Defining Grief: Why Healing Is Non-Linear

Grief is not something we “get over.” It is something we learn how to live with.

In the Season 2 premiere of Now Serving Therapy, host Dalton Huckaby is joined by associate marriage and family therapist Lindsey Smith of Izzo Therapy for a thoughtful and compassionate conversation about grief, loss, and healing.

This episode explores why grief is deeply personal and non-linear, and why the pressure to “move on” or follow a set timeline can make healing more difficult. Lindsey and Dalton challenge common misconceptions about grief stages, explain where those ideas came from, and clarify why grief does not unfold in a predictable order.

Together, they discuss how grief lives not only in our emotions, but also in the body, relationships, identity, and sense of meaning. Lindsey emphasizes the importance of grounding and somatic practices to create safety before attempting to process grief, while Dalton reflects on how cultural expectations around productivity and performance often discourage people from slowing down and tending to emotional pain.

The conversation also covers practical tools for coping with grief as it comes in waves. Lindsey shares supportive practices such as journaling, writing letters to loved ones who have passed, creating personal or family grief rituals, and building an individualized emotional regulation “first aid kit” to use during overwhelming moments. Listeners are encouraged to identify their own grief triggers and to practice self-compassion when grief resurfaces unexpectedly.

Rather than viewing grief as something to overcome, this episode reframes grief as an experience that evolves over time — one that can be carried differently with support, awareness, and care. Lindsey also highlights the importance of seeking professional help sooner rather than later, noting that emotional pain deserves the same attention and care as physical injury.

This episode is for anyone navigating loss, supporting someone who is grieving, or wanting to better understand the realities of grief before a loss occurs.

• What grief really is and how it shows up

• Why grief is non-linear and unpredictable

• Debunking myths about grief stages and timelines

• How grief lives in the body (somatic responses)

• Grounding practices for emotional safety

• Journaling, letter-writing, and grief rituals

• Understanding grief as waves and identifying triggers

• Emotional regulation tools for overwhelming moments

• Setting boundaries while grieving

• When and why to seek professional support

🎧 Now Serving Therapy
Hosted by Dalton Huckaby
📅 Season 2 Premiere — December 19, 2025

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

🧠 Topics Covered