#132 When the Season Doesn’t Feel Merry: Honoring Grief, Creating Boundaries, and Finding Grace

In this heartfelt episode, When the Season Doesn’t Feel Merry: Honoring Grief, Creating Boundaries, and Finding Grace, Hali and Stephanie talk about how to navigate the holidays when your heart is still healing from betrayal. The season that’s “supposed to be” full of joy and family connection can feel heavy and disorienting after trust has been broken. Together they explore how to name and honor the layers of grief that surface this time of year, release the pressure to perform or pretend, and give yourself permission to do things differently. You’ll hear honest reflections about how grief can show up for both partners — from sadness and guilt to numbness or overwhelm — and how authenticity can become the first step toward peace.

They also share practical ways to protect your healing through boundaries, compassion, and grace. From creating a “holiday boundary check-in” to pausing for moments of shared breath and acknowledgment, this conversation offers tools to help couples stay grounded and connected through the discomfort. Whether you choose quiet simplicity or small new traditions, this episode is an invitation to honor your reality and care for your nervous system

Thank you for tuning in!

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Your Hosts:

Hali RoderickCertified Relational Recovery CoachTICC, ACC, APSATS CPC, ERCEM-C, Brainspotting Practitioner

Read Hali’s Bio

Stephanie HambyCertified Relational Recovery Coach MCLC, ACC, APSATS CPC, ERCEM-C Read Stephanie’s Bio