvagal-informed way to understand what your nervous system may be doing. In this episode, I cover pathwayhow trauma can affect the bodySafety & connection - ventral Mobilised protection (fight/flight) - sympatheticShutdown protection (numb/freeze/collapse) - dorsalGentle content note In this episode, I talk about trauma in general terms with no graphic detail. You’re always welcome to pause, step away, or come back later. Grounding practice I guide you through a brief practice that’s safe for most people, including: OrientingLonger-exhale breathingContact + choiceHow I recommend you use this series steady or curiousnot a diagnosis toolI invite you to check my website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them. Coming next: When the Body Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:17:52

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Season 16 & 17 - Trailer: News About the Upcoming Show

1/19/2026
Send us a text Welcome again to the How to Deal With Grief and Trauma Podcast Season 16. HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. Today is Monday, 19th January and for me a significant day: It is the 14th death-iversary of my Mother. With this in mind, I'm taking a moment to honour her and the body of work I've created with this podcast - even though I'm not one to applaud my own accomplishments easily. For the coming season 16 and 17, I'm planing a whole set of episodes on the topic of trauma, starting with last week's episode on cultural grief following a traumatic event. Before we begin, a gentle content note: we’ll be talking about trauma in general terms. There will be no graphic details. You don’t have to push through any of the episodes. If you notice your body tightening, your breath changing, or your mind drifting away, that’s not failure—that’s your nervous system doing its job. You’re allowed to pause, come back later, or choose a different episode. The intent is to educate, to inform and to support - both those affected and those supporting those who are. With that in mind, have a gentle day. Let you nervous system guide you. With Love, Nathalie Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:04:43

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161 Collective Grief and Trauma | When Disaster Strikes: Understanding Collective Grief and Trauma After Sudden Tragedy

1/13/2026
Send us a text In this episode, Nathalie explores the emotional, psychological, and communal impact of the tragic event that took place on January 1st at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana. Together, we examine what happens in the immediate aftermath of sudden disasters, how individuals and communities—both local and global—are affected, and why events like these evoke such strong collective responses. Topics include: For resources, support, and further guidance, visit: Support Page: https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/grief-trauma-support/ To explore more conversations on grief, trauma, and healing, browse the full episode catalogue: Podcast Archive: https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/episode-overview-latest-episode-first/ Thank you for listening and for taking gentle care of yourself and your community. Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:33:17

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160 Shavaun Scott | Revisiting Loss and Trauma 20 Years After A Revenge Suicide

11/24/2025
Send us a text HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episode Today’s guest is Shavaun Scott, a psychotherapist and author who shares a deeply personal and courageous story with us in our conversation. In her memoir Nightbird, Shavaun explores the devastating experience of her husband’s revenge suicide, an act he carried out on the very day she told him she wanted a divorce. After 17 years in an abusive relationship, Shavaun was left not only with the trauma of a gruesome scene staged in her own home, but also with the complex emotional aftermath, grief not just for the loss of life, but for the relationship that never truly was. As a therapist herself, Shavaun offers a profound and nuanced perspective on the psychological toll of intimate partner abuse, the moral injuries of suicide, and the long road of healing. This is a powerful and honest conversation about trauma, survival, and the complicated nature of grief. About this week’s guest Shavaun has been a psychotherapist for nearly 35 years in Oregon and California in the US. Shavaun shares her passion for mental health and wellness through writing, speaking, and podcasting; she is the author of four books. While she has worked extensively with grief and trauma, she has also experienced it in multiple ways throughout her life. She lost her mother when she was 16, her father when she was 35, and her previous husband of 17 years died by suicide in 2004. Shavaun now lives and works from her home in the forest in Portland, Oregon, which she shares with her husband and a houseful of beloved animals. Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:41:57

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159 Mary-Catherine McDonald | The Joy Reset: How Trauma Steals Joy and How To Win It Back

11/17/2025
Send us a text HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episode Today’s guest is someone many of you will remember from episode 87. She’s here today to talk about her latest book, The Joy Reset, a groundbreaking and deeply compassionate guide that takes the powerful tools of positive psychology and adapts them for those of us who have lived through trauma. Joy, she reminds us, isn’t about toxic positivity or forced gratitude. It’s about finding light in the dark, one gritty, bite-sized moment at a time. In this book, she explores why joy can feel so elusive after trauma—and how we can gently reclaim it. Through neurobiological insights, real-life examples, and actionable practices, MC gives us a new framework to understand hope, gratitude, and resilience—not as fluffy ideals, but as essential, hard-won emotional tools for healing. About this week’s guest Mary Catherine (MC) McDonald, PhD, is a research professor and life coach who specializes in the psychology of trauma, stress, and resilience. She has been researching, lecturing, and publishing on the neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience of trauma and stress for over a decade. She is passionate about destigmatizing trauma, stress, and mental health issues in general, as well as reframing our understanding of trauma in order to better understand and treat it. alchemycoaching.life@mc.phdwww.tiktok.com/@mc.phdSupport the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:48:52

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158 Mary-Frances O’Connor | The Grieving Body

11/10/2025
Send us a text HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich. Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you! For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here. About this week’s episode Mary-Frances’s book The Grieving Brain has inspired me from the moment I started reading it. In this episode Mary-Frances is back to speak about her second book The Grieving Body. So I’m very excited today to be speaking with Mary-Frances again, neuroscientist to find out even more about the science behind grief and all that Mary-Frances and her colleagues have researched in their lab. About this week’s guest Mary-Frances O’Connor, PhD is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Arizona, where she directs the Grief, Loss and Social Stress (GLASS) Lab. Her research focuses on the physiological correlates of emotion, in particular, the wide range of physical and emotional responses during bereavement, including yearning and isolation. She believes that a clinical science approach toward the experience and mechanisms of grieving can improve interventions for prolonged grief disorder, newly included in the revised DSM-5. Website: https://maryfrancesoconnor.org/ Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:46:53

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157 PAIL Mini Series | Carrying Hope Alongside Grief & Sustaining Support Beyond the Early Weeks

10/30/2025
Send us a text October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and with it comes a deeply meaningful PAIL Mini Series here on How to Deal With Grief and Trauma. In this seventh and last episode of the PAIL Mini Series, we explore two central themes: hope and grief can coexistsustaining long-term support🕊️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode 🗓️ About the Mini Series The PAIL Mini Series runs through October with episodes released every four days, combining solo reflections and replays of the most loved guest episodes on pregnancy and infant loss. 🩷 Replays: October 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28 💬 Solo episodes: October 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30 Support the show 💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it. 🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review. Stay Connected nathaliehimmelrich.comSubscribe to the newsletterfollow the podcastSocials InstagramFacebook Find Support Resources For GrieversResources For SupportersSupporting someone BooksExplore books on grief and healingSupportOffers - free and paid

Duration:00:12:56