Therapist and host, Malisa Hepner, sits again with Kirsten OConnor, author of The Year After Kahlia and found of thisisgrief.nz, for a conversation among two friends, as they explore the realities of grief, emotional resilience, and learning how to care for yourself through loss. Together, they discuss the ways grief impacts daily life, the importance of rituals and self-compassion, and how healing often unfolds in messy, non-linear ways. This candid episode offers comfort, validation, and grounded insights for anyone navigating heartbreak, bereavement, emotional exhaustion, or major life transitions.

Grief often makes people believe they must "push through" or return to normal quickly, but healing usually begins with smaller, gentler acts of care. Choose one grounding ritual this week — journaling, lighting a candle, taking a walk, listening to music, or checking in with your emotions without judgment — and allow it to become a moment of connection rather than performance. Small, repeated acts of self-compassion help rebuild safety and resilience over time.

* Emotionally Unavailable is produced 100% in-house. No team, just me and my love for yapping and helping others. If this show has ever helped you in any way, here is your chance to help it keep going strong. Subscribe to the patreon, grab some merch or get a workbook! I appreciate you all.

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

$5 - Early Ad free episodes + Occasional other goodies!
$10 - Benefits listed above and access to growing voice library support for spiraling/overthinking (along with workbooks and practices)
$30 - Deeper work and group spaces

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Kirsten's links: Website, Insta, Tiktok

Kirsten's last convo on Emotionally Unavailable: Spotify, Apple