Grief doesn’t follow a set timeline—and according to therapist Danielle K. Glorioso, it isn’t something we “get over.” In her presentation, Navigating Grief: What the Science of Resilience Teaches about Adaptation to Loss, Glorioso explores how grief evolves over time and how resilience can help us live with loss. Drawing from both clinical expertise and personal experience, she frames grief as a complex, lifelong process influenced by our relationships, histories, and the nature of the loss itself.

Glorioso outlines the differences between acute grief, integrated grief, and prolonged grief disorder. While grief is a natural and necessary response, it can sometimes become so overwhelming that it interferes with daily functioning. That’s when structured interventions—like grief-specific therapy programs—can offer support. She shares how these programs help people adapt, restore a sense of agency, and move forward while honoring the memory of their loved ones.

Resilience isn’t something you either have or don’t—it’s a skill that can be cultivated. Glorioso describes how practices like emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility, and meaning-making all contribute to building resilience over time. She also highlights the importance of social support and shared experience in the healing process. Rather than aiming to erase grief, these strategies help people carry their loss in a way that allows for growth, connection, and hope.

Understanding the science behind grief and resilience allows us to approach loss with more compassion—for ourselves and for others. Instead of rushing to fix or avoid painful emotions, we can learn to sit with them, support one another, and find meaning even in moments of profound sorrow. Grief changes over time, but with the right tools and community, it becomes something we learn to carry—not something we leave behind.

Watch Navigating Grief: What the Science of Resilience Teaches about Adaptation to Loss.

Explore more programs from the Stein Institute for Research on Aging.