The Growth After Loss Podcast
The Growth After Loss Podcast, hosted by Dr. Mari Marquez, provides a compassionate space for grief support as you navigate personal growth after the loss of a loved one. Join Dr. Mari, a personal growth educator with a Ph.D. in her field, for bi-weekly discussions that are grounded in compassion, research, practical tools, and heartfelt conversations centered on personal growth following the death of a loved one. It’s an invitation to grow alongside your grief.
info_outline
Finding Your Way: Healthy Coping Strategies | Growth After Loss – Dr. Mari Marquez
01/20/2026
Finding Your Way: Healthy Coping Strategies | Growth After Loss – Dr. Mari Marquez
Not all coping strategies support your grief journey—some can keep you stuck. In this episode, Dr. Mari Marquez, PhD, explores the difference between healthy and unhealthy coping strategies to help you navigate grief with compassion and clarity. Dr. Mari Marquez is a personal growth educator after loss with a PhD in educational psychology. Her research focuses on meaning-making and growth after significant loss, blending lived experience with evidence-based insights. In this episode, Dr. Mari shares her personal story of losing her husband and how she learned that understanding grief is only part of the journey—taking action with healthy coping strategies is what truly supports adaptation over time. She breaks down five research-backed coping approaches: problem-focused, emotion-focused, meaning-focused, social, and avoidance-focused strategies. You'll learn to recognize unhealthy patterns like substance use, social isolation, distraction, perfectionism, and rumination—and discover supportive alternatives like connecting with others, engaging with nature, creative expression, physical movement, and meaningful rituals. This episode is designed to help you make informed choices about which strategies align with your unique grief journey. What You'll Learn: The difference between adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies Why problem-focused, emotion-focused, and meaning-focused coping can support resilience How social connection acts as a buffer against grief-related stress The risks of substance use, isolation, and avoidance in prolonging emotional distress Practical, research-backed strategies: nature, creativity, movement, and rituals How to reflect on your own coping patterns and make intentional changes Connect with Dr. Mari: 🌐 Website: https://drmarimarquez.com 📧 Newsletter: [Sign up for exclusive insights] 📱 Instagram: @drmarimarquez 📘 Facebook: Dr. Mari Marquez Don't forget to subscribe for more episodes on grief education, personal growth after loss, and navigating life with compassion and purpose. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction – Dr. Mari's Personal Story 01:00 Start of Episode - Finding Your Way Through Grief 02:30 There's No "Right" Way to Grieve 04:40 Healthy vs. Unhealthy Coping Strategies 08:50 Problem-Focused Coping 09:47 Emotion-Focused Coping 10:27 Meaning-Focused Coping 11:14 Social Coping 11:46 Avoidance-Focused Coping 12:24 Understanding Adaptive vs. Maladaptive Strategies 14:30 Unhealthy Coping: Substance Abuse 15:12 Unhealthy Coping: Social Isolation 15:56 Unhealthy Coping: Distraction Techniques 16:33 Unhealthy Coping: Perfectionism 17:18 Unhealthy Coping: Rumination 18:24 Healthy Coping: Connecting with Others 19:39 Healthy Coping: Engaging with Nature 20:22 Healthy Coping: Creative Expression 21:37 Healthy Coping: Physical Movement 22:05 Healthy Coping: Memorials and Rituals 23:25 Reflection Exercise: What Will You Try? 24:37 Closing & Resources
/episode/index/show/78267f31-0fbe-4da5-9922-5b66599850ef/id/39779745
info_outline
The Five Stages of Grief Explained | Growth After Loss – Dr. Mari Marquez
01/06/2026
The Five Stages of Grief Explained | Growth After Loss – Dr. Mari Marquez
Are the Five Stages of Grief Descriptive or Prescriptive? Welcome to the Growth After Loss Podcast! In this enlightening episode, Dr. Mari Marquez, Ph.D., a personal growth educator, delves into the widely known Five Stages of Grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. What You'll Learn: - Why the Five Stages of Grief are descriptive, not prescriptive. - How grief is a non-linear journey filled with fluctuating emotions. - It’s completely normal to experience confusion, anger, or numbness at different times. - The importance of acknowledging your unique grieving process and practicing self-compassion. - Insightful stories and research on living with grief, maintaining bonds, and finding personal growth after loss. This episode blends education, lived experiences, and research to offer you a compassionate understanding of grief. It’s not therapy, but it provides valuable insights to help you navigate your journey with greater clarity and kindness. For more information on educational programs and resources, visit: Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes dedicated to grief education, personal experiences, and growth after loss. Like, share, and leave your thoughts in the comments below! Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:05 The Five Stages of Grief: Descriptive, Not Prescriptive 05:20 Understanding Emotional Variability in Grief 09:35 Personal Reflections: Am I Grieving Correctly? 13:45 Support & Connection: You Are Not Alone 18:10 Research Insights & Continuing Bonds 22:30 Encouragement for Self-Compassion 25:00 Closing
/episode/index/show/78267f31-0fbe-4da5-9922-5b66599850ef/id/39622500
info_outline
Rising From the Ashes: Growth After Loss| Dr. Mari
12/23/2025
Rising From the Ashes: Growth After Loss| Dr. Mari
Can We Really Rise from the Ashes? Discovering What Personal Growth After Loss Looks Like. In this episode of the Growth After Loss Podcast, Dr. Mari Marquez, Ph.D., Personal Growth Educator, explores the concepts of personal growth and post-traumatic growth after the death of a loved one. This conversation is grounded in research, lived experience, and deep respect for the reality of grief and living with loss. This episode is especially meaningful for listeners who are further along in their grief journey and beginning to reflect on how life can continue alongside grief—without rushing, minimizing pain, or forcing toxic positivity. In this episode, Dr. Mari Marquez discusses: How growth and grief can coexist over time. Common misconceptions about post-traumatic growth. The importance of support, community, and patience. Research insights from her own studies on growth after the loss of a significant loved one. This podcast is educational in nature and not a substitute for therapy. If you are seeking additional support, connecting with a licensed mental health professional or a grief-informed community may be helpful. ✨ Coming Soon: Dr. Mari Marquez shares details about her upcoming Growth After Loss Initiative Program (2026)—a research-informed educational program focused on a step-by-step approach to help you find supportive strategies and concepts that resonate with you, which can help nurture your personal growth and help you navigate your grief after the loss of a loved one(s). IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: Some links below are affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. My Children’s Books – Written by Dr. Mari Marquez: The Magical Soul: https://amzn.to/48CcKqa I Love You Always & Forever: https://amzn.to/48XZzid Referenced in the Show: Good Morning, I Love You by Dr. Shauna Shapiro: https://amzn.to/49bw4e0 Subscribe for more episodes on grief education, lived experience, and growth after loss. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:18 When Growth Conversations May Feel Too Soon 02:40 Imagining Life Alongside Grief 07:35 Personal Growth & Post-Traumatic Growth Explained 14:51 The Role of Support & Community 30:28 Reflection & Gentle Intention 31:53 Program Announcement & Closing
/episode/index/show/78267f31-0fbe-4da5-9922-5b66599850ef/id/39514145
info_outline
Navigating Grief: The Power of a Three Letter Word | Dr. Mari
12/09/2025
Navigating Grief: The Power of a Three Letter Word | Dr. Mari
The Power of a "Three Letter Word: Introduction to the Growth After Loss Podcast Welcome to the first episode of the Growth After Loss podcast with Dr. Mari Marquez. In this episode, Dr. Mari shares her personal journey through grief after losing her father and husband. She explores the definition and impact of grief based on insights from the American Psychological Association, practical exercises for managing grief, and the importance of seeking support. Dr. Mari reflects on her own research in psychology, focusing on personal and post-traumatic growth after significant loss. The episode encourages listeners to embrace new opportunities and take small, intentional steps toward a life filled with joy, meaning, and purpose. Subscribe for more episodes on research-based information on personal growth after loss. 00:00 Introduction: Navigating Life After Loss 02:16 Welcome to the Growth After Loss Podcast 04:13 Understanding Grief: Insights from the APA 06:23 Personal Story: My Journey Through Grief 11:51 The Power of a Three Letter Word 13:49 Steps to Personal Growth After Loss 20:18 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
/episode/index/show/78267f31-0fbe-4da5-9922-5b66599850ef/id/39332760