In this episode of The Joy! A.A.C.T.™ Podcast, Dr. Lisa guides you into the Testing stage of the Loss Cycle — the moment you start living again. Not by jumping into romance, forcing healing, or pretending you’re “over it”… but by experimenting, exploring, and allowing curiosity to lead you forward.

This stage isn’t about perfection. It’s about movement. Small ones. Brave ones. Honest ones.

You’ll learn how to step back into your life with intention — whether that means updating your résumé, joining a new group, taking yourself to lunch, or yes, even creating a dating profile… but this time with boundaries, clarity, and self-respect at the center.

Testing isn’t about replacing anyone. It’s about rediscovering you.

If you’re ready to try — gently, slowly, intentionally — this episode will meet you right where you are.

In this powerful episode of The Joy! A.A.C.T.™ Podcast, Dr. Lisa Summerour breaks down the least-discussed stage of the loss cycle: depression. With honesty, clarity, and compassion, she explains why depression during divorce is not a failure—it’s a natural, human response to loss.

Drawing from her own journey and the teachings of Dr. Kübler-Ross, Dr. Lisa helps you understand the difference between grief-related depression and clinical depression, why emotions repeat in cycles, and why avoiding the sadness actually slows healing.

You’ll hear practical tools to help you move through the heaviness—timed emotional processing, movement, grounding, connection, and simple self-care that keeps your mind and body supported.

This episode gives language to what you’re feeling, anchors your experience in truth, and reminds you of this:

You’re not broken. You’re grieving. And you’re going to make it through this.

Join Dr. Lisa Summerour in this week's episode of her series on The Loss Cycle, where she delves into the bargaining stage. Dr. Lisa discusses the emotional intensity and desperation that can accompany this phase, especially near the end or after the end of a relationship. Through personal anecdotes and expert insights, she explores how bargaining manifests, its impact on individuals, and the importance of recognizing and addressing it. She also provides practical steps to ground oneself in reality and move forward. This episode is a must-watch for anyone navigating the complexities of emotional loss and looking to rediscover their path to healing and growth.

In this episode, Dr. Lisa dives deep into the "Anger" stage of the Loss Cycle after divorce. Learn how to recognize, process, and transform anger into a tool for healing and self-discovery. Whether you’re navigating heartbreak or supporting someone who is, this episode is packed with insights, research, and practical exercises to help you reclaim your power.

In this episode, Dr. Lisa continues her series on the Loss Cycle, focusing on the stage of Denial after divorce. She shares personal stories, practical strategies, and powerful exercises to help you move from surviving to thriving.

In this episode, Dr. Lisa Summerour begins her series on the loss cycle by exploring shock—often the first overwhelming response to divorce or breakup. Drawing from personal experience, Dr. Lisa explains the physical and emotional symptoms of shock, including racing heartbeat, numbness, confusion, and the inability to process what's happening. She shares how shock is an automatic protective response your body uses when faced with something too devastating to handle all at once, and emphasizes that what you're feeling is completely normal. Learn practical tools like the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique to help you stay present during moments of panic, and discover why it's crucial not to make major decisions while in this state. Dr. Lisa reminds listeners that divorce ranks as the second most stressful life event, just behind the death of a spouse, and encourages self-compassion and grace during this difficult stage. Whether you're currently experiencing shock or reflecting on past feelings, this episode offers validation, understanding, and actionable strategies for navigating this challenging emotional terrain.

In this introductory episode of The Loss Cycle Series, Dr. Lisa Summerour challenges long-held beliefs about divorce, guilt, and self-worth. Through global perspectives, personal stories, and thought-provoking questions, she helps you reframe what divorce really means—and begin releasing the shame that’s been holding you back. It’s time to end the guilt, reclaim your joy, and embrace your next chapter with confidence.

In this episode, Dr. Lisa Summerour continues with Part 2 of her response to Kevin O'Leary's controversial take that marriage is primarily an economic union and divorce should be avoided at all costs.

What You'll Learn:

• The hidden health costs of staying in an unhappy marriage (stroke risk, immune system impact, cognitive decline)
• What a 12-year Penn State study reveals about life satisfaction in unhappy marriages vs. after divorce
• How high-conflict homes affect children's mental health and future relationships
• Why the "staying for the kids" argument doesn't hold up according to research
• The double standard: Why failed entrepreneurs are celebrated while divorced people are stigmatized

Key Questions Explored:

If you'd leave a business partner for embezzling, why stay with a spouse committing financial infidelity? If we celebrate entrepreneurs who try again and again, why stigmatize people with multiple marriages? What's the real ROI on doubled stroke risk, therapy for traumatized kids, and years of lost productivity?

The Bottom Line: Divorce has financial costs, but staying in a dysfunctional marriage has health, emotional, and life-satisfaction costs that compound over years you can never get back.