Coping with / advice about death and bereavement Books

Book SynopsisPeople with autism often experience difficulty in understanding and expressing their emotions and react to losses in different ways or in ways that carers do not understand. In order to provide effective support, carers need to have the understanding, the skills and appropriate resources to work through these emotional reactions with them. Autism and Loss is a complete resource that covers a variety of kinds of loss, including bereavement, loss of friends or staff, loss of home or possessions and loss of health.Rooted in the latest research on loss and autism, yet written in an accessible style, the resource includes a wealth of factsheets and practical tools that provide formal and informal carers with authoritative, tried and tested guidance.This is an essential resource for professional and informal carers working with people with autism who are coping with any kind of loss.Trade ReviewThis book is rare in the subject that it approaches and it is also excellent in offering us a model for how to deal with loss in a more reflective, constructive, thoughtful and ultimately more effective way. It is written primarily for professionals and is highly recommended to them, but I think that parents would also find it useful in dealing with this delicate and often difficult subject. -- GAPthe book has a valuable point to make in highlighting the problems people with autism encounter in expressing feelings after loss. -- The British Journal of Developmental DisabilitiesAutism and Loss opens the professional's eye to a topic rarely discussed in professional literature, and for that reason alone it is turned to time and time again. -- Families in SocietyThis book is a collection of information, practical exercises and worksheets offering guidance to carers and professionals supporting people on the autistic spectrum who are suffering from loss. This is a valuable resource, since due to the difficulties experienced by those on the autistic spectrum, in terms of linking cause and effect, and understanding and expressing their emotions, this can be a particularly frightening experience.A Great strength of the book is the breadth of losses explored; losses of social relationships, home and possessions, role and identity, health and wellbeing, and loss through death. Consideration of these losses could be thought-provoking enough with a neuro-typical individual, but the range would be particularly useful when working with individuals on the autistic spectrum, where difficulties in perception may lead to wider confusion.Another strength of the book is the clarity and repetition of its format, which promotes a sense that a relevant section can be found and dipped into, and used immediately, without having to become accustomed to the content of the whole book. The regular use of headings also makes the content very clear to read and absorb.I feel that it would be very useful for any adults working closely with other children and adults, as it forms a comprehensive background to loss and the autistic spectrum, which could be valuable to any professional. -- Counselling Children and Young PeopleThis is an accessible and useful book for those working with people with autistic spectrum disorder... I was impressed with the practical approach taken within the book... I would recommend this book as a great starting point for addressing the difficult topic of loss with people with autism. The book addresses some of the generic issues associated with loss and in addition contemplates how the experience of autism may in itself create or intensify areas of loss, as the person with autism not only has to adjust to the loss, but also to the differences between themselves and others. -- Rowan Crawley, Scotish Journal of Healthcare ChaplaincyTable of Contents1. Loss and Autism: Changing Ideas, Changing Reactions. 2. Loss of Social Relationships. 3. Loss of Home and Possessions. 4. Loss of Role and Identity. 5. Loss of Health and Wellbeing. 6. Loss through Death. References. Useful websites. Tables and Figures.

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Book SynopsisDying, Bereavement and the Healing Arts describes a range of successful programmes pioneered by artists, writers, nurses, musicians, therapists, social workers, and chaplains in palliative care settings. These range from simple painting and writing activities to organized communal activities like writing and performing a play.The arts are shown to offer a means to reflect on memories, hopes, fears and anxieties, and gently explore the emotional, spiritual, and psychological issues which can aid a fuller understanding of oneself and one's condition. The arts also serve as a way to communicate difficult and complex feelings to professionals or family members not possible in everyday conversation.Dying, Bereavement and the Healing Arts offers valuable insights and inspiration for any practitioner working in a palliative care setting.Trade ReviewThis book should be sought by anyone interested in the potential of their own creativity and others to help them discover fresh and fulfilling ways to heal in the complex situations surrounding serious illness and loss. It can also be recommended to students and researchers in the palliative field to help them develop a truly holistic mode to investigate this field. -- Hospice Information Bulletin, Kate Powis, lecturer and researcher at St Helena Hospice, Colchester, UKBolton's collection serves up national and international sources of inspiration in the healing arts...This text...can be seen not only as offering accounts of the role of creativity in varying context of palliative care, but also as a collation of creative acts in their own right. Poetry, photographs, painting, excerpts from dialogue and profoundly moving reflexive writing are all presented to inspire the reader to consider their own creative responses to the world and their part in it...This book should be sought by anyone interested in the potential of their own creativity and others to help them discover fresh and fulfilling ways to heal in the complex situations surrounding serious illness and loss. It can also be recommended to students and researchers in the palliative field to help them develop a truly holistic mode to investigate this field. -- Hospice Information Bulletin, Kate Powis, lecturer and researcher at St Helena Hospice, Colchester, UKThe writing is blunt, the topics heart-wrenching, and the words poignant, addressing issues such as the death of a beloved child, spouse, parent or friend; the pain of illness and treatment; and the helplessness of watching a loved one suffer. Although these are hard topics to consider, it can also be a relief to have difficult subjects acknowledged... DYING BEREAVEMENT AND THE HEALING ARTS reminds readers that creative expression is available to everyone as a means to understanding and growing through life's changes and challenges. -- Journal of the American Art Therapy AssociationGillie Bolton has been an inspirational voice and a practitioner in the involvement which has simulated a wider appreciation of what "makes" health. This volume of twenty essays is a delight - rather like a well-prepared buffet - something to nourish those seeking deeper food for thought and practice. This book will both feed any reader who wishes to be enriched by listening to experience and also find a way to express what is humane in the face of human frailty. -- The Christian ParapsychologistFor anyone curious about how it is that the arts can evoke, enliven, reassure, educate, recount and then enable us to share with others, this is the place to start. -- Bereavement CareEach chapter is very diverse with contributions from patients, survivors, professional healthcare workers and artists. I would recommend this book to all. As healthcare professionals we can never stop trying to understand our fellow human beings hopes and fears. -- Journal of Community NursingDying, Bereavement and the Healing Arts offers valuable insights and inspiration for any practitioner working in a palliative care setting. In my opinion, this is a rare case of something doing exactly what it says on the tin. -- DramatherapyThis is a thought provoking book which invites the reader to consider how art can be healing for the patient, the bereaved and the healthcare professional... The common thread throughout the chapters is how being creative often speaks new leases of life in both patient and those surround her. At the end of the day the book shows how the creative arts have hidden health benefits for patients, the bereaved and healthcare professionals whether that comes from looking at Van Gogh, listening to Bach, writing a poem or moulding some clay. -- Ian Stirling, Scottish Journal of Healthcare ChaplaincyTable of ContentsForeword, Baroness Professor Ilora Finlay of Llandaff.Preface Poem: Nest, Penelope Shuttle 1: Introduction: Dying,Bereavement and the Healing Arts, Gillie Bolton. 2: A Death Photographed: Michael Willson's Story, Paul Schatzberger and Gillie Bolton 3: Arts, Electronic Media, Movement: Rosetta Life, Filipa Pereira-Stubbs and Chris Rawlence. 4: Theatre for Professional Development, Ashley Barnes 5: Visual Art for Professional Development, Sandra Bertman 6: Healing Arts in Palliative Care, Christina Mason. 7: Imagination and Health in Cancer Care and Palliative Care, John Graham-Pole 8: Visual Art in Cancer Care and Palliative Care, Anna Lidzey, Michele Angelo Petrone, Julie Sanders and Gillie Bolton 9: Making Music in Children's Hospices, Lesley Schatzberger 10: Healing Writing in Palliative Care, Sheelagh Gallagher, Kate D'Lima, Kaichiro Tamba, Hilary Elfick, with David Head and Gillie Bolton 11: Creating The Tuesday Group: A Palliative Care Play, Bobbie Farsides and Sue Eckstein 12: The Power of Music, Diana Greenman, Frans Meulenberg and Mike White 13: Writing through Bereavement: River Wolton, Haifa Al Sanousi, Amy Kuebelbeck, Judy Clinton and Robert Hamberger 14: A Legacy of Understanding, Monica Suswin 15: Reading to Help Practitioners and Patients, Ted Bowman and Rogan Wolf 16: Artists: Survivors, Tim Jeeves, Mitzi Blennerhassett and Michele Angelo Petrone, Artist 17: Professionals: Artists, Steve Seagull, Tim Metcalf, Oliver Samuel, Kieran Walsh and Christopher Johns 18: Spiritual and Artistic Care: Memorial Services, Mark Cobb and Giles Legood 19: The Art of Care, Yvonne Yi-Wood Mak , Ann Williams, Corine Koppenol and Sinead Donnelly 20: Reflections Towards the Future, Nigel Hartey. List of Contributors. References. Subject Index. Author Index.

