Tara Porter
Grief Coach
Expert Contributor | She Owns Success
Meet The Expert
Tara Porter
Tara is a grief coach, speaker, retreat facilitator, and founder of Magnolia Rising and the On Fridays We Dance movement. She helps people navigate grief, loss, and life’s unexpected detours while rediscovering joy, purpose, and trust in themselves.
Known for blending deep conversations with humor, heart, and the occasional dance party, Tara believes healing isn’t about fixing what’s broken—it’s about learning to live fully alongside the experiences that shape us. Drawing from her own journey through the loss of her daughter Harper and a year later her mother, she creates spaces where people can explore grief, resilience, self-discovery, and personal growth without judgment or pressure.
Through coaching, retreats, workshops, and writing, Tara supports individuals who are ready to move beyond survival mode and build lives rooted in authenticity, connection, and meaning. Her work reminds people that grief and joy can coexist—and that even after life’s hardest moments, we can still rise, grow, and dance.
Professional Background & Training
Grief Coach Certification: icahp, IPHM, CMA, NCCAP, cpd
What I'm Known For
Philosophy
My work is grounded in the belief that grief is not something we fix, overcome, or leave behind. Whether it comes through the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, a career change, a health challenge, or another significant life transition, grief changes us. We are not the same person on the other side of loss as we were before it.
Rather than focusing on returning to who we once were, I help people explore who they are becoming. Grief invites us into a process of rediscovery—one that requires compassion, courage, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. While loss becomes part of our story, it does not have to define the entirety of it.
I believe healing happens when we learn to carry our grief with us rather than fight against it. It is possible to honor what has been lost while also making room for joy, connection, purpose, and new experiences. Grief and joy are not opposites; they often walk hand in hand.
Through coaching, retreats, and community, I create spaces where people can be honest about their pain while reconnecting with hope, resilience, and the possibility of a meaningful life after heartbreak.