What if grief isn’t something to “get over”, but something to make room for?

In this episode of Black Women North of 50, our host Wynn Helms welcomes Dr. Loree Johnson, a seasoned psychotherapist and expert in reproductive mental health, to explore the many faces of grief. From fertility struggles to caregiving burnout, Dr. Loree shares personal and professional insights on how grief shows up in ways we rarely name, and why it deserves our compassion, not our silence.

Together, they unpack why grief is more than just sadness. It’s a sacred response to love, dreams deferred, and lives that unfolded differently than we expected. This episode is a hand to hold for anyone grieving, and for those who love them.

From Dr. Loree’s wisdom: “Joy and grief can coexist. I didn’t believe it until I had to live it.”

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• What disenfranchised grief is, and why so many Black women carry it alone
• How reproductive struggles, caregiving, and aging intersect with unspoken grief
• Why crying is not weakness, and how we can re-learn emotional vulnerability
• The myth of “moving on” and how grief actually lives in waves

💡 Remember: Grief isn’t a straight line, and you’re not broken for still feeling it.

Connect with Dr. Loree Johnson:

Instagram: @drloreejohnson

Website: drloreejohnson.com

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💌 Want to share your story or suggest a topic? Wynn would love to hear from you:

IG/FB: @BlackWomenNorthof50

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.blackwomennorthof50.com

🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Our House Grief Support Center (Los Angeles)
• RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
• Return to Zero: Hope (Pregnancy & Infant Loss)