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Book SynopsisEffective Grief and Bereavement Support shows how social networks, whether they be friends, colleagues or family, can provide an important source of support following sudden bereavement.Individuals in social networks surrounding bereaved people often feel very uncertain about how best to offer support following the death of someone close. As a result of this, people often find that their relationships with friends and family suffer in the wake of bereavement. Kari and Atle Dyregrov provide concrete, evidence-based advice about how support processes can be improved. Issues covered include common reactions to grief, problems that can arise within families as a result, when to involve professional assistance, how to help bereaved children, and the main principles for effective network support.This book will be essential reading for counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, priests, police, community doctors, hospital staff and teachers, as well bereaved families and those who support them.Trade ReviewFor therapists, and all who work with or wish to help those who are bereaved, I can thoroughly recommend Atle's recent book, written with Kari Dyregov, 'Effective Grief and Bereavement Support' (2010) (ISBN 978184310106678). The book provides insight into the experience and process of grief and it is packed full of practical, useful information. The book is written from the perspective of the authors' wide therapeutic experience, particularly of working with children and young people with post-traumatic stress. The book is written in a direct, accessible language, and gives practical and down to eart advice on how family, community and professionals can assist children, young people and adults who have been bereaved. I also very often use his earlier book "Grief in Children" (ISBN 9781843106128) in workshops and courses. Both books are published by Jessica Kingsley. -- Association of Lawyers for Children newsletteran important companion to the literature on one-to-one therapeutic routes to bereavement care, I highly recommend it. -- Bereavement Care, Linda Machin, Visiting research fellow Keele Universitya profoundly significant book on a topic rarely discussed and little researched, dealing with sudden or unexpected death. The authors have brought together the latest knowledge in the field, and explore how social networks and professionals working with the bereaved can help. This is an important book for all of us, who will sadly one day experience this... it is a must read for those in the field and those suffering. -- Cary L. Cooper, CBE, Distinguished Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health, Lancaster UniversityIt is nothing short of impressive. Yes, more than impressive, because the down-to-earth nature of the studies and the reader-friendly presentation makes this textbook a gift to us all. And by all of us, I do in fact mean all. -- From the Foreword by Magne RaundalenThis book will be essential reading for counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, priests, police, community doctors, hospital staff and teachers, as well as bereaved families and those who support them. -- Bristol Bereavement ForumA practical and up-to-date resource for specialists'. -- The Church TimesNorwegian behavioral scientists and clinicians Kari and Atle Dyregrov have produced a distinguished record based on more than 20 years of research on traumatic death bereavement and its effects on adults and children. In this volume, they have distilled their findings to concisely and cogently describe the pathways adult and child survivors follow - and their needs for social support - after a loved one's traumatic death, brilliantly summarizing how survivors experience loss and slowly progress toward more advanced stages of coping and personal growth. Following an uncommon path in bereavement research, the authors interview members of survivors' social networks, finding that as significant others invest more time, effort, and emotional availability in survivors, they themselves experience personal growth and deeper understanding of loss. One of the book's greatest strengths is the model it offers for bereaved and significant others to follow, enhancing the provision of emotional support and aid from this crucially important group. Survivors, their significant others, and clinicians will find great value in this important study. Summing Up: Essential -- CHOICE MagazineCounsellors, teachers, pallative care professionals and non-professionals have a great deal to gain from this book. It offers clear, practical guidance on how to communicate and offer support, and gives voice to what the bereaved themselves want from those around them. -- Therapy TodayThis book fills an important gap in this respect by providing a useful resource for professionals and non-professionals, as well as bereaved families and those who support them. Grounded in research, the book is friendly and accessible. -- Nursing StandardTable of ContentsForeword by Magne Raundalen. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. How Does Sudden Deaths Affect the Close Bereaved? 3. What Types of Support Do the Bereaved Encounter and What Do they Want? 4. Children and Young People - Their Situation and Help Needs. 5. How Does Sudden Death Affect Social Networks? 6. Social Network Support - Challenges and Solutions. 7. The Main Principles Behind Good Network Support. 8. What Kinds of Support Can Family and Friends Give? 9. What Kind of Support Can the School and Workplace Provide? 10. When Should Professional Help Be Brought In? 11. Support for the Social Network. Appendix. References. Subject Index. Author Index.

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Book SynopsisFollowing a life shattering experience, a child enters upon a confusing emotional journey that can be likened to a prism of many colors of dark feelings like sadness and fear, but also warm feelings of love and courage. The way they deal with these feelings has a lasting impact on their life as they grow.The Colors of Grief explores strategies for supporting a grieving child to ensure a healthy growth into adulthood. Drawing on the latest research in neurology and psychology, Janis Di Ciacco illustrates the child's grieving process using a model of development that employs 'key stages'. These range from preverbal infancy (0-2 years) through to early adulthood (about 25 years). She shows how a child's progress through these stages can be impaired by an early encounter with loss, which can contribute to cognitive, emotional and social difficulties. Drawing connections between bereavement, attachment issues and social dysfunction, the author suggests easy-to-use activities for intervention at each key stage, including infant massage, aromatherapy and storytelling.This is a revealing and accessible book for both parents and professionals working with, or caring for, bereaved infants, children or young adults.Trade ReviewThe Colors of Grief: Understanding a Child's Journey through Loss from Birth to Adulthood by Janis A Di Ciacco is an intersting book that discusses ways to aid children in their journey through grief. While it is less academic, it is very much an excellent description of the concepts of grief as applies to various age groups of young grievers. Many practical suggestions are offered in the apprendices including therapeutic activities such as massage, puzzles, rock, aromatherapy, stress balls and story telling; transitional tools such as window cards and pain comforters; and lastly, "Mary Poppins' Milk Recipe". It is a very strucured book For those who like lists and orderly presentations, it is an excellent book. While most of the information is not new, it is presented in a fashion that makes it easy for the reader to understand what is being presented. It would be considered to be a very good "self-help" book for parents and others who work with children. Counsellors might find it useful It is well organized and quite readable. It is a good book that deserves to be read. I recommend it. -- Illness, Crisis & LossI believe this book has the potential to profoundly change how our culture perceives and experiences grief. I believe this book is an impressive contribution to understanding the loss experience. It introduces with great depth a variety of therapeutic strategies, techniques, and practices that may be of great interest for parents, caregivers, teachers, counselors, psychologists, therapists, clinicians, mentors, social workers, and other professionals who have to deal with knowledge and understanding of not only our attachments and relationships as children but how we feel, think, and act as adults. This book should also be considered as an excellent scientific and practical resource for researchers and practitioners in this area or related specializations. The book introduces a great intellectual challenge. It raises new questions in relation to our practices concerning the issue of loss in our educational and social organizations. -- PsyCritiquesThis is a revealing and accessible book for both parents and professionals working with, or caring for, bereaved infants, children or young adults. -- Bristol Bereavement ForumThis book explores strategies for supporting a grieving child to ensure a healthy passage into adulthood. The confusing emotions experienced by a grieving child are likened to a prism of many colours, hence the title...The author's experience shines through and I think this book would be useful to both health care professionals and parents who are involved with a grieving child. -- Palliative Care AustraliaTable of ContentsPreface. PART I: The Well of Grief. 1. Introduction. 2. Shattered Dreams. 3. Loss and Separation. 4. Hidden Regulators Wrapped in Everyday Life's Routines. 5. The Prism of Emotions Through the Grief Process. 6. The Stages of Grief. 7. Bonding and Attaching. PART II: Grief Through the Ages: Developmental Stages. 8. Introduction. 9. Ages 0-2: Birth to Toddler 10. Ages 2-6: Toddler Through Early Childhood. 11. Ages 6-10: Middle Childhood. 12. Ages 11-mid 20s: Adolescence to Young Adulthood. Conclusion. Appendices. Bibliography. Glossary. About the Author. Index.

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Book SynopsisLosing a loved one and coping with the subsequent adjustments that follow are a difficult fact of life, but people with learning disabilities face specific difficulties in processing and managing these changes. Adopting an integrative approach, this book acknowledges the importance of helping relationships in supporting this vulnerable group through periods of loss and bereavement.The author explains how to engage the person with a learning disability in talking therapy by creating an open dialogue. Common signs of stress, factors to consider in assessing risk and advice on how best to approach difficult subjects are presented. The role of supervision in counselling and issues surrounding terminal illness are also discussed, and practical solutions offered.Professionals working in the field of learning disabilities, such as counsellors, therapists, carers and health and social care students will find this informed guide beneficial in communicating and supporting people with learning disabilities.Trade ReviewThe book provides in depth information on the impact of loss and how this affects all aspects of an individual's life... The case studies provide practical examples and the key points at the end of each chapter assist with emphasising the main messages... There is practical advice for professionals and carers on how to discuss the impact of loss and bereavement with individuals with learning disabilities, including ways to communicate and the use of simple, clear and unambiguous language. The book also addresses the impact of loss for adults with autism and those who have additional communication needs which is particularly useful... The book would be a practical resource for occupational therapists, support staff and students. -- College of Occupational Therapists Section for Learning DisabilityThere are so few books on this very important subject, so it is wonderful to see anew publication. Robin Grey is a new voice amid the small group of practitioners and researchers who have been working in recent years to highlight and address some of the complexities of supporting people with learning disabilities through bereavement.The book is written by an experienced practitioner who has firsthand experience of this issue. It is accessible and welcoming to readers who may be put off by more academic texts. Its aim is very clearly to guide others supporting bereaved people with learning disabilities. -- Bereavement Care, Noelle Blackman, Deputy chief executive, RespondRobin Grey's book is rooted in his practical experience working in day and residential services for people with learning disabilities... While I am very familiar with these ideas, Grey writes about them in a straightforward, helpful and concise manner. -- Community LivingTable of Contents1. Introduction and overview. 2. How bereavement and loss can be different in learning disabilities. 3. Stages of loss. 4. Assessment. 5. Developing understanding around bereavement and loss. 6. Therapeutic tasks. 7. Working with families. 8. The carer's role in bereavement. 9. Working with clients who have additional communication needs. 10. Role of supervision. 11. Working with terminal illness. 12. Remembering and anniversaries. Useful organisations and resources. Further reading. Index.

