Episode 4 Grief and the Brain: Navigating Loss with Martha Rouleau

In this deeply moving episode, Yedda and Martha Rouleau explore the neuroscience of grief and how it impacts the brain at both biological and emotional levels. Martha Rouleau is an educator, mindfulness coach, and expert in neuroscience, particularly how mindfulness impacts the brain. She holds certifications in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), and is trained in contemplative neuroscience. Martha has worked extensively with educators, healthcare providers, and corporate professionals, helping them integrate mindfulness practices to improve well-being and resilience. Her background in education and neuroscience informs her understanding of how grief affects the brain and the body's nervous system, providing a compassionate and science-based approach to navigating loss. Martha, an expert in grief and neuroplasticity with a strong academic background, discusses why acknowledging grief is crucial for healing and how it manifests in various forms of loss, from losing a loved one to losing a job. The episode offers practical advice on how to move through the grieving process with mindfulness and compassion.

Key takeaways include:

• The neuroscience behind grief and its effect on the brain’s biology.
• How grief changes the brain through neuroplasticity and why this matters.
• Ways to honor and navigate the grieving process in a healthy, mindful way.
• How grief shows up in all forms of loss, not just the loss of life.

Martha’s work in this field has been instrumental in helping people understand and embrace grief. Her contributions to the Innerwork Center’s programs offer participants powerful tools to process loss and heal from within. She offers a 6 week course on navigating loss with compassion. Visit www.innerworkcenter.org/workshops to learn more.