Episode #19 How to Keep Living While You're Grieving

When life unravels, most of us scramble to fix it—quickly. But what if part of surviving wasn’t rushing to rebuild, but allowing space for it to fall apart?

Therapist and registered mental health social worker Tiffani Clingin has spent decades guiding others through pain and trauma. But in recent years, she’s also been deeply immersed in her own. After the devastating loss of her son and the end of a 32-year marriage, Tiffani shares what it’s like to keep showing up—for her clients, her family, and herself.

She doesn’t speak from theory alone. She speaks from the inside out.

One of the practices Tiffani lives by is oscillation theory—the idea that healing happens by moving between pain and respite. It’s not about staying strong or staying broken. It’s about allowing yourself to feel, then gently finding your footing again. Whether that’s washing your car, putting on moisturiser, or simply saying to yourself, “Darling, just put your shoes on.”

She also reminds us that being seen—truly seen—is powerful. Sometimes comfort looks like a long-limbed hug. Other times, it’s simply sitting in silence with someone. No fixing. No advice. Just presence. And when support is offered, she suggests giving a menu—not an open-ended, “Let me know if you need anything,” but a few gentle options: “Would you like a cup of tea, a walk, or space?”

This is how we hold grief without letting it consume us. How we keep moving—not in spite of the pain, but right alongside it.

To hear Tiffani’s full story and her insights on navigating loss, resilience, and what the body tells us in times of grief, tune in to Episode #19 Tired of Pushing Through? A Therapist’s Guide to Navigating Hard Times of What’s My Body Telling Me?