Understanding Grief, Divorce, and Learning to Hold Joy Alongside Pain with Lisa Rites

In this powerful episode, host Avik welcomes certified grief educator and former respiratory therapist Lisa Rites. Lisa shares her personal journey through divorce, co-parenting, and recent losses while breaking down society’s biggest myths about grief. She explains why grief has no timeline, how to support someone who’s grieving (and what NOT to say), and how it’s possible to carry grief in one hand and joy in the other. A deeply compassionate conversation that reminds us grief is love with nowhere to go—and that healing means integrating it, not “getting over” it.

Key Takeaways

• Grief is not just about death; it can come from divorce, job loss, moving, or any significant life change.

• There is no “wrong” way or set timeline to grieve—some people grieve intensely for a lifetime, and that’s okay.

• The stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance) are not linear—you can climb the “ladder” and slide back; falling back is normal.

• Society is under-educated: 3 days of bereavement leave is nowhere near enough, and phrases like “get over it” or “they’re in a better place” cause more harm.

• The best support is presence and listening—ask “How are you feeling today?” and simply hold space instead of trying to fix.

• You can reach acceptance and still miss the person forever; acceptance means learning to live with the loss, not erasing it.

• Practical holiday tips for grievers: keep traditions alive, cook their favorite dish, light a candle, talk about them openly—let the holidays look different without guilt.

• Grief taught Lisa resilience, self-rediscovery, and the power of co-parenting with grace—even attending her ex-husband’s wedding years later.

• Healing expands your story; it doesn’t erase the love you carry.

Connect with Lisa Rites

• Website & Free Consultation Booking: https://www.lisaritesgrief.com/

• Free Holiday Coping e-Book: https://www.lisaritesgrief.com/book-online

• Upcoming Holiday Grief Event: https://events.lisaritesgrief.com/

• Follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

• Book on divorce & grief (with journaling prompts): available on her site

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DisclaimerThis video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer.

About Healthy Mind By AvikHealthy Mind By Avik is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it has become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, this channel brings you powerful podcasts and grounded conversations across mental health, emotional well-being, mindfulness, holistic healing, trauma recovery, and self-empowerment. With over 4,400 episodes and 168.4K global listeners, we are committed to amplifying stories and breaking stigma worldwide.Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.

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