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Book Synopsis*Highly Commended in the Health and Social Care category at the 2012 British Medical Association Book Awards*Those left behind in the wake of suicide are often plagued by unanswered questions and feelings of guilt. Helping them to understand why the suicide happened, how suicide survivors commonly react and cope, and where they can find support can help them move forwards on their path from grief to recovery.Drawing on the testimonies of suicide survivors and research into suicide bereavement, this book provides those working with the bereaved with the knowledge and guidance they need. It covers common grief and crisis reactions, including those specific to children and young people, how suicide bereavement differs from other forms of bereavement, and how others have coped and been supported. It also addresses how the bereaved can move on, including advice on support networks including friends, family, professionals and other bereaved people.This book will be invaluable to all those supporting those who have been bereaved by suicide, including counsellors, bereavement support workers, social workers, and psychologists.Trade Review*Highly Commended in the Health and Social Care category of the 2012 BMA Medical Book Awards*'After the Suicide is a "must read" for anyone working with those bereaved by suicide, whether children, young people or adults. I can't imagine finding a more informative and compassionate book about surviving suicide. It mixes hones, direct personal testimonies, well-referenced research and clinical knowledge to create a unique source of myth-busting information and practical advice - and more.I was eager to read this book when I realised the skill and knowledge of the authors: a respected researcher of bereavement, who established the Norwegian Organisation for Suicide Survivors; a qualified suicidologist/clinical psychologist; and a colleague of theirs with personal experience of suicide bereavement. There was nothing in the content to disappointment me, and there is little jargon and no academic blustering. Even if you think you know a lot about grief from suicide, this book may well give you more to think about.Each chapter could stand alone, but reading the book from beginning to end provides us with a clearer understanding of the reactions and needs of those bereaved by suicide. It is also better preparation for the final chapter, "Why suicide?"' -- Children & Young People NowIn this one volume can be found all the important facts about grief that follows when someone kills himself/herself. Equally important, the authors have given us material to put those deaths in context. As a long-time survivor and as a writer about mourning after suicide, I see this book as a major achievement, following in the footsteps of others who have tried to put the terrible aftermath of suicide in perspective. -- Christopher Lukas, Author of Silent Grief: Living in the Wake of Suicide and Blue Genes: A Memoir of Loss and Survival[This book] is eminently readable: clear, simple, and comprehensive in its coverage of the experience of losing a loved one to suicide... After the Suicide is a superb book for those who are bereaved by suicide, for those who wish to help them, and for those whose professional work leads them to walk the difficult journey with survivors. -- From the Foreword by John R. Jordan, Ph.D, FT., Psychologist and Founder and former Director of the Family Loss Project, USAThis translation of a book written by Norwegian researchers and psychologists seeks to guide those offering bereavement support. Although the statistics and examples given are Norwegian, the themes it addresses are universal and the book will be relevant to anyone affected by suicide. It deals with the most common questions and reactions to suicide... Layout, style and contents are clear, enabling the reader to select the most relevant chapter to their own situation, and the book is well referenced. -- Therapy TodayTable of ContentsForeword by John R. Jordan . Preface. To the Reader. 1. Suicide and the Bereaved. 2. Suicide Around the World. 3. After the Suicide. 4. Common Grief and Crisis Reactions. 5. The Unique Aspects of Reactions to Suicide. 6. Children and Young People Bereaved by Suicide. 7. Coping on the Road Ahead. 8. Support from Social Networks. 9. Support from Other Bereaved: Peer Support. 10. The Role of Professionals. 11. Grief, Growth and Development. 12. Why Suicide? Endnotes.

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Book SynopsisWriting in Bereavement is a practical creative handbook that will assist counsellors, volunteers and others in their work with bereaved adults. Writing is a powerful outlet for the emotions that accompany grief and it is therefore a valuable therapeutic tool to help those who are bereaved communicate their experiences and adjust to life after their loss.Jane Moss provides imaginative creative writing exercises for groups and individuals, using a variety of genres and literary forms and techniques. She offers advice on how to plan and run successful workshops with the bereaved, and how to evaluate their effectiveness. Using the techniques in this book, counsellors can help grieving individuals find a voice to cope with profound changes in their life, complete unfinished conversations, write for remembrance, use creativity as a respite from sadness, and finally begin to move forward from grief and imagine the future.Trade ReviewJane Moss's Writing in bereavement is a breath of fresh air... At every stage she reflects back on the theory of bereavement support, whilst giving examples of work that might be produced, and how the facilitator may respond. Creating space to reflect by both the facilitator and the participants is the key word, and Moss gives plenty of support and advice on how to approach this. -- Bereavement CareThis book is a useful addition to the literature and will be of great interest to therapeutic practitioners and creative writers alike... Readers who are not already familiar with the literature of therapeutic writing will find themselves gently guided through the principles and practices. -- Therapy Today, Kate Thompson, existential psychoterapists, journal therapist and authorWhen someone we love dies we lose, not only a person "out there", but an organising principle of our assumptive world, the world that, up to that moment, we had taken for granted. Grief is not about forgetting the dead, it is about discovering a new narrative, a new source of meaning to our lives. Jane Moss here shows us a way of helping bereaved people to do just that. It gives us a choice of techniques and suggestions, exercises and insights, that are well supported by research and which we can adapt to the particular needs of individuals at this turning point in their lives. -- Colin Murray Parkes, OBE, MD, FRCPsych, psychiatrist, author and Life President of Cruse Bereavement Care, UKHere is a wealth of ideas and inspiration for those of us aspiring to work creatively with bereaved people using the written word. I found my creative juices begin to flow as I read the ideas for the exercises and how to use them. These will be of enormous benefit for those wanting to start working in this way and will provide added incentive and encouragement for those who already use creative tools. I could use the ideas not only with the bereaved person but also with volunteer supporters in their supervision. The example of the fictional Greenbank writing group will be of special interest to those who want to offer support groups for bereaved people and there is much practical help offered for setting up such a group. I am sure this will prove to be a truly useful volume to have for reference and advice for those of us working in the field of bereavement support and counselling. -- Dodie Graves, counsellor, bereavement service co-ordinator and author of Talking with Bereaved People and Setting Up and Facilitating Bereavement Support GroupsMoss helps mourners reach deeply into the wordless silence at the heart of grief, and render what they discover in language that is resonant with meaning and emotion. From acrostics to villanelles, and from the opening group warm-up to the final wind-down, she scaffolds a structure for Writing in Bereavement that fosters continuity and connection in life narratives rewritten by the experience of loss. Whether you work with bereavement support groups or in the intimate crucible of grief therapy, you will find in this book an indispensable muse to your clinical creativity. -- Robert A. Neimeyer, PhD, editor of Techniques of Grief Therapy: Creative Practices for Counseling the BereavedBereavement can be a dark and lonely place. This book shows how writing in groups can help bereaved people to find companionship and to begin to map out their own paths through this alien landscape. The book is thoroughly researched and offers a clear and systematic toolkit for professionals. On top of this, it is an engaging read that should leave readers feeling inspired to try this approach within their own work. -- Anne Cullen, Manager of Psychosocial and Spiritual Care, Princess Alice Hospice, Esher, UKTable of ContentsAbout the Author. Acknowledgements. Preface. Introduction. 1. An Overview of Writing in Bereavement. 2. Starting to Write. 3. Keeping a Journal. 4. Working with Form. 5. Writing Through Grief. 6. Life Writing in Bereavement. 7. Reflecting on Change. 8. Writing for Memorial. 9. Endings. 10. Reflection and Feedback. 11. A Facilitator's Journal. 12. Resources for Establishing a Writing Group. 13. Useful Terms. 14. Sample Writing Sessions for Groups. Writing Exercises and Prompts. Postscript. References. Further Reading. Index.

