Understanding Parental Grief: Healing in a Lifelong Journey

In this episode, host Lisa Weiss, LCSW, sits down with Alexandria Bleich, LPC, for an honest conversation about what it really means to lose a parent. Together, they talk openly about how grief doesn’t follow a timeline, how it can show up years later in unexpected ways, and how it shapes who we become. They explore the messy, lifelong nature of parental loss, the pressure we put on ourselves to “be okay,” and why self-compassion matters more than ever. Lisa and Alexandria also share the importance of therapy, personal rituals, and supportive communities in finding a way forward—without pretending the pain disappears.