Grief, Identity, and Healing: How to Navigate Life’s Messy Middle After Loss

What happens when grief reshapes your identity and life suddenly feels uncertain? In this episode of Her Next Chapter, host Karen Maurer, CFP®, Partner and Senior Wealth Advisor at Krilogy Financial, sits down with Teresa Reiniger, a grief specialist and life-transition guide, for a deeply moving conversation about loss, healing, and rediscovering hope after tragedy. Teresa shares her powerful personal journey navigating infertility and pregnancy loss alongside her daughters—experiences that transformed her life and led her to dedicate her work to helping women move through grief with compassion and clarity. Drawing on neuroscience, somatic tools, and NLP-based coaching, Teresa explains how grief physically impacts the brain and body, why decision-making feels so difficult after loss, and what’s actually happening during the “messy middle” of life transitions. This episode explores: How grief affects the nervous system, memory, and focus Why people feel “stuck” after loss—and why it’s completely normal What not to say when someone is grieving (and what truly helps instead) The power of intentional breathing to regulate stress and trauma Why major decisions should be slowed down after loss How preparation—both emotional and financial—creates space for healing Whether you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, supporting someone through tragedy, or preparing for life’s inevitable transitions, this conversation offers reassurance, insight, and practical tools to help you move forward without rushing your healing. If you’re navigating grief, identity shifts, or uncertainty, this episode reminds you that you don’t have to do it alone—and that a new chapter is possible. 👉 Learn more about Teresa’s work at livingaftergrief.com 🎧 Listen to her podcast Female Voices: Life & Loss on your favorite podcast platform Her Next Chapter helps women prepare for, work through, and thrive during life’s most meaningful transitions. Krilogy Financial, LLC (Krilogy) is a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Registered Investment Advisor. Registration with the SEC should not be considered an express or implied approval of Krilogy by the SEC. Krilogy does not provide tax and legal advice. All expressions of opinion are subject to change. This information is distributed for educational purposes only, and it is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement of any particular security, products, or services. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Investors should understand the risks involved of owning investments, including interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial advisor and/or tax professional before implementing any strategies discussed herein. The views expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Krilogy. Krilogy does not provide the services provided by the guest speaker and their company.