When Grief Doesn’t Go Away—and That’s Okay
Grief isn’t something we get over—it’s something we learn to live with. In this episode of The Good Grief Podcast, therapist Jill Ann Anderson joins Mike O’Connell and Pete Waggoner for an honest, moving conversation about what it means to truly process grief.
Jill shares her personal journey of loss, how it led her to become a grief therapist, and why so many people feel isolated in their pain.
Instead of avoiding uncomfortable emotions or rushing to “move on,” Jill explains the transformational power of simply feeling.
Whether you're grieving the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a version of life you expected to have, this episode reminds us that healing comes not from fixing grief—but from witnessing it with compassion.
Grief Isn’t a Straight Line
Episode Highlights & Key Takeaways
Jill Ann Anderson shares how personal loss led her to specialize in grief therapy
Why grief is not linear and doesn’t follow a specific timeline
The analogy of the “rice beds” and how grief requires a guide
How culture has “sanitized” death and made us uncomfortable with pain
The deep connection between childhood wounds and adult grief
Why witnessing, not fixing, is the core of healing
How therapy can help you rebuild after loss and find new meaning
Why some people resist healing and the importance of self-responsibility
The difference between suffering and feeling
How boundaries are meant for expansion, not exclusion
Grief as a path toward growth, authenticity, and inner strength
