The Body’s Language of Grief: Felt Emotion and Mind-Body Healing with Dr. Jenn Rapkin (Part 1)

Dr. Christina Zampitella hosts Phoenix Rising and speaks with Dr. Jenn Rapkin about building tolerance for everyday and intense emotions through somatic awareness rather than distraction. They discuss how constant access to phones, media, food, and other numbing habits reduces our ability to sit with both good and hard feelings, which complicates grief and trauma. Rapkin offers two steps to practice: locate an emotion in the body (location, shape, density, intensity, color) and then invite it in for a few minutes with compassion, noticing whether it shifts or dissipates. They contrast her “listening touch” approach with Reiki, address medicine’s fear and devaluing of emotions, and share ways to find somatic therapists and modalities. Rapkin mentions her book, The Feeling Muscle, her website drjennrapkin.com, and key takeaways about capability, body wisdom, and accompanying feelings without fixing them.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Dr. Christina Zampitella sits down with naturopathic physician and body worker Dr. Jenn Rapkin to explore the body’s role in grief, trauma, and emotional healing.

Together, they unpack the concept of “felt emotion” — the physical experience of emotions like grief, anxiety, anger, and overwhelm — and why so many people become disconnected from what their bodies are trying to communicate.

Dr. Rapkin shares her personal journey from emotional numbing to deeper mind-body awareness, shaped by experiences with dance, OCD, chronic illness, and healing work. The conversation also explores how emotions can manifest physically, why grief often lives in the body, and how building tolerance for everyday feelings can strengthen resilience during more overwhelming experiences.

This episode offers a thoughtful look at nervous system regulation, body awareness, emotional processing, and the importance of learning how to stay present with ourselves in difficult moments.

Topics Discussed:

• What “felt emotion” means

• Why we disconnect from bodily sensations

• Grief, anxiety, and trauma in the body

• Mind-body healing and nervous system responses

• The connection between emotional and physical experience

• Building emotional resilience through body awareness

• Safety, pacing, and staying present with difficult feelings

• Dr. Rapkin’s integrative approach to healing and bodywork

Purchase a copy of her book, The Feeling Muscle: https://drjennrapkin.com/

Stay tuned for part 2 dropping next week.

Linking Objects in Grief: What to Keep, What to Let Go & How Memories Live On | Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z

Dr. Christina Zampitella hosts a conversation on “linking objects” and how personal items can comfort or overwhelm after loss. The guest shares that individual objects usually evoke positive memories, but the sheer volume of an estate can create resentment, burden, and anger—especially when handling a parent’s possessions alone and under time pressure. Dr. Z describes clearing her parents’ home after two deaths close together, the pain of choosing what to keep, and the distress of an insensitive estate-sale experience. They discuss how attachment to items can change over time, how to differentiate what mattered to the deceased versus what matters to the survivor, and how donating can be meaningful when intentional. They note linking objects should feel grounding and comforting, and that people, shared stories, and personal “imprints” can also serve as powerful links.

00:00 Welcome to Phoenix Rising

00:30 Do Objects Trigger Pain

01:36 Overwhelmed by the Estate

03:30 Dr Z Estate Sale Story

09:13 Keeping Rooms Intact

12:32 Which Items Truly Link

13:40 Mom’s Books and Connection

14:51 Jack’s Shoes and Timing

17:33 Dad’s Furniture Expectations

20:49 Defining Linking Objects

24:33 Beyond Things People Imprints

25:43 Closing Thanks and Callouts

Linking Objects in Grief: Finding Comfort and Continued Bonds with Mimi Rayl | Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z

Dr. Christina Zampitella hosts Mimi Rayl on Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z to explain “linking objects,” physical items that help maintain a healthy continued bond with someone who has died while allowing a person to move forward rather than “move on.” Mimi shares losses including her partner Jack (died in 2020 during COVID), her father (complications of dementia), her mother (2002), and other close losses, and describes how specific items anchor and comfort her: a painted portrait of Jack near a shared chair, a stuffed bear gifted by Jack that provides tactile comfort, and jewelry tied to shared experiences. She also shows Inuit bear sculptures connected to her father and a crystal cat linked to her mother, noting these artifacts reconnect her to positive memories and reduce loneliness and feeling unmoored.

