123: Stepmom Grief: The Hidden Loss No One Talks About with Rachel Dunne
Ever felt like stepmom life isn’t what you expected- and no matter how hard you try, you’re carrying a weight you can’t quite explain? If you’ve felt resentment, guilt, or even questioned your choices, this episode will hit home.
In this episode, we’re joined by Rachel Dunne, licensed counselor, certified stepfamily coach, and founder of Spiritual Stepmom. Rachel shares her personal journey into stepmotherhood and opens up about the stepmom grief no one talks about- the hidden sense of loss, emotional overwhelm, and internal conflict that so many women experience but rarely say out loud. She also brings her clinical expertise to help stepmoms understand what’s really happening beneath the surface- and how to begin healing.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
- The stepmom grief no one talks about- and why it’s completely normal
- How resentment and emotional shutdown happen when grief goes unprocessed
- Why stepfamily life triggers loss- not just love
- How repair (not perfection) can actually strengthen your relationship with your stepkids
If you’ve ever thought, “This is harder than I expected,” or felt alone in your experience as a stepmom, this episode will remind you- you’re not broken, and you’re definitely not the only one.
Resources Mentioned
- Rachel Dunne Coaching: https://racheldunnecoaching.com
- Follow Rachel on Instagram: @spiritualstepmom
- Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts
- Join us where you can take the time to find yourself again! Get your ticket for The Stepmom Retreat happening Nov. 6-8, 2026 in Siesta Key, Florida!
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