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Book SynopsisExploring contemporary theory and practice surrounding loss and bereavement for people with intellectual disabilities (ID), this book brings together international contributors with a range of academic, professional and personal experience.This authoritative edited book looks at diverse experiences of loss across this population whether it be loss due to transition, the loss or death of others, or facing their own impending death. The book begins by offering theoretical perspectives on loss and compassion, bereavement, disenfranchised grief, spirituality, and psychological support. It then addresses contemporary practice issues in health and social care contexts and explores loss for specific communities with ID including children, individuals with autism, those in forensic environments, and those at the end of life.Identifying inherent challenges that arise when supporting individuals with ID experiencing loss, and providing evidence and case studies to support best practice approaches, this book will be valuable reading for students, academics and professionals in the fields of disability, health and social care.Trade ReviewPersonally and professionally loss and bereavement present us with challenges not least acknowledging our common human responses whilst at the same time recognising individual experiences. In presenting theory and exploring its application to individualised support this book responds to this challenge making a timely and helpful contribution to supporting people with intellectual disabilities in an often neglected area of practice. -- Ruth Northway, Professor of Learning Disability Nursing, University of South WalesI commend the authors on the insights and practical suggestions, underpinned by theoretical explanations and the use of evidence-based research. This book should be a valuable resource to practitioners and students in services that seek to compassionately support people with intellectual disabilities to continue to grow and have fulfilling lives after experiences of loss. -- From the Foreword by Professor Owen Barr, Head of School of Nursing, University of UlsterLoss and death are inescapable parts of life's rich tapestry; and it is a sad reality that people with intellectual disabilities are often excluded from exploring sensitive issues that surround loss and death. This is why, for me, this book is so valuable, for we are slowly but surely moving to a new era as to how this group of people make sense of loss and death and how we can support them. Through a series of well-constructed chapters that consolidate issues surrounding loss for people with intellectual disabilities, the book moves on to provide a unique evidence-based text that will be of considerable value to all those who work with people with intellectual disabilities, so that they might be helped to better understand loss and death as inescapable parts of life; in much the same ways as other citizens. The editor has successfully brought together a range of eminent and authoritative contributors who present a range of issues from the broad based nature of loss, particularly in relation to this population, and the contextual nature of appropriate care and support. I believe that this ground breaking and unique book will be of considerable value as a resource to practitioners and students alike who seek to support people with intellectual disabilities with compassion through their experiences of loss. ...[T]he editor and contributors are to be congratulated on the production of a highly relevant and contemporary text that I have no hesitation in both endorsing and recommending to all involved in supporting and, or, caring for people with intellectual disabilities through the experience of loss and death. -- Bob Gates, Professor of Learning Disabilities, University of West London, Institute for Practice, Interdisciplinary Research and Enterprise (INSPIRE) and Editor of the British Journal of Learning DisabilitiesThis work, edited by Professor Read, does not shrink from addressing challenging topics including a person's sense of being deprived of rights and journeying through life's transitions. Some journeys are planned while others are unexpected or unwelcome, but all need to be sensitively addressed. Every health, social and educational professional/carer should read this text so as to be able to effectively support people with intellectual disabilities through life defining and shaping times. -- Jim Blair, Consultant Nurse Intellectual Disabilities, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Associate Professor Kingston and St. George’s Universities, and BILD Health AdvisorEditor Sue Read has assembled a strong international team of authors from the UK, Ireland, USA and Australia that includes researchers, clinicians, a parent and a woman with an intellectual disability, so providing multiple perspectives on key issues. The primary focus is on people with intellectual disabilities, but importantly several chapters focus on the needs and experiences of caregivers (both family members and disability service staff). The book is characterised by empathy and compassion, with a consistent emphasis on similarities not differences. Issues are contextualized through analysis of theories about death and bereavement, as well as through emphasising the spectrum of responses to death and dying. This is a practical book with information about assessment and instruments, as well as practice tips. Most chapters include an individual story or detailed case study. Without exception these are very sensitively told and of immense assistance in understanding and responding to the issues in human terms. Those providing personal or professional support to a person with an intellectual disability who has experienced loss will find this book a rich and rewarding source of information, practical ideas and inspiration. -- Roger Stancliffe, Professor of Intellectual Disability Centre for Disability Research and Policy, The University of Sydney, AustraliaTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Foreword by Owen Barr, Head of School of Nursing, University of Ulster, UK. Contributors. Introduction. Sue Read, Professor of Learning Disability Nursing, Keele University, UK. Part I: Theoretical Perspectives. 1. Loss in the Caring Context. Sue Read. 2. Living with Loss. Sue Read and Mary Davies, a woman with intellectual disabilities and member of Reach, UK. 3. Grief and Mourning. Sue Read. 4. Complicated Grief. Philip Dodd, Director of Psychiatry, St. Michael's House, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Trinity College Dublin and Senior Lecturer, Centre for Disability Studies, University College Dublin, Ireland, and Noelle Blackman, CEO of Respond and Research Fellow, University Hertfordshire, UK. 5. Spirituality. William Gaventa, Director of Community and Congregational Supports, Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities and Associate Professor, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Georgia, US. 6. Psychological Support in Health Care. Helena Priest, Senior Lecturer, Keele University and Research Director, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Staffordshire University, UK. Part II: Contemporary Practice Issues. 7. Loss and Resilience. Linda Machin, Honorary Research Fellow, Keele University, UK. 8. Working Creatively to Facilitate Loss. Sue Read. 9. Caring Fatigue. Ted Bowman, Adjunct Professor, University of Minnesota (Family Education) and University of Saint Thomas (Social Work), Minnesota, US. 10. Supporting Professional Carers. Michele Wiese, Research Associate, University of Sydney, Australia. 11. Advocacy, Empowerment and Communication. Patsy Corcoran, REACH Coordinator, Asist Advocacy Services, UK. Part III: Specialist Contexts and Considerations. 12. Loss, the Family and Caring. Mike Gibbs, Lecturer in Learning Disability Nursing, Keele University, UK. 13. Loss and People with Autism. Rachel Forrester-Jones, Reader in Health, Community and Social Care, Tizard Centre, UK. 14. Loss in Forensic Environments. Ben Hobson, Clinical Psychologist, National High Secure Learning Disability Service, Rampton Hospital, UK, Sue Read and Helena Priest. 15. Supporting Children and Young People with an Intellectual Disability and Life-Limiting Conditions. Erica Brown, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood, Institute of Education, University of Worcester, UK. 16. Loss and End of Life Care. Karen Ryan, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, St Francis Hospice and Mater Hospital and Senior Investigator, All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care, Suzanne Guerin, Centre for Disability Studies, University College Dublin and All Ireland Institute of Hospice & Palliative Care and Phil Larkin, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Dublin and All Ireland Institute of Hospice & Palliative Care, Ireland. 17. Living with Shattered Dreams – A Parent's Perspective. Mandy Parks, parent of a daughter with severe disabilities, UK. 18. Research, Inclusivity and Marginalised Groups. Sue Read. Conclusion. Sue Read. References. Index.

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Book Synopsis"The milkman cried when I told him you were dead.'Last night,' I said, 'Mark died.'"This collection brings together 30 short stories and poems about dying and bereavement. Written by mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, wives, husbands and dying people, these moving pieces talk honestly about how it feels to care for someone who is dying, to grieve for a loved one, and to face death oneself. A candid story about a daughter's relationship with her mother's carer; an internal monologue on dementia; a deeply moving poem about losing a son to cot death; and a heartfelt story about a mother's end of life are some of the poignant pieces included. This collection provides an opportunity to think and talk about death and dying, too often a taboo subject, and offers readers the rare comfort and support of shared experience.Trade ReviewA collection such as this is bound to be very moving and sympathetic: the subject makes it inevitable. But the pieces in this collection are much more than cries of grief. For all their sadness, they are also brave, resolute, clever, and sometimes even funny. This means the book has a kind of stoic nobility, as well as a warm humanity. It's a very powerful combination. -- Sir Andrew Motion, former Poet LaureateThe poems and prose in this small volume are a revelation. Written by some who grieve and others who are close to death, they do not invite a casual skim. They are by turns raw and harrowing, wry and bleak. But they have in common a compelling honesty that is touching and illuminating…At some point we will all face that inevitable terminus, the end of life. I think you will find that by facing that implacable fact, Final Chapters makes this shared prospect less daunting and therefore, perhaps, more bearable as well. -- from the Foreword by Jonathan Dimbleby, Chair of Dimbleby Cancer Care, UKVery interesting book... The stories are well written, sensitive and provide good insight into the differing worlds of those facing loss... This book would be a very useful addition to any library and for those entering the services and professionals who wish to gain insight into dying death and bereavement. -- Alex James, MBACP Founder of Bereavement.co.uk * Bereavement Care *Some [contributions] are uplifting and inspirational while others left me thinking why and wanting to run with my soap box to the nearest street corner and draw to public attention the true state of care for our elderly and lack of support for those facing dementia and terminal illness (unless of course you are fortunate enough to live in an area that is well provided for!) -- Alex James, founder of Bereavement.co.ukI can happily recommend this book to anyone who works in palliative care, who I think will be interested to read how others see what we see every day. -- Dr. Roger Woodruff, International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care, AustraliaFinal Chapters...symbolises a somber acknowledgment of the tension encountered when cancer becomes the subject of our experiences. On a dual note, the book is also an opportunity for the bringing together of the suppressed moments of our society. There is an unveiling of the strange silence that the existence of cancer leaves in its trail....Whilst the book is an internal monologue of the contributors, there is a somewhat beautiful quality to the narratives for creating an entrance into the space of individual final chapters. We learn through the passages of the final chapters that even the last breath holds a story that transcends beyond the moment life surrendered. -- Dr Ayesha Ahmad, BMJ Medical Humanities Journal's online blogTable of ContentsForeword by Jonathan Dimbleby, Chair of Dimbleby Cancer Care. Introduction, Eve Richardson, Chief Executive, Dying Matters Coalition and the National Council for Palliative Care. Leave-taking, Helen Barnes. The Night Shift That Changed Me, Alexandra Obee. Swan, Brenda Read-Brown. Ava's Lovers, Claire Jones. The Milkman Cried, Josephine Howard. Journey's End, Sue Moorhouse. Hypocrisy, Sali Gray. An Ordinary Day, Kylie Joyce. Google Maps Saved My Life, Anneliese Mackintosh. Beneath The Bracken, Janette Ayachi. Coat Hanger, Adam Lound. Chubby Little Cheeks, Sarah Bakewell. Names Have Been Changed, Carole Mansur. Let Winter Come, Nick Jarvis. A Life Ascending, John Hunt. Polly Dolly, Maureen Gallagher. A Matter Of Compassion, Alva de Chiro. Enhancing Dementia Recipe, Janet Willoughby. The Patient That Changed Me, Faye Gishen. Regrets, Hope Uchio. A Dose Of Reality, Caroline Sposto. Closing Scenes, Gráinne Tobin. An Honourable Life, Christopher Owen. Of Glass, of Light, of Silver, Kit de Waal. The Mother Thief, Alison Wassell. The Grief Schism, David Mohan. Spoons, Pete Buckingham. The Waiting Room, Harriet Davies. Papier Maché Doll, Amanda Bowden. Baseball Cards, Leissa Shahrak. About the Authors.