00:00 Welcome to Phoenix Rising

01:17 Meet Mimi Rayl

02:47 What Are Linking Objects

05:17 Jack and the Home

06:13 Portrait That Keeps Him Close

08:29 Bear the Comfort Anchor

12:06 Jewelry as Connection

15:57 How Linking Objects Help Grief

18:12 Moving Forward Not Moving On

25:53 Dad Bear and Inuit Carvings

28:41 Mom Sadie and Reconnection

30:31 Artifacts and Mixed Emotions

Supporting Student Athletes After Suicide Loss with Chris Warren (Part 2)

In this episode of Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z, Dr. Christina Zampitella continues her conversation with Chris Warren, exploring the ongoing impact of losing student athletes to suicide.

This part of the conversation focuses on what happens after the initial loss and how grief is processed in groups, the role of community in healing, and the lasting effects of navigating tragedy both within and outside of that support system.

Chris shares his experience of losing a second student athlete while being physically removed from his team, highlighting the isolation, guilt, and coping challenges that followed. Together, they discuss the importance of connection, the impact of stigma, and why avoiding conversations about suicide can make healing more difficult.

This episode also explores:

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If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. Support is available. You can call or text 988 in the United States to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org for chat support. If you are outside the U.S., please reach out to local emergency services or a trusted support resource in your area.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

Supporting Student Athletes After Suicide Loss with Chris Warren (Part 1)

In this episode of Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z, Dr. Christina Zampitella sits down with Chris Warren, LPCMH (Licensed Professional Counselor at the Center for Grief and Trauma Therapy) to talk about the loss of student athletes to suicide and the impact of that loss from the perspective of a coach and mentor.

Chris shares his experience working closely with two high school athletes who died by suicide, and what it was like to receive that news, support other students through the loss, and navigate his own grief at the same time.

This conversation explores the complexity of grief in leadership roles, including:

• Supporting adolescents after a peer’s death

• The pressure to “hold it together” while grieving

• The loss of control that comes with suicide

• And the weight of “what if” and “if only” thoughts that can follow This episode offers an honest look at grief, responsibility, and the lasting impact of loss — both personally and professionally.

This is part 1 of a two-part series. Tune in next week for part 2. **********

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. Support is available. You can call or text 988 in the United States to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org for chat support. If you are outside the U.S., please reach out to local emergency services or a trusted support resource in your area.

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:40 – Meet Chris Warren

01:30 – Coaching and Mentorship Background

02:30 – First Loss: Gabby’s Story 03:30 – Learning About the Loss

05:30 – Receiving the News

07:00 – Shock, Disbelief, and Emotional Response

08:30 – Immediate Reactions and Coping

10:00 – Problem-Solving Mode vs. Grief

11:30 – Navigating Uncertainty and Lack of Protocol

12:45 – Supporting Student Athletes

13:45 – Creating Space for Grief in a Team Setting

15:00 – The Role of Choice and Autonomy

16:30 – Coaching Skills in Crisis

18:00 – Individual vs. Group Grief

19:30 – Identity and Loss in Adolescence

21:00 – Impact on Teammates

22:30 – Difficulty Talking About Suicide

23:30 – Loss of Control

24:30 – Prior Conversations About Mental Health

25:30 – “I Missed Something”

26:30 – Guilt and Responsibility

27:30 – Navigating “If Only” Thoughts

28:30 – Self-Forgiveness and Reflection

29:30 – Understanding Grief Over Time

The Impact of Loss on Couples and Families | Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z ft. Perlyn Severe

Dr. Christina Zampitella hosts Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z and welcomes Perlyn Severe, a licensed marriage and family therapist at the Center for Grief and Trauma Therapy with advanced substance abuse certification, to discuss how grief and trauma impact couples and family systems. Sever shares her background and explains how loss can intensify existing relationship patterns, from closeness that becomes insular and ruminative to distance, imbalance, resentment, and conflict, including how codependency and enabling can emerge when substances are involved. They describe signs that outside support may be needed when problems surface through work, children’s behavior, or worsening functioning. The conversation also highlights healthy grieving in families—open communication, flexibility, and tolerance for each other’s pain—and notes differences in grieving styles, including intuitive versus instrumental grieving, and how expanding emotional vocabulary and coping skills can help couples adapt.

