Grief is the New Normal Podcast: S2E33 The Grief You Don’t See: Healing After Sexual Assault With Kristina Spurlock, LMHC, on EMDR, justice, and rebuilding identity after trauma.

*Trigger Warning: Sensitive Content Ahead

In this episode of Grief is the New Normal (Episode 33), we speak with Kristina Spurlock, LMHC, about the deeply personal and painful realities of sexual assault trauma and grief.

Please be advised: This conversation includes discussions of sexual violence, emotional trauma, and the grieving process that may be activating for some listeners.

If you are currently in crisis or need support, we encourage you to reach out to a mental health professional or call a crisis line in your area.

Your mental and emotional safety comes first. Please listen with care.

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Understanding Grief and Trauma with Kristina Spurlock

In this episode of 'Grief is the New Normal,' Dr. Heather Taylor welcomes therapist Kristina Spurlock, LMHC to discuss grief and trauma. Kristina shares insights about her journey into therapy, her experience with EMDR, and her work with sexual assault survivors. The conversation covers the complexities of grief, including the unacknowledged grief over outcomes that didn’t materialize and the importance of addressing trauma responses. The episode also delves into the influence of societal structures on grief and trauma and emphasizes the significance of supportive therapeutic relationships. This episode offers a comprehensive look at how to navigate the layered experiences of grief and trauma, providing valuable insights for both clinicians and those personally affected.

00:00 Introduction to Grief is the New Normal

00:26 Meet Kristina Spurlock: Trauma Specialist

00:52 Kristina's Journey into Therapy

07:15 Understanding Trauma Responses

09:54 Navigating the Legal System as a Survivor

18:28 The Importance of Consent Education

27:12 Understanding Emotional Responses from Childhood Trauma

29:26 Exploring EMDR and Grief Processing

32:01 The Nuances of Grief in Therapy

38:51 The Impact of Political and Social Context on Grief

42:11 Final Thoughts and Takeaways on Grief and Therapy

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Kristina Spurlock, LMHC is an EMDR therapist who has been helping clients process trauma since 2016. She has worked in community mental health, and hospitals, and currently owns her private practice called Health Insight Counseling. She specializes in adult clients who have experienced sexual assault trauma, first responder trauma, dissociation, and childhood trauma. Find her on instagram at @Healthinsightcounseling

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Grief is the New Normal is the podcast that refuses to sugarcoat loss—because grief isn’t a problem to fix, it’s a reality to live with. Hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, a licensed psychologist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology, this show dives deep into the messy, nonlinear, and very real ways grief impacts our lives.

Whether you're navigating the death of your person, wrestling with the weight of an invisible loss, or trying to figure out who you even are after everything changed—this podcast is here for you. With a mix of solo deep dives, expert interviews, and candid conversations, Dr. Taylor unpacks the emotions no one warns you about, challenges outdated grief narratives, and offers both practical tools and hard-earned wisdom to help you feel less alone.

No toxic positivity. No “fixing” your grief. Just honest talk, validation, and the reminder that you don’t have to do this alone. Because in a world that wants you to move on, Grief is the New Normal is here to help you move through.

https://www.griefisthenewnormal.com

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