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Book SynopsisLife is full of changes; they happen all the time. Some changes are harder to cope with than others.'Seeds of Hope Bereavement and Loss Activity Book uses nature to help children understand death, loss and change in a gentle and honest way. Full of creative activities, such as choosing an insect or plant and using it to draw a life cycle, or making a paper memory tree of happy and sad memories, it helps children learn about loss and death, the cycle of life and how to cope with and express feelings of sadness and grief. This book is ideal for parents and carers, teachers, therapists and counsellors to use with children aged 5+ who have suffered any type of loss or are dealing with change, or who are bereaved.Trade ReviewAs a teacher for more than thirty years, I have had in my care many children who have suffered the loss of a parent, sibling or close friend. Death for all of us is devastating but for a child it will create a wealth of emotions that are incomprehensible. For each it is unique. The Seeds of Hope Bereavement and Loss Activity Book gives a wide variety of ideas to help the child explore, recognise and accept their feelings in a concrete, thoughtful and healing way. I would highly recommend it to all those in education, to empower you when needed or as a way of teaching about death and renewal on a regular basis. -- Yvonne Cameron, TeacherUnderstanding the cycle of nature is an essential part of understanding the cycle of life. This creative and imaginative activity book uses the world of nature to explore this. Children and adults are encouraged to discuss the beginning and the end of life in all its forms, to ask questions and seek answers together. A lifetime's experience in this area has taught me that children benefit tremendously from being helped to talk openly about these issues. I highly recommend Caroline Jay and Unity-Joy Dale's wonderful Seeds of Hope Bereavement and Loss Activity Book. -- Jenni Thomas OBE, bereavement counsellorFor those teachers at a loss for how to address this most sensitive topic in a sensitive manner, this book offers a wealth of original and creative ideas. -- Noel Purdy, Stranmillis University College, Belfast * NAPCE Journal: Pastoral Care in Education *Table of ContentsAuthor's Note. Imagine: Learning from Nature. Medicine Wheel: What animals can teach us. Draw or Paint: Suggestions of drawing or painting things to do. Write: Suggestions of writing things to do. Memory and Loss Leaves: Leaves to cut out and draw or write on. Memory and Loss Tree: For sticking your leaves on. Big Leaves: Bigger leaves for a bigger tree. Changes: How change affects us. Lifetimes: Life cycles – long and short. Colouring: Pictures to colour in. The Feelings Tree: Different feelings. Exploring the Feelings Tree: Finding out more. Sticking Stickers: Things to do with stickers. Stickers: For sticking! The Language of Flowers: Myths and meanings. Word Storms: A game to play. Snakes and Ladders of Loss: Another game. Feelings and Seasons: Thinking about feelings. Mandalas: What they are and how to use them. Labyrinths: What they are and how to walk them. Poems and Stuff: What other people have written. My Story: Sharing feelings. Information on Loss and Bereavement: What to expect, including a section for teachers. Support Groups.

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Book SynopsisA Holocaust survivor whose mother collapsed and died only moments after they both registered as survivors, a death row inmate who has reclaimed his life through Buddhism, and a mother whose daughter was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer two days before her thirtieth birthday, among others, offer their perspectives on death and dying in this thought-provoking volume. Contributors from all walks of life share their thoughts on carefully selected writings, images and artwork that most accurately express death to them. Describing their unique experiences, they reveal that, beyond the heartache and the mystery, death teaches us all invaluable lessons about how we live our lives. Offering comfort, reassurance and varied insights into death, loss and its impact on life, this collection is for anyone who might be coming to terms with this inevitable destination. Royalty proceeds from the book will be donated to Ashgate Hospicecare, North Derbyshire, UK.Trade ReviewI rejoice that death has become less of a taboo subject in our conversations. In this timely book you will discover precious wisdom and heartfelt insights from people of all walks of life...As I have listened to these voices, I have found reassurance and enlightenment. I know this book will offer the same gifts to you whether you believe in a transition to a new life or contemplate the beyond with some uncertainty. I commend it highly. -- from the foreword by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond TutuA powerful book on the truth of our mortality, and the richness that can be derived from our encounter with death. -- Roshi Joan Halifax, Abbot, * Upaya Zen Center *We experience death in many ways before facing it in our own lives. Whatever will support us to consider death more honestly and life more appreciatively is to be deeply valued. Rosalind Bradley's beautiful collection offers both those gifts abundantly. -- Stephanie Dowrick, author of Seeking the SacredA Matter of Life and Death provides thought provoking reflections from a wide range of people whose lives have been deeply influenced by encounters with dying, death and loss. Their insights into these sensitive, often taboo, subjects are inspirational and uplifting - highly recommend reading for all who work in end of life or bereavement care. -- Dr Marilyn Relf, Bereavement Care Lead, Sir Michael Sobell House, Oxford and Chair National Bereavement Alliance (UK)Dying conjures many stories, many feelings, many fears. Rosalind Bradley brings together the thoughts of the eminent, the well trained and also those who have personal experience with the dying. These stories explore the inspiring, the meaningful and sometimes troubled ideas that everyone will have about death. -- Professor Richard Chye, University of Notre Dame, AustraliaA thoughtful collection of personal stories and perspectives on death as a defining part of life. Beautifully told and cleverly presented. A unique offering on an ultimate truth - you will be inspired, intrigued, informed and touched by the diversity and authenticity of the contributions. -- Professor Christine Bennett AO, Dean of Medicine,The University of Notre Dame AustraliaThis is a powerful and timely book on the largely taboo subject of death, viewing it as an intrinsic and unavoidable part of life. Bradley provides Readers with a useful resource to assist in their duties of taking funerals and memorial services and in caring for those who mourn. Highly recommended. -- John Hazel * The Reader *Table of ContentsIntroduction. 1. Personal Encounters with Death. Gail O'Brien, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, Australia. Brigadier Michael Griffiths CBE, Duke of Lancaster Regiment, UK. Olga Horak OAM, Sydney Jewish Museum, Australia. Colleen Kelly, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, USA. Professor Patrick McGorry AO, University of Melbourne, Australia. The Burton Gaudiosi Family, Australia. Amit Dasgupta, India. Erica Stewart, Sands, UK. Kinny Gardener, The Krazy Kat Theatre, UK. Pam Masini, Child Bereavement UK. Reverend Peter Pereira, Australia. Mitchell Willoughby, Tennessee, USA. 2. Death Brings a Wisdom. Josefine Speyer, Natural Death Centre, UK. Jennifer Briscoe-Hough, Australia. Reverend Canon Rosie Harper, Great Missenden, UK. Molly Carlile AM, Olivia Newton John Cancer & Wellness Centre, Australia. Dr Michael Barbato OAM, Australia. Professor Allan Kellehear, University of Bradford, UK. Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, The New North London Synagogue, UK. Laurence Freeman OSB, World Community for Christian Meditation, UK. Carol Komaromy, The Open University, UK. Dom Christian de Chergé, Algeria. Sogyal Rinpoche, Rigpa, France. Therese Schroeder-Sheker, Chalice of Repose Project, School of Music Thanatology, Oregon, USA. 3. Working Closely with Death. Deborah de Wilde OAM, Australia. Diane Roche, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Arabella Dorman, UK. Dr Megory Anderson, Sacred Dying Foundation, USA. Dr Peter Saul, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia. Stephen Olson, Royal Oak Burial Park, British Colombia, Canada. Dr Soren Blau, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Australia. Dr Irene Adams, Clinica Ammor, Brazil. Dr Louise Jordan, Baslow Health Centre, Derbyshire, UK. Su Chard, UK. James Norris, DeadSocial.org and the Digital Legacy Association, UK. Chinyere Inyama, UK. 4. Death and the Circle of Life. Sughra Ahmed, Islamic Society of Britain, UK. Dr Sarah Edelman, Dying with Dignity NSW, Australia. Trypheyna McShane, Australia. Stephen Miller, USA. Dr Ian Gawler OAM, Australia. Amelia Freelander, Amnesty International, Australia. Claire Henry MBE, The National Council for Palliative Care & Dying Matters coalition, UK. Dr Colin Murray Parkes OBE, St Christopher's Hospice, UK. Reverend Jonathan Woodhouse, UK. Caitlin Doughty, The Order of the Good Death, USA. Bruce Kent, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Pax Christi, UK. 5. Death is Sacred. Dr Pushpa Bhardwaj-Wood, New Zealand. Sharifah Zuriah Aljeffri, Malaysia. Sr Jayanti, Brahma Kumaris, UK. Bhai Sahib Dr Mohinder Singh, Guru Nanak Sewak Jatha, UK. Peter Shine, Aboriginal Health Northern Sydney Local Health District, Australia. Rabbi Sylvia Rothschild, UK. Dr Doreen Tembo, UK. Reverend Marta Benavides, El Salvador. Dr Frank Brennan, Calvary Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Dr Bahiyyih Nakhjavani, France. Woris Kubo, Papua New Guinea. Venerable Thubten Chodron, Sravasti Abbey, USA. Ela Gandhi, South Africa. Post-script. Ashgate Hospice. References.