00:00 Welcome to Phoenix Rising

00:41 Meet the Guest Therapist

01:33 Why Grief Hits Couples

03:36 Training in Family Therapy

04:35 Family Trauma and Attachment

06:05 Career Shift to Addiction Work

07:41 Personal Path to Grief Work

09:56 How Loss Exposes Patterns

12:11 Cocooning and Rumination

15:01 Secure Team vs Us Against World

15:54 Codependency After Trauma

16:56 Couple Culture and Systems

17:48 What Enabling Provides

18:37 Gendered Protection Patterns

20:26 Grief Creates Imbalance

22:12 Resentment and Distancing

23:30 Healthy Family Grieving

23:57 Flexibility and Tolerance

25:28 Building Resilience in Therapy

27:53 Different Grieving Styles

29:16 Expanding Coping Repertoire

Healing Through Grief, Trauma & Chronic Illness: Support Systems, Agency, and Finding Meaning | Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z Dr. Christina Zampitella hosts a Phoenix Rising conversation focused on healing from grief, trauma, and chronic or life-threatening illness. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of healthy social support and the harm of “problematic” support that minimizes illness, and suggests alternatives such as therapy, peer support groups (including diagnosis- or loss-specific groups), social workers, and online resources that are often free and more accessible. They describe how peer communities can provide practical patient-to-patient guidance and reduce isolation, and stress advocating for oneself in the medical system by seeking specialists and teaching hospitals, getting second opinions, and finding providers who are trustworthy and able to pivot care. The speakers acknowledge systemic barriers and inequities, including the impact of race, privilege, socioeconomic factors, language, distrust of medical systems, and misogyny in healthcare and research. Personal experiences are shared involving leukemia treatment and maintenance therapy, epilepsy, and multiple sudden losses (a son, father, mother, and a dog), including the trauma and logistical strain of traveling for infusions and caregiving, and the concept of anticipatory grief for caregivers. The conversation explores coping traits like optimism, catastrophizing, and resiliency; the role of information and agency; accommodations and boundaries; identity shifts and secondary losses; and the importance of basics such as sleep, mental health, nutrition, and manageable movement. They also critically examine the concept of post-traumatic growth, cautioning against placing a burden on survivors to find a silver lining or transformation. The episode closes with an invitation for viewer comments and a reminder that challenge can awaken the power to heal.

00:00 Phoenix Rising Intro: Healing Through Grief & Trauma

00:28 Must-Dos vs Wanna-Dos: Making Accommodations for Illness

00:46 The Power (and Pitfalls) of Social Support During Treatment

02:21 When Support Is Missing: Therapy as a Lifeline

03:19 Peer Support That Fits: Finding the Right Grief/Illness Community

06:21 Resources, Online Groups & the Financial Reality of Chronic Illness

07:04 Specialists, Trust & Hard Medical Decisions (Leukemia Care)

07:40 Double Loss While in Treatment: Dad’s Death, Then Mom’s

17:25 Caretakers’ Burden: Partners, Parents & Anticipatory Grief

19:31 Resilience Toolkit: Optimism, Information, Agency & Self-Advocacy

25:40 Hunting for Help: Providers, Social Workers, and Not Taking No

28:45 When to Pivot: Trust Your Gut & Find the Right Doctor 30:04 Privilege, Race, and Access: Who Gets Heard in Healthcare

30:55 Women’s Pain, Misogyny, and the Gender Data Gap in Medicine

33:26 Go to the Specialists: Why Teaching Hospitals Can Change Everything

35:55 The Weird Spotlight of Illness: Attention, Validation, and Need

37:44 Making Meaning & Identity Shifts After Diagnosis and Loss

39:52 Coping Tools: Self-Compassion, Joy, and the “And” Mindset

43:13 The Four Pillars: Sleep, Movement, Food, and Mental Health

45:07 Secondary Losses & Grief Beyond Death (and the Possibility of Growth)

47:12 Challenging “Post-Traumatic Growth”: Pressure, Disenfranchisement, and Change

54:05 Closing Thoughts, Thanks, and How to Join the Conversation