In this episode of Room at the Table, Betsy Cerulo and therapist Alfredo Santiago explore the universal experience of grief, healing, and rebuilding. Alfredo shares how grief shows up in everyday life, how to honor the love behind the pain, and why connection and community are essential during difficult times.

Drawing on his work with LGBTQ, BIPOC, and immigrant communities, Alfredo emphasizes that there is no timeline for grief and that each person deserves permission to feel joy again, even while missing someone they love. He provides practical self-care strategies, including music, movement, and journaling, to help navigate emotional pain and support mental wellness.

Listeners will learn how to create space for their emotions, embrace supportive connections, and honor memories without judgment. Alfredo also discusses how grief can coexist with joy and highlights the importance of acknowledging both the pain and the love that remains.

Whether you’re navigating a personal loss, supporting someone who is grieving, or looking to better understand emotional resilience, this episode offers compassionate insights and actionable guidance. By the end, you’ll understand how grief is a form of love and how intentional self-care and community connection can foster healing and hope.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why grief is a powerful expression of love

✅ How connection supports healing after loss

✅ Gentle self-care practices to navigate emotional pain

✅ Why emotions deserve acknowledgment rather than suppression

✅ Ways to remain open to future possibilities while honoring the past

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: Welcoming the conversation on grief

04:45 Why light and ritual support connection

09:10 Helping those reluctant to seek emotional support

13:25 Self-awareness and self-care for those holding space

28:30 Grief as love and staying open to joy

34:40 Why you never put a timeline on healing

38:20 How to reach Alfredo for support

Key Takeaways:

💎 You are never alone in grief, even when it feels isolating

💎 There is no set timeline for healing or emotional expression

💎 Joy and connection do not diminish the love you still hold

💎 Speaking emotions honors truth and supports recovery

Guest Bio:

Alfredo Santiago, LCSW-C, is a licensed certified social worker at Chase Brexton Health Services and founder of Peace and Strength Counseling, LLC, providing compassionate care to LGBTQ, POC, Latinx immigrants, refugees, at-risk youth, and those navigating grief. With experience at Baltimore City Department of Social Services, Veterans Administration Hospital, and Sinai Hospital, Alfredo brings a trauma-informed, strength-based approach to supporting marginalized communities. He holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland, an M.A. from Wesley Theological Seminary, volunteers with several social justice organizations, and is a proud parent to Marvin and Chuck the boxer dog.

Alfredo Santiago LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredo-santiago-3b09513/

About ALfredo Santiago: https://chasebrexton.org/alfredo-santiago

About ALfredo Santiago: https://leafedu.org/alfredo-santiago/

Resources & Mentions:

More episodes at: http://roomatthetablepodcast.com

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