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Book SynopsisThis practical resource provides everything you need to enable your school to provide the best possible support for pupils and staff who have suffered a loss or bereavement. The book includes a school 'audit' to allow full assessment and evaluation of your school's current bereavement provision, and a full set of photocopiable training exercises for in-school staff bereavement training. It considers the important and unique role the school can play in supporting bereaved pupils and staff, and provides valuable guidance on how to create a school bereavement policy. A unique and accessible resource that is applicable to all levels of schooling, the book will be a valuable addition to the shelves of pastoral care teams, school counsellors, head teachers and school management, other school staff, bereavement counsellors and trainers, as well as psychologists.Trade ReviewJohn Holland's newest resource, Responding to Loss and Bereavement in Schools, is an invaluable tool for training educators. Its practical and comprehensive style heightens understandings necessary to assess, evaluate, and improve the school's response to the loss and bereavement of their students. It clearly explains issues of loss and the importance of gathering and planning for loss, and provides pre-training information, useable exercises for classroom teachers, and guiding principles to work with. Responding to Loss and Bereavement in Schools will assuredly be a cherished resource for school personnel working with bereaved students. I highly recommend it! -- Linda Goldman, author of Great Answers to Difficult Questions About Death: What Children Need to Know and Children Also GrieveJohn Holland writes in a very accessible way with the wisdom that comes from years of experience in the field of bereavement. This welcome addition to the literature gives schools a comprehensive understanding of the needs and responses of children, families and schools at a time when staff may feel hesitant about their capacity to offer support. The clear information, activities and reflections should dispel some of the mystique and anxiety surrounding the topic of bereavement. -- Shirley Potts, Director of Regional Development, Child Bereavement UKIf I had any type of leadership role in school I would want the thinking and experience of John Holland. This excellent book will guide you to create the right support package unique to the many types of loss and bereavement that schools encounter on a daily basis. Attending to these losses, big and small, helps to shape the personality of a school well beyond the measures of league tables. -- Julie Stokes OBE, Founder of Winston’s Wish, a leading charity for bereaved children, UKTable of ContentsIntroduction. Part 1. The Role of the School. Part 2. The School Audit. Part 3. The Exercises.

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Book SynopsisSilver Medal Winner in the Grief/Grieving category of the 2015 Foreword Reviews' INDIEFAB Book of the Year AwardsA unique collection of 33 narratives by bereaved students and young adults, this books aims to help young adults who are grieving and provide guidance for those who seek to support them.Grieving the death of a loved one is difficult at any age, but it can be particularly difficult during college and young adulthood. From developing a sense of identity to living away from family and adjusting to life on and off campus, college students and young adults face a unique set of issues. These issues often make it difficult for young adults to talk about their loss, leading to a sense of isolation, different-ness and a pressure to pretend that everything is OK. The narratives included in this book are honest, engaging and heartfelt, and they help other students and young people know that they are not alone and that there are others who 'get' what they are going through. The narratives are usefully divided by themes, such as isolation, forced maturity and life transition challenges, and include commentary by the authors on grief responses and coping strategies. Each section also ends with helpful questions for reflection.Inspired by the experiences of Dr. Fajgenbaum losing his mother during college and Dr. Servaty-Seib dedicating her career to college student bereavement, this book will be a lifeline for students and young adults who have lost a loved one. It will also be of immeasurable value to counselors, college administrators, grief professionals and parents.Trade ReviewWhether you're a counselor, parent, or grieving college student, the 33 stories shared here will provide insight into some of the commonalities and differences young adults experience after the death of a parent or sibling, as well as tips on how to be helpful. Their journeys of struggle and healing offer wisdom and hope. -- Donna L. Schuurman, EdD, FT, Chief Executive Officer, The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & FamiliesThis book is important. It brings to life in clear, plain English stories of young adults who have coped with the death(s) of persons they love. Heather and David get it. They understand what coping with loss entails for a college student. They make the myriad experiences of young adults dealing with bereavement come alive for all of us. The stories told by grieving young adults illustrate clearly several important themes that scholars have uncovered about bereavement. Heather and David's mastery of what they know will help others to get what the bereaved college student knows. -- David E. Balk, Professor and Chair, Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, and author, Helping the Bereaved College StudentI see We Get It as a much needed tool for those who work with college students on a daily basis. College student personnel such as clinicians, residential life staff, Dean of Student staff, and faculty and administrators could truly benefit from reading about the themes noted-and even more powerfully from the students' stories. The range of student experience covered through the first-person and beautifully honest narratives allows for a deeper level of understanding and perspective-taking, providing a unique insight into how best to support grieving students. -- Philip M. Meilman, Ph.D., Director, Counseling and Psychiatric Service, and Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown UniversityTable of Contents1. Introduction. 2. Feeling alone. 3. Continuing Connection, Memorialization, and Active Grief and Coping. 4. Forced Maturity. 5. Importance of Connecting with Grieving Peers. 6. Disconnection of Grief Expectations. 7. Life Transition Challenges. 8. Existential Questions about Self and Future. 9. Importance of Connecting with a Mentor. 10. Life Lessons Learned. 11. Powerful and/or Challenging Grief Reactions. 12. Importance of a Community of Support. 13. Changing Family Relationships. 14. Tips for Grieving College Students. 15. Tips for Those who are Seeking to Support Grieving College Students.

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Book SynopsisThe book is an honest, first-hand account of how people with autism deal with the loss of someone in their life. Unlike the non-autistic response, people with autism, when faced with overwhelming or stressful situations, will favour solitude over sharing their emotions, tend to focus on special interests, and become extremely logical, often not expressing any emotion. This behaviour often leads to the belief that people with autism lack empathy, which is far from the case. Through the description of personal experience, and case studies, the book explores how people with autism feel and express the loss of a loved one, how they process and come to terms with their feelings of grief, and offers practical and detailed advice to parents and carers on a range of sensitive issues. These include clear instructions on how best to support someone with autism through the grieving process, how to prepare them for bad news, how to break the bad news, how to involve them in the funeral or wake, and how best to respond to later reactions. The final chapter explores the issue of why children and teens with autism can be drawn to death as a special interest, and explains that the interest is not normally a morbid one.Trade ReviewLipsky uses personal experience and case studies to explore how people with autism feel and express the loss of a loved one, and how they process and come to terms with their feelings of grief…...She offers advice to parents and carers on how to prepare someone with autism for the bad news. -- Autism eyeA fine survey on how people with autism handle loss of people in their lives, and explores how they come to terms with grief. From various coping behaviors such as turning to solitude over sharing feelings to their ability to show no emotional turmoil and to turn their focus to other things, this explains the different reactions of autistic people to their environment and experiences, and comes from a high-functioning autistic individual with a basic background in emergency services and education alike. -- Midwest Book ReviewMy Aspie father never showed an ounce of emotional turmoil, not when he talked about being on the front line in WWII, not when he talked about his beloved parents' deaths, not when he talked about the Great Depression. He offered reasons for why these events occurred, insight into how to move beyond the obvious holes they left, and advice meant to prepare for future inevitable tragedies. Most marked my father as a cold and unfeeling man, but Deborah Lipsky's understanding of the way many with autism handle grief, show my father to be a man who simply processes loss and sadness in a different way, not in a lesser or insignificant way. Just as this book explains how some with autism respond to grief, it also expresses how most of society does grieve. Sharing the points of view will help people on and not on the spectrum learn to respect individual reactions to the things that fill life with woe. -- Liane Holliday-Willey, author of Safety Skills for Females with Asperger Syndrome, Pretending to be Normal, Asperger Syndrome in the Family, and Asperger Syndrome in AdolescenceLipsky, an autistic woman who has worked as a firefighter, emergency medical technician, and reserve police officer, is the author of two other similar titles: Managing Meltdowns and From Anxiety to Meltdowns. She expertly brings the disability motto "Nothing about us without us" to life in this behind-the-spectrum perspective of death and grieving. Lipsky discusses how autistic people view the end of life, which entails literal thinking and problem solving that are not in step with our (neurotypical) emotional responses. Her matter-of-fact approach and examples shine a light on just how different the process is for those on the spectrum. Strategies surrounding cultural expectations for wakes, funerals, and other social events are included. VERDICT An eye-opening work that is truly illuminating and thought-provoking. Essential for anyone who loves, lives with, or works with people on the spectrum, and highly recommended reading for those in the mortuary, counseling, and education fields. -- Library JournalThis book is a good insider guide and gave me a better understanding about how people with autism cope with grief and loss. The gap between ASD and NT reaction to grief remains but hopefully it will enable those that are seeking support to begin bridging the gap. -- Side by SideTable of ContentsIntroduction. 1. Differences in Dealing with Problems. 2. Emotional Expressions of Grief in Autism. 3. Cultural Expectations and Autism. 4. Knowing What to Say. 5. How to Tell a Person with Autism Someone Died. 6. Death as a Special Interest.

