The Journey Beyond Death (Mental Health Resiliency 2/3): Grief, Guilt, and Growth

In Part 3 of The Journey Beyond Death—and the second installment of our Mental Health Resiliency arc—we take a deeply personal and professional dive into the labyrinth of grief. Guided by voices shaped through trauma, therapy, and triumph, this episode explores the raw emotional landscape that follows profound loss. With the haunting echoes of personal stories—from being raised by Holocaust survivors to losing parents to Alzheimer's and suicide—our guests share tools that helped them move through sorrow with grace: meditation, therapeutic writing, community, and nature. Psychotherapist Megan Bruneau and holistic psychiatrist Dr. Rebecca Valla illuminate how grieving minds need structure, empathy, and non-judgmental support. Clinical psychologist Dr. John Huber breaks down how guilt and irrational thinking can derail healing—and what practical methods can restore inner balance. Dr. Pat Baccili delivers powerful spiritual and psychological reflections on trauma and the human need to witness grief without solving it. We also highlight Functional Health Practitioner Karen Shoshana’s unique insights into how somatic care—sleep, breath, nutrition—can ground us during loss. And Dr. Gaini De Silva offers a compassionate look at adolescent grief and physical practices for emotional regulation. Together, these voices reveal that mourning is not a timeline but a terrain—and those who traverse it consciously can emerge stronger, wiser, and more open-hearted than ever. This episode reminds us that grief is sacred. It is an invitation to become more human, more whole, and, paradoxically, more alive. Whether you’ve just begun your grieving journey or are still haunted by echoes from years ago, this episode offers powerful emotional tools, insights, and hope. --------------------------------------- Featuring in order of appearance: 01:00 – Karen Shoshana 11:00 – Psychotherapist Megan Bruneau 13:46 – Dr. Pat Baccilli 20:00 - Forensic Psychologist Dr. John Huber 42:40 – Dr. Rebecca S. Valla --------------------------------------- Karen Shoshana Karen Shoshana is a highly respected Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, speaker, and wellness strategist. She is the founder of WellnessGirl.net, a platform dedicated to helping women reclaim their energy, hormonal balance, and vitality through root-cause functional health solutions. With a background in integrative nutrition and a passion for mind-body healing, Karen works primarily with women experiencing burnout, adrenal fatigue, and hormonal disruption. She’s the author of Hormonious: The Functional Approach to Optimal Wellness, Boundless Energy & Glowing Longevity, which outlines her signature protocol for restoring health naturally and sustainably. Karen blends science, spirituality, and personal empowerment to help clients heal deeply and live radiantly. Website: Book: Twitter: --------------------------------------- Megan Bruneau, M.A., RCC Megan Bruneau is a licensed psychotherapist, executive coach, podcast host, and thought leader in emotional wellness and performance psychology. She holds a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and has over 15 years of clinical experience helping high-performing individuals overcome perfectionism, imposter syndrome, anxiety, and trauma. Megan’s work has been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, and other top platforms. Her podcast, The Failure Factor, explores the intersection of mental health and professional growth, showcasing how embracing failure can lead to success. Known for her raw, compassionate, and no-BS approach, Megan empowers clients to cultivate resilience, authenticity, and self-worth in both personal and professional domains. Website: Forbes: Podcast: --------------------------------------- Dr. Pat Baccili Dr. Pat Baccili is a trailblazing voice in personal transformation media and one of the most influential women in positive talk radio. A behavioral psychologist by training and spiritual teacher by calling, Dr. Pat is the creator and host of The Dr. Pat Show – Talk Radio to Thrive By!, a nationally syndicated show blending science, spirituality, and self-mastery. She is also the founder of Transformation Talk Radio, a platform that amplifies conscious voices across the globe. Dr. Pat has been featured on TV, radio, and at international conferences, inspiring audiences with her fierce message of empowerment, resilience, and awakening. Her coaching work focuses on helping clients break through subconscious limitations to access their full potential. Website: Network: LinkedIn: --------------------------------------- Dr. John Huber Dr. John Huber is a nationally recognized clinical forensic psychologist with more than two decades of experience in diagnostics, behavioral health, and performance psychology. He currently serves as CEO of TripSitter Clinic, a leader in telemedicine-based ketamine therapy for anxiety, PTSD, and depression. Dr. Huber is known for his sharp insights on the intersection of mental health and public policy, frequently appearing as a guest expert on Fox News, ABC, CBS, CNN, and multiple national radio shows. His clinical work focuses on cognitive rehabilitation, addiction recovery, and trauma-informed care. Dr. Huber is also a passionate advocate for expanding access to alternative therapies and reshaping the future of mental health care through innovation and technology. Interview: --------------------------------------- Dr. Rebecca S. Valla, MD Dr. Rebecca S. Valla is a board-certified psychiatrist and holistic mental health expert based in North Carolina. With over 30 years of clinical experience, Dr. Valla integrates traditional psychiatric modalities with a heart-centered, soul-conscious approach to healing. Her work addresses the deeper emotional, spiritual, and energetic roots of suffering, helping individuals move beyond symptom management into genuine transformation. Dr. Valla is also a teacher, speaker, and advocate for conscious medicine, encouraging clients to awaken to their life purpose and inner truth. She has a special interest in near-death experiences, consciousness studies, and integrative healing practices. Her private practice serves clients seeking depth, authenticity, and lasting emotional freedom. Website: Physician Profile: --------------------------------------- The Journey Beyond Death podcast, grief healing, Karen Shoshana, mental health resilience Megan Bruneau, Dr. Pat Baccili grief advice, Dr. John Huber mental health, Dr. Gaini De Silva adolescent grief, Dr. Rebecca Valla holistic psychiatry, meditation for grief recovery, writing letters to the dead, how to cope with profound loss, emotional healing after death, alternative mental health therapies podcast, trauma-informed grief support, functional wellness for mourning, spiritual perspective on grief, somatic healing from loss, coping with parent loss, guilt after death healing tips, death and emotional growth podcast