Épisodes

  • 15 | RP: Living with Grief Fog: Why Your Brain Feels This Way
    Apr 23 2026

    In this replay Daiana shares personal insights on grief brain, relationship dynamics, and practical coping strategies. She briefly explores navigating grief, emotional exhaustion, and the importance of self-compassion during difficult times.

    In this episode, Cassandra and Daiana delve into the complexities of grief, particularly focusing on the concept of 'grief brain' and its effects on mental clarity. They discuss empathy fatigue, a common experience among therapists and caregivers, and the importance of utilizing distress tolerance skills to manage emotional surges. The conversation shifts to the role of entertainment in coping with grief, highlighting how shows like 'The Good Place' can provide comfort and insight into the human experience of loss. The hosts emphasize the significance of creating meaning from grief and the ongoing journey of healing.

    ACCEPTS Skill: https://dbt.tools/distress_tolerance/accepts.php

    Connect With Us: We’re building a space where every loss is seen. Have a 'Living Loss Lesson' or a topic you’d like us to explore? Email us your story. If you have an experience you’d like us to share, let us know, we are always happy to share your stories anonymously to keep this a safe space for our community.

    Instagram: @thelivinglosspodcast Email: hello@livinglosspodcast.com

    Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, follow, share and leave a review. It helps us reach others who need to hear that their grief is valid

    Work with Daiana If you’re interested in a consultation for individual therapy, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below.
    • Email: healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com
    • Website: MeaningfulTherapyFL.com
    • Location: Riverview, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.
    Work with Cassandra If you’re interested in a consultation, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below.
    • Email: Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com
    • Website: firststridezcounseling.com
    • Location: Ocala, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    Disclaimer: While we are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, listening to this podcast or reaching out for a consultation does not replace professional therapy or establish a therapist-client relationship. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or head to your nearest emergency room.



    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    34 min
  • 14 | RP: Living with Hidden Grief: An Introduction and a personal update.
    Apr 16 2026

    Daiana shares a personal update about taking time off to grieve and be with family. She then delves into the psychology of grief, highlighting the cognitive reorganization and the different types of grief experiences. The conversation provides clarity and comfort to the audience.

    Replay: The Living Loss Podcast explores the complexities of non-death grief, shedding light on different types of non-death grief such as ambiguous loss, disenfranchised grief, anticipatory grief, delayed grief, and complicated grief. The hosts share personal experiences and insights, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and validating non-death grief while finding meaning and seeking community support.

    Show notes

    Connect With Us:

    Join the Community: We’re building a space where every loss is seen. Have a 'Living Loss Lesson' or a topic you’d like us to explore? Email us your story. If you have an experience you’d like us to share on the air, let us know, we are always happy to share your stories anonymously to keep this a safe space for our community.

    Instagram: @thelivinglosspodcast

    Email: hello@livinglosspodcast.com

    Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, follow, share and leave a review. It helps us reach others who need to hear that their grief is valid.

    If you’re interested in a consultation for individual therapy with Daiana Bernard, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below.

    Email: healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com

    Website: MeaningfulTherapyFL.com

    Location: Riverview, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    If you’re interested in a consultation with Cassandra Harris-Towner please reach out via email or visit the practice website below.

    Email: Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com

    Website: firststridezcounseling.com

    Location: Ocala, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    Disclaimer: While we are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, listening to this podcast or reaching out for a consultation does not replace professional therapy or establish a therapist-client relationship. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or head to your nearest emergency room.

    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    27 min
  • 13 | Living with Eating Disorder Loss: The Reality of Grief in Recovery with Briana Rogers, LMHC
    Apr 9 2026

    The Living Loss Podcast explores the complex grief experienced in eating disorders, addressing topics such as ambiguous loss, disenfranchised grief, shame, identity, and the impact on relationships. It delves into coping mechanisms, the recovery paradox, and the importance of supporting individuals with eating disorders. The podcast emphasizes the normalcy of grief in recovery and the need to honor the loss experienced.

    Connect With Us:

    Join the Community: We’re building a space where every loss is seen. Have a 'Living Loss Lesson' or a topic you’d like us to explore? Email us your story. If you have an experience you’d like us to share on the air, let us know, we are always happy to share your stories anonymously to keep this a safe space for our community. Instagram: @thelivinglosspodcast Email: hello@livinglosspodcast.com

    Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, follow, share and leave a review. It helps us reach others who need to hear that their grief is valid.

    If you’re interested in a consultation for individual therapy with Daiana Bernard, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below.

    Email: healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com Website: MeaningfulTherapyFL.com Location: Riverview, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    If you’re interested in a consultation with Cassandra Harris-Towner please reach out via email or visit the practice website below. Email: Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com Website: firststridezcounseling.com Location: Ocala, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    Our Guest: Briana Rogers, LMHC

    Website: naturallyyoucounseling.com

    Instagram: @naturallyyoucounseling

    Disclaimer: While we are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, listening to this podcast or reaching out for a consultation does not replace professional therapy or establish a therapist-client relationship. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or head to your nearest emergency room.


    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    40 min
  • 12 | Living with Family Estrangement: Navigating the Silent Break with Lee Horton-Carter
    Apr 2 2026

    Daiana and Cassandra, with special guest Lee Horton-Carter, retired psychotherapist, explore the concept of ambiguous loss and family estrangement, shedding light on the psychological and emotional impact of living with estrangement. We would like to mention that today’s conversation does touch on the subject of sexual abuse and could be triggering to some listeners. It is not the overall focus but we wanted to be mindful of everyone’s experiences.

    The conversation delves into the experience of estrangement, the impact on identity, and the journey of finding belonging and healing outside of the family system. The conversation delves into the complexities of estrangement and its impact on relationships, identity, and resilience. Lee shares personal experiences and insights, highlighting the challenges and growth associated with estrangement from family.

    Connect With Us:

    Join the Community: We’re building a space where every loss is seen. Have a 'Living Loss Lesson' or a topic you’d like us to explore? Email us your story. If you have an experience you’d like us to share on the air, let us know, we are always happy to share your stories anonymously to keep this a safe space for our community. Lee would also love to hear from you if her story resonated with you!

    Instagram: @thelivinglosspodcast

    Email: hello@livinglosspodcast.com

    Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, follow, share and leave a review. It helps us reach others who need to hear that their grief is valid.

    If you’re interested in a consultation for individual therapy with Daiana Bernard, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below.

    Email: healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com

    Website: MeaningfulTherapyFL.com

    Location: Riverview, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    If you’re interested in a consultation with Cassandra Harris-Towner please reach out via email or visit the practice website below.

    Email: Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com

    Website: firststridezcounseling.com

    Location: Ocala, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    Disclaimer: While we are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, listening to this podcast or reaching out for a consultation does not replace professional therapy or establish a therapist-client relationship. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or head to your nearest emergency room.


    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    44 min
  • 11 | Living with the Weight we Never Put Down: Finding the Light with Author Joel Asencio, LMHC
    Mar 26 2026

    In this episode of The Living Loss, Daiana Bernard and Cassandra Harris-Towner sit down with author Joel Asensio for a deeply moving conversation about the types of grief that often go unacknowledged. We dive into the "unseen" side of suffering, from the heavy fog of depression to the complexities of loving someone through their darkest mental health struggles.

    Joel shares the heart behind his novella, How Much Could a Clementine Weigh?, and how storytelling serves as a vital bridge toward connection and hope. Whether you are navigating your own "quiet" loss or supporting someone else through theirs, this episode offers a gentle space to feel seen.

    Purchase “How Much Could A Clementine Weigh?" Anywhere books are sold.

    Follow Joel on Instagram @authorjoelasencio

    Connect With Us:

    Join the Community: We’re building a space where every loss is seen. Have a 'Living Loss Lesson' or a topic you’d like us to explore? Email us your story. If you have an experience you’d like us to share on the air, let us know, we are always happy to share your stories anonymously to keep this a safe space for our community.

    Instagram: @thelivinglosspodcast

    Email: hello@livinglosspodcast.com

    Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, follow, share and leave a review. It helps us reach others who need to hear that their grief is valid.

    If you’re interested in a consultation for individual therapy with Daiana Bernard, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below.

    Email: healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com

    Website: MeaningfulTherapyFL.com Location: Riverview, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    If you’re interested in a consultation with Cassandra Harris-Towner please reach out via email or visit the practice website below. Email: Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com

    Website: firststridezcounseling.com

    Location: Ocala, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    Disclaimer: While we are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, listening to this podcast or reaching out for a consultation does not replace professional therapy or establish a therapist-client relationship. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or head to your nearest emergency room.


    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    30 min
  • 10 | Living with the Stages of Parenting: Grieving the Versions of Our Kids w/ Christine Vega-Perez
    Mar 19 2026

    Parenting is a series of beautiful hellos and quiet, heavy goodbyes. In this episode, we’re diving into the "living losses" that come with raising children—the grief of outgrowing a stage, the shift in our own identities as they gain independence, and the bittersweet reality of watching the versions of our kids we once knew slip away to make room for who they are becoming.

    Join Daiana and Cassandra as they sit down with life coach and healthcare professional Christine Vega-Perez. Together, they explore how to process anticipatory grief, release "mom guilt," and build a foundation of calm amid the chaotic transitions of parenthood.

    Connect with Christine:
    www.instagram.com/@lifecoach.christine

    www.facebook.com/lifesriskmanagement

    www.linkedin.com/in/christine-vega-perez/

    Join the Community: We’re building a space where every loss is seen. Have a 'Living Loss Lesson' or a topic you’d like us to explore? Email us your story. If you have an experience you’d like us to share on the air, let us know, we are always happy to share your stories anonymously to keep this a safe space for our community.

    Instagram: @thelivinglosspodcast

    Email: hello@livinglosspodcast.com

    Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, follow, share and leave a review. It helps us reach others who need to hear that their grief is valid.

    If you’re interested in a consultation for individual therapy with Daiana Bernard, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below.

    Email: healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com

    Website: MeaningfulTherapyFL.com

    Location: Riverview, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    If you’re interested in a consultation with Cassandra Harris-Towner please reach out via email or visit the practice website below.

    Email: Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com

    Website: firststridezcounseling.com

    Location: Ocala, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    Disclaimer: While we are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, listening to this podcast or reaching out for a consultation does not replace professional therapy or establish a therapist-client relationship. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or head to your nearest emergency room.


    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    32 min
  • 09 | Living with the Silence: Navigating the Loss of Friendships
    Mar 12 2026

    The Living Loss podcast explores the quiet, complex grief of friendship loss and the impact it has on identity, closure, and emotional trust. The conversation delves into the emotional impact of ambiguous loss, disenfranchised grief, and the challenge of finding closure in relationships. It also highlights the significance of friendship loss and the emotional flexibility it can provide, along with tangible takeaways for coping with loss and grief.

    Chapters

    00:00 Understanding Quiet Losses

    03:03 Navigating Friendship Loss

    06:02 The Impact of Closure and Rumination

    08:56 Attachment and Identity Disruption

    11:45 The Emotional Weight of Friendship Changes

    14:59 The Narrative of Loss

    17:46 Finding Meaning in Grief

    21:41 Integrating Loss and Grief

    24:55 The Evolution of Friendships

    29:00 Quality Over Quantity in Relationships

    35:15 Living Loss Lessons and Self-Discovery

    39:53 NEWCHAPTER

    Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_p25phFIx94

    Resource: https://www.attachmentproject.com/

    Connect With Us:

    Join the Community: We’re building a space where every loss is seen. Have a 'Living Loss Lesson' or a topic you’d like us to explore? Email us your story. If you have an experience you’d like us to share on the air, let us know, we are always happy to share your stories anonymously to keep this a safe space for our community.

    Instagram: @thelivinglosspodcast

    Email: hello@livinglosspodcast.com

    Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, follow, share and leave a review. It helps us reach others who need to hear that their grief is valid.

    If you’re interested in a consultation for individual therapy with Daiana Bernard, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below.

    Email: healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com Website: MeaningfulTherapyFL.com Location: Riverview, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.


    If you’re interested in a consultation with Cassandra Harris-Towner please reach out via email or visit the practice website below. Email: Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com Website: firststridezcounseling.com Location: Ocala, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    Disclaimer: While we are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, listening to this podcast or reaching out for a consultation does not replace professional therapy or establish a therapist-client relationship. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or head to your nearest emergency room.


    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    40 min
  • 08 | Living with Alopecia: Navigating the Hidden Grief with Bridgid
    Mar 5 2026

    In this episode of the Living Loss podcast, hosts Cassandra and Daiana explore the often-overlooked grief associated with alopecia, a condition that leads to hair loss and can profoundly impact identity and self-image. They are joined by Brigid, who shares her personal journey with alopecia, discussing the emotional toll of camouflaging her hair loss, the challenges of dating, and the journey towards self-acceptance. The conversation emphasizes the importance of empathy, connection, and the lessons learned through grief, ultimately highlighting the strength found in vulnerability and community support.

    Chapters

    00:00 Understanding Quiet Losses: The Impact of Alopecia

    02:55 Brigid's Journey: Navigating Identity and Hair Loss

    06:01 The Emotional Toll: Camouflaging and Dating Challenges

    09:00 Acceptance and Self-Expression: Embracing Baldness

    11:58 Empathy and Connection: Sharing the Alopecia Experience

    14:48 Living Loss Lessons: Strength and Purpose in Grief

    Join the Community: "We’re building a space where every loss is seen. Have a 'Living Loss Lesson' or a topic you’d like us to explore? Email us your story. If you have an experience you’d like us to share on the air, let us know, we are always happy to share your stories anonymously to keep this a safe space for our community. Instagram: @thelivinglosspodcast Email: hello@livinglosspodcast.com

    Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, follow, share and leave a review. It helps us reach others who need to hear that their grief is valid.

    Work with Daiana If you’re interested in a consultation for individual therapy, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below.

    • Email: healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com
    • Website: MeaningfulTherapyFL.com
    • Location: Riverview, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    Daiana is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and the owner of Meaningful Therapy. She provides a supportive, neurodivergent and trauma-informed space for adults.

    Work with Cassandra If you’re interested in a consultation, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below.

    • Email: Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com
    • Website: firststridezcounseling.com
    • Location: Ocala, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida.

    Cassandra is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) at First Stridez Counseling. She provides a supportive, neurodivergent-affirming space for: Individuals & Couples: Supporting adolescents, young adults, and adults of all ages.

    Disclaimer: While we are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, listening to this podcast or reaching out for a consultation does not replace professional therapy or establish a therapist-client relationship. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or head to your nearest emergency room.

    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    29 min