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Book SynopsisMyths and related stories describe essential human experience which, requiring the use of the imagination, reconcile and give voice to fantasy and reality. In this book the author reflects on the processes of grief and more than 50 folk tales are included. The ancient stories vividly convey mankind's struggle with death and loss, the despair and hope, with bitterness and love. The use of stories in therapy is explained, specifically bereavement counselling through storymaking.Trade ReviewGersie is intuitive, sensitive and wise as she guides her readers into the territory of bereavement, love and loss... Each storymaking structure is exciting and brimming with potential... Alida Gersie has succeeded in brilliantly finding ways to empower individuals coming to grips with mortality... her work Storymaking in Bereavement: Dragons in the Meadow empowers us as helping professionals. Now we have a tool that gives us a little more courage compassion and insight so that we too are better armed to fight dragons in the meadow. -- The Arts in PsychotherapyThis is a fascinating book which may reunite readers with stories of their childhood and provide new insights into their meaning. It presents an innovative approach to bereavement counselling which reflects the wise counsel of some of the original story tellers and the oral tradition which we have lost. There are poignant stories and no avoidance of "difficult" feelings encountered during the grief process. This book is a delight to read on account of its descriptive qualities. It is also a source, in an accessible form, of a wealth of information. It addresses an area which is of concern to all occupational therapists. -- British Journal of Occupational TherapyThis is an erudite, imaginative book by an author who is deeply involved in her topic and is an enjoyable and absorbing read. The book would be of value to course leaders and students on courses covering loss, separation and divorce, abortion, terminal illness and death and to anyone who gives support to the dying and bereaved. -- Nursing TimesThis book is beautifully written. It is immensely rich in its use of story, metaphor and literary allusion to illustrate the process of grief and healing... moving and deeply compassionate. In addition to its overt theme, a book which touches its reader so deeply provides a subtle lesson in how a counsellor may allow herself to be deeply touched by her client. -- CounsellingAnyone interested in story as a form of therapy or in bereavement or the existential adaption to the idea of death will find this book overflowing with exciting concepts and powerful healing images... There is a well constructed balance between psychological conception and folk story in this book. This material is a rich collection of ideas which can be used in both the classroom and the counselor's office. -- Religious Studies Review... enchanting account of the use of creative-expressive therapies in helping us accept the finality of death and the toll it takes on those who are left to mourn... For those who work in creative and expressive therapies, this book is an important addition to the literature. The heart of the presentation - the stories we can tell, and have told for hundreds of centuries, about grief over death - lies at the core of human experience. -- Medical Humanities ReviewThe author's wide knowledge and understanding of myths and folklore is cleverly woven within each "Part" of the book... It links the past with the present, acts as a bridge between cultures, and helps us focus on profound issues... Storymaking in Bereavement is a book to be read and re-read and to be dipped into, as each chapter contains much wisdom. -- Lifeline (Magazine of the National Association of Bereavement Services)Professional bereavement counsellors and group facilitators will find the book stimulating and resourceful, while teachers in palliative care will certainly find some valuable educational material in it. -- Palliative Medicine... extremely readable, and easy to follow, and would be a delight for anyone to dip into. -- Behavioural Social Work ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction. PART I: Themes of love and death. 1. `And all my sour-sweet days, I will lament and love.' Acknowledging the work of separation and mourning. 2. `But seldom I do think indeed that I must die.' Coming to grips with mortality. 3. `A stifled, drowsy, unimpassioned grief.' Some characteristics of the days between the actual death and the burial or cremation. PART II: A tracery of connections through mourning and myth. 4. `Lord, have mercy on us.' How come that we all must die? 5. `The day of death they do not reveal.' Why did it have to happen now? 6. `Wail, for the world's wrong.' What did I do that it happened to me? 7. `Ah God, that it were possible...' In search of reparation. 8. `And New Year blowing and roaring.' How lazily time creeps about to one that mourns. 9. `Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures new.' Acceptance, more often than not. PART III: Focussed attention on intimate loss. 10. `This silence frightens me.' The death of our parent. 11. `O little did my mother ken.' The death of our child. 12. `And all that Hope adored and lost.' The death of our life-partner. PART IV: When a tyrant spell has bound us. 13. `We shall have a deadly storm.' The descent into darkness. 14. `Oh my God, hear my cry.' The dangerous pull towards ending our own life. PART V: On stories and storymaking. 15. `If there were dreams to sell.' On ancient stories and storytelling. 16. `They are not long the days of wine and roses.' Bereavement counselling through storymaking. PART VI: The stories and storymaking structures. Notes and elaborations. Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisThe scope of this book covers the many possible approaches to working with bereaved children. The contributors draw on their wide-ranging experience of working with bereaved children in a many different contexts to examine:methods, such as dramatherapy and play therapyvarious settings, such as working in schools, hospitals and residential environmentsgroup and individual workworking with adolescents.The breadth of the contributors' backgrounds- among them are psychologists, social workers, teachers, play therapists and an actress -brings to light the benefits of their differing approaches.Trade ReviewThe book contains contributions from some of the most experienced practitioners in the UK and USA, working with children and young people in situations of loss and grief. The aim of this book is to provide its readers with a useful resource guide to practical interventions with bereaved children. It succeeds eminently in its task in considering various causes of bereavement and various methods of responding to needs: individual, family, group and educative approaches. This book is helpful to anyone working with children and families, having experienced bereavement, in a social work, counselling or therapeutic context, as well as from a palliative care, social services, psychiatric, family therapy or educational setting. This work makes a very valuable contribution to the literature and reinforces the belief that "children are survivors" (Monroe). -- Child and Family Social WorkIf you have ever floundered when faced with a grieving child, this book is for you. Equipped with a wealth of practical and compassionate responses, 20 contributors describe their work with bereaved children, sharing effective ways of supporting and helping them in their loss. Case studies are sensitively given, and there are moving accounts of individual, family, group and whole school work. This is an empowering book, which should be accessible to all those who come into contact with children. -- Nursing Times`This book should be available to all members of multidisciplinary child mental health teams... The strength of this book is that it ranges from individual grief, through family and societal settings linking grief and disaster, patterning the varying responses of children according to their age and life circumstances and providing a mosaic of assessment and therapeutic techniques... This book is one important step in improving our ability to communicate with the young about death.' -- Journal of AdolescenceThe 26 contributors to this book share a wide experience of childhood and adolescent grief... Differences in culture are sensitively outlined in a chapter on transcultural counseling... a thoughtful contribution to the growing literature on children's bereavement. -- Community CareThe strength of the book is its emphasis on what can actually be done and how to do it. There are examples upon examples of how to convene, start, run and end sessions with children, how to work in different settings, with children of different needs. It is a rich store of what can be done. -- Clinical Child Psychology and PsychiatryTable of ContentsPart 1. Individual Work 1. Communicating with Children Through Play, Peta Hemmings, Senior Practitioner, Barnardo's Orchard Project, Newcastle-upon-Tyne2. Direct Work Techniques with the Siblings of Children Dying from Cancer, Maureen Hitcham, Malcolm Sargent Social Worker, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 3. Chairing the Child: A Seat of Bereavement, David Waskett, Social Worker and Independent Counsellor in Bereavement and Loss, Cambridge 4. Non-Directive Play Therapy with Bereaved Children, Jo Carroll, Independent Play Therapist, Marlborough, Wilts. Part 2. Family Work 5. `It is Impossible Not to Communicate': Helping the Grieving Family, Barbara Munroe, Director of Social Work, St Christopher's Hospice, London. 6. A Cradling of a Different Sort, Ann Couldrick, Counsellor, Sir Michael Sobell House, Oxford.7. Grieving Together: Helping Family Members Share Their Grief, Dr Jess Gordon, Consultant Child and Family Psychiatrist, Northampton Part 3. Groupwork 8. Creative Groupwork Methods with Bereaved Children, Margaret Pennells and Susan C Smith. 9. Sharing Experiences: The Value of Groups for Bereaved Children, Jenny Baulkwill, Principal Social Worker, St Christopher's Hospice London, and Christine Wood, Principal Social Worker, St Christopher's Hospice London. 10. Camp Winston: A Residential Intervention for Bereaved Children, Julie Stokes, Programme Director, Clinical Psychologist, and Diana Crossley, Coordinator of Children's Service, Clinical Psychologist, Gloucester Royal Hospital. 11. Groupwork with Bereaved Children, Ann Harris, Malcolm Sargent Social Worker, Bristol Children's Hospital and Sally Curnick, Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood Trust. 12. Using Drama in Grief Work, Penny Casadagli, Artistic Director and Actress, Neti-Neti Theatre Company, London. Part 4. Specific Client Groups 13. Helping Families and Professionals to Work with Children who have Learning Difficulties, Judy Sanderson, Community Liaison Worker, Acorns Children's Hospice, Birmingham. 14. Transcultural Counselling: Bereavement Counselling with Adolescents, Jan Wilby, Head of Social Science, Head of Guidance and Support School, Nottingham. 15. Managing a Tragedy in a Secondary School, John Shears, Head Teacher, Redruth Community School, Cornwall. 16. Voices from the Crowd: Stories from the Hillsborough Football Stadium Disaster, Paul Barnard, Project Leader, and Maureen Cane, Freelance Consultant, Liverpool Children's Project. 17. Making Memory Stores with Children and Families Affected by HIV, Ruth Neville, Senior Practitioner, Barnardo's Castle Project, Leeds. Part 5. Projects in the USA18. Embracing Fears and Sharing Tears: Working with Bereaved Children, Jennifer Levine, Willowgreen Counselling Service, Fort Wayne, Indiana. 19. Group Interventions with Bereaved Children, 5-17 Years: From a Medical Centre-Based Young Person's Grief Support Programme, Ben Wolfe, Director, St Mary's Grief Support Centre, Minnesota. 20. Coaching Children's Grief Through Art, Clifford Davies, Coordinator, Pastoral and Grief Services, Hospice of Independence Regional Health Center, Missouri. About the Authors. Subject Index. Author Index.

