On this episode, Leah Hadley welcomes Lisa Rites to share her profound expertise and personal journey as a certified grief educator. With over 40 years of experience as a respiratory therapist, Lisa Rites’s transition into grief education was fueled by both her professional encounters with families facing end-of-life and her own significant losses, including divorce.

Together, they dive deep into the emotional landscape of divorce, highlighting grief’s complexity and discussing the non-linear nature of healing. Lisa Rites draws from her story and her new book, “Navigating Grief and Divorce,” to offer grounded advice, hope, and practical tips for anyone struggling with grief during or after divorce.

Key Topics Covered:

- Stages of Grief in Divorce:
Lisa Rites opens up about her personal experience with denial, bargaining, anger, and acceptance, highlighting how these stages don’t proceed in order and often cycle.

- Anger and Acceptance:
Both Lisa Rites and Leah Hadley discuss anger as a dominant stage, and how moving toward acceptance often involves self-reflection and responsibility.

- Co-parenting and Inner Peace:
Lisa Rites shares how she and her ex-husband eventually became civil co-parents, emphasizing the importance of maintaining harmony for their children and finding personal peace.

- The Value of “Me Time”:
Both speakers highlight silver linings, especially how divorce can open up opportunities for self-care, rediscovery, and strengthening bonds with children.

- Rediscovering Identity After Divorce:
Lisa Rites explains how reclaiming old hobbies and expanding her social circle helped in finding herself as an individual, separate from her role as a wife and mother.

- Sharing Grief and Communicating Honestly:
The conversation underscores the importance of honest communication about emotions, including anger, and allowing yourself to feel without shame.

Resources Mentioned

Available Now at: https://www.lisaritesgrief.com/book, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

Connect with Lisa Rites:

Website: https://www.lisaritesgrief.com/ 

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/lisaritesgrief

FB: https://www.facebook.com/lisaritesgrief

IG: @lisaritesgrief

YT: Lisa Rites @angelsamongusgrief

Connect with Intentional Divorce Solutions:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/intentionaldivorcesolutions/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahahadley/

YT: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalDivorceInsights

Download our free divorce checklist at https://www.greatlakesdfs.com/divorce-checklist.