159. Grief, Money, and Moving On: Taking Your Power Back in Divorce, with Virginia Gilbert

Divorce isn’t just a legal or financial process—it’s an emotional one. In this powerful episode, Karen and Catherine are joined by Virginia Gilbert, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and author of Transcending High Conflict Divorce, to talk about a topic most people don’t expect to encounter during divorce: grief. Together, they explore: The emotional toll of divorce grief—even if you’re the one initiating it Why grief can leave you feeling financially stuck or frozen The real reason some spouses feel guilt or shame about asking for financial clarity How emotional reactivity can sabotage financial decisions The pressure many women feel to hold on to the family home The myths and realities of “nesting” after divorce How to move from emotional reactivity to radical acceptance—and why it matters Virginia also shares her own story of navigating a high-conflict divorce, how that experience reshaped her career, and why she believes divorce can be a transformative experience—if you're willing to do the inner work. Divorce grief is real—and it’s not linear. Expect to cycle through denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance (aka “DABDA”). High-conflict dynamics often carry over from the marriage into the divorce. Learning to disengage emotionally is essential. Financial empowerment starts with overcoming emotional roadblocks and becoming an active participant in your own decision-making. Letting go of control, identity, or even the family home can be one of the hardest—but most liberating—parts of healing. Radical acceptance doesn’t mean indifference. It means understanding what you can’t change and choosing how you’ll respond next. About Our Guest: Virginia is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in California, North Carolina, and Florida via telehealth. She specializes in helping people disengage from high-conflict exes and take their power back. She’s the author of Transcending High Conflict Divorce and leads therapeutic divorce groups for men and women navigating emotional entanglement and reactivity. Learn more: virginiagilbertmft.com At My Divorce Solution, we help clients move from emotional overwhelm to financial clarity. If you're navigating divorce grief, remember: your healing starts with knowing. And your financial empowerment begins with preparation. Explore the MDS Financial Portrait™, our verified divorce preparation tool, at MyDivorceSolution.com Key Takeaways: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices