We have survived a year of coronavirus and the pandemic, but how do we really feel about what has happened? This week we bring back therapist and grief specialist Dr. Joanne Koegl. We had her on the show last year just after the pandemic began, to discuss grief & collective loss of normal life. During this week’s episode we cover everything from Joanne’s personal experience of loss due to covid to identifying survivor’s guilt and Paulina’s guilt & depression from her experience of surviving the disease last year. This was not an easy year for anyone but we’re here to listen, talk about our feelings and as always, we recommend reaching out to a professional if you feel deeper feelings that just aren’t getting resolved.

It’s okay to not be okay. If you are struggling, know that asking for help is a sign of strength. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential assistance.

More about Joanne: Dr. Joanne Diaz-Koegl is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist from Pasadena, California. Prior to her Master’s Degree, she worked for over 18 years as a television producer working on numerous TV Shows. After experiencing the sudden loss of her young husband in a car accident, she realized her life lacked a deeper meaning and purpose. She decided to return to college and received her Master of Arts in Marriage, Family, Therapy in 2005 and also wrote a 291 page thesis titled “The Impact on the Surviving Spouse with Respect to Anticipated Versus Unanticipated Death”. Joanne is very passionate in helping her clients thrive and grow from their experiences in therapy. She now specializes in couples counseling, premarital counseling, loss and grief, individual and personal growth therapy/coaching, and has worked with thousands of individuals and couples to create better, more fulfilled, happy lives.

Mindfulness Practices Recommended by Dr. Joanne to Help Process Traumatic Events

Talk about it. Find a mental health professional in your area. You can book a session with Joanne or find more resources here.
Journal. This is a great article for how to start journaling, another resource for journal prompts and we are very excited for Dulce Candy’s upcoming launch of self-love journals and more.