Life has a way of catching up with you.

I’ve lost both of my parents. And last year, after the loss of my mom, I found myself in a really dark place. I was still showing up for life—but underneath it all, something wasn’t right. John (my husband) was the one who finally said it: it might be time to talk to someone.

So I did.

In this conversation, John and I  talk about why I went to therapy, the stigma that still surrounds it, and what happens when we avoid processing what life hands us.

Because if you don’t process grief, you carry it. Most of us are dragging around a U-Haul of unprocessed pain without even realizing it—and it eventually shows up somewhere: in our moods, our reactions, our relationships, even our performance.

In honor of Women’s History Month, this episode highlights a topic that matters deeply for women: making space to process loss, grief, and the pressures we carry every day.

We also talk about how to find the right therapist, why therapy isn’t just for when life falls apart, and how it helped me walk through the anniversary of my parents’ deaths.

Your body is designed to process what life brings you. But it can’t do that work if we never slow down long enough to face it.

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen to learn more : [0:00:00] Therapy Isn’t Just for “When Life Falls Apart.”

[0:04:19] Midlife, Hormones, and the Hidden Weight of Women’s Grief

[0:08:29] How to Actually Find the Right Therapist (and Advocate for Yourself)

[0:12:21] Metabolizing Grief: Turning U-Hauls of Pain into Rituals of Remembrance

[0:19:58] Therapy as Lifelong Maintenance, Not a One-Time Fix

In this episode, we are digging into changing the stigma around therapy, how to find the right therapist and why that matters, the impact of unprocessed emotions, what to expect during your first therapy appointment, practical ways to process grief and loss, being honest about your needs, and the importance of caring for your mental and emotional health. 

Listen to Paula’s episodes on Grief/Loss:

Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4

Connect with Paula on Instagram 

Get Paula's personal newsletter 

THE CARRY™ ALL NEWSLETTER by and for working moms

Paula’s Favorite Protein Powder 15% off

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices