Psychotherapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis on the Importance of Understanding Grief as a Path Toward Living Healthier Lives

Meghan Riordan Jarvis was a practicing psychotherapist when she found herself devastated by the loss of her two parents.  She suddenly saw she was no different from those she helped, but she still needed outside support to recover.  In this Blue Sky episode, she describes how this realization led her to become an expert about grief and an advocate for all of us to learn about this important and challenging part of life.    

 

Chapters: 

02:20 Journey to Psychotherapy 
Meghan shares her personal journey into psychotherapy, beginning with a ‘normal breakup’ that led her to seek therapy. This experience uncovered an unacknowledged childhood trauma, sparking her interest in understanding human behavior and emotions. 

06:30 From Teacher to Campaign Manager 
Meghan recounts her early career, which included earning a master’s degree in early childhood education and a brief stint as a campaign manager in D.C. This period of professional uncertainty, coupled with a dissolved relationship, propelled her further into therapy and solidified her path towards psychotherapy. 

09:17 Experiencing Grief Firsthand 
Meghan discusses her personal experience with grief after losing both parents, particularly the sudden death of her mother. Despite her professional expertise, she found herself profoundly destabilized, experiencing traumatic grief that mirrored the struggles of her own patients. 

13:04