Love Again: Joan Vassos' Golden Bachelorette Journey

Joan Vassos, a widow and mom of four, is taking a second chance at love on the new reality TV show "The Golden Bachelorette". After her first experience on "The Golden Bachelor", Joan exited the show to take care of her daughter, who was struggling with postpartum depression. Now, with a newfound sense of confidence and a support system, Joan is ready to find love again. Joan credits her former suitor, Gerry Turner, with helping her feel visible and valued during her first season on "The Golden Bachelor". When it was time to prepare for her new season, Joan sought advice from Gerry, who had recently gone through a similar experience. Gerry advised Joan to take things slowly and not invest too much too early, to let each date unfold naturally, and to make the most of her time on the show. Joan also turned to the show's psychiatrist to work through her feelings of guilt and grief over her late husband, John, who passed away in 2021. She realized that she had unresolved emotions and was surprised by how much she connected with the other contestants on the show. To navigate her emotions, Joan was given an analogy by the psychiatrist: "You have two balloons in your hands, one for John and one for the new person. You don't have to let go of John to have this person also. "