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Book SynopsisWith twenty educators contributing ideas piloted with children of different abilities and backgrounds in their care, 'Good Grief'has been designed to explore and demystify the experience of loss - in different contexts - within the framework of the National Curriculum.This second edition has been updated and revised, to include a new chapter on the effects of disasters on children. Suitable for all professionals, carers and parents, both books are activity based. Good Grief 1 facilitates the use of children's own experiences and encouraging improvisation and extension. Primarily designed for mixed ability secondary and adult education, Good Grief 2 will also be invaluable for many other statutory, professional and community organisations.Trade ReviewThese books not only provide excellent ideas and guidance for helping grieving people, they also illustrate the huge diversity of human experiences which can be put under the heading of loss. I was so impressed by these books that I felt it was a privilege to be asked to review them. -- Community CareThe 22 cooperating contributors provide a superbly constructed resource of information, activities and ideas... Incredibly sensitive in every way... Barbara Ward... is to be congratulated and commended. -- Journal of the Institute of Health EducationThe authors have managed to produce an excellent aid to dealing with these very difficult and painful subjects within the national curriculum framework, and in a sensitive and imaginative way that will enable children, their teachers and parents to develop their understanding of loss and its impact. I would strongly recommend these volumes to all professionals working with children. They are also an invaluable source of information about self-help groups, useful literature for children of all ages and a variety of religious and cultural backgrounds. -- Association of Child Psychology and Psychiatry NewsletterIdeal for creative inspiration... there are many varied ways of teaching children about the concept of death as a project subject at school, with the involvement of parents carefully noted which I felt was essential... The practical and factual information across differing religious creeds and cultures, and those of no faith, give plenty of scope for teachers and other carers to give information to children growing up in our multi-racial/multi-cultural society... I would recommend both these books for teachers/trainers/carers who look for information and inspiration. -- Lifeline (Magazine of National Association of Bereavement Services)Table of ContentsAims and Objectives. Statistics for Britain. Foreword. Contents. Contributors. 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND. 1.1 Why teach about loss and death? 1.2 Educator's notes. 1.3 Understanding Loss. 1.4 Divorce and Separation. 1.5 How to help someone who is suffering from loss. 1.6 Tracing Western attitudes to death. 1.7 Stages of grief. 1.8 Difficulties in grieving. 1.9 Grief in children. 1.10 Dying children and their families. 1.11 Preparation for a child's funeral. 1.12 Children's reaction to death. 1.13 Death of a child - a school's response. 1.14 Loss of a child - helping the parents. 1.15 When a child in your school is bereaved. 1.16 Bereavement in the junior school - a teacher's experience. 1.17 Glossary of words associated with death. 2. ACTIVITIES. 2.1 Creative activities. 2.2 Feelings. 2.3 Living with loss. 2.4 What is death? 2.5 How can we help? 2.6 Self esteem and self image. 3. APPENDICES. 3.1 Unhappy ever after. 3.2 Caught in the middle. 3.3 Helen House. 3.4 What to do when someone dies. 3.5 Why do we have funerals. 3.6 Rituals and customs. 3.7 How will Mummy breath and who will feed her? 3.8 I can't write to Daddy. 3.9 Heavenly bodies. 3.10 Value of hospitalized children's artwork. 3.11 Additional resources 3.12 Books for bereaved children. 3.13 Children's booklist. 3.14. Educator's and adult's booklist. Useful addresses. Attributions.

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Book SynopsisBased on seven years of experience running training courses throughout Scotland, before further refinement in the United States, this manual is a tried and tested method of training people to counsel and aid others who are suffering loss and bereavement.The manual features: * an explanation of the learning method and ethical issues * role-play exercises to allow trainees to experience common situations * easy-to-use course material for the facilitator and the participants * further resources should extra training be desired.The course confronts the fear of mortality, promoting self-awareness and self-nurturing in carers to prepare them for the pain, fear, anxiety and anger of those who have been abused or grieving, and develops the skills which enable the carer to fulfil their task.Trade ReviewThis book evolved from the Scottish Health Education Group's initiative to teach basic counselling skills to nurses. The manual includes all of the materials necessary to plan and conduct the five-day course, as well as a follow-up day for participants. I would recommend this manual. -- Journal Of Interprofessional CareThis book could provide useful information as part of an occupational therapy course or departmental library for reference and ideas. -- British Journal of Occupational TherapyThe manual has much to offer social workers at both a practice and educational level. The experiential methodology presents the worker with an opportunity to question the beliefs and skills underpinning their practice may be reconfirmed or perhaps strengthened through the exposure to alternative methods. Given the context, this book has particular merit for social workers interested in working with clients experiencing terminal illness and/or loss. It is a comprehensive educational resource which provides the participant with a serious opportunity to enhance their practice skills. -- Australian Social WorkThe training course described is designed to enhance counselling skills, deepen self awareness about loss related issues, enable participants to share personal experiences, identify relevant resources that will support and inform participants and enable the transfer of learning from the course to the work place. The content and structure of the training course admirably meets all the above aims and I am particularly impressed by the design of the course which allows for a progression and sequence that allows the participant to build upon the experience and content of the previous day and thus evolve and deepen their knowledge. The manual is also an excellent resource with a whole section devoted to materials for the facilitators and a further section providing materials for the participants. I was delighted to see a lesson plan devoted to exploring spirituality and found the materials available to participants particularly inspirational. This training manual is comprehensive in its scope and substantial in its content. It is well grounded in experiential learning and I would thoroughly recommend it to trainers of psychotherapists and counsellors. Indeed, this training manual is the best of it's kind and I hope it will be further revised over the years. -- Psychotherapy and CounsellingPacked with useful material in an easy-to-copy A4 format. It could be used with course participants who already have basic counselling skills in health, social services and volunteer organisations. This manual is worth every penny as a training resource for workers in the field of abuse, terminal death and illness. -- Professional Social WorkThere is a wealth of material in this manual. -- Hospice BulletinTable of ContentsIntroduction. SECTION 1: LEARNING TO HELP PEOPLE LIVE THROUGH LOSS. The learning method. The learning environment. Principles underlying effective experiential learning practice. Working with groups. The elements of the course. Support structures. Stages in experiential learning. Balancing challenge and support. Role-play as a tool in experiential learning. Trainers have needs too. Practical steps in course planning. SECTION 2: COURSE PROGRAM AND LESSON PLANS. Day one. Program for day one. Lesson plans for day one. Day two. Day three. Day four. Day five. Follow-up day. Additional lesson plans. SECTION 3: FACILITATOR'S MATERIALS. Preparing for the course. SECTION 4: PARTICIPANTS' MATERIALS. Materials for the structured course. Materials for use with additional lesson plans. Extra materials. Structured role-plays. Alternative evaluation forms. SECTION 5: REFERENCES, FURTHER READING AND RESOURCES.

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Book SynopsisThis book would appeal to professionals and practitioners in the field of bereavement care, particularly funeral practices. In the presence of much that is so meaningless through grief, this book provides a meaningful overview, perhaps with new insights and perspectives, and is as such highly recommended.'- The Compassionate Friends Newsletter UK'Discusses research in the field of art therapy, the forms of research available in the field, and the ways in which definitions of research affect understanding of the arts therapies and how they are practised. In his introductory chapter, the author outlines the importance of research into the arts therapies and explains that, while the rest of the book focuses primarily on research into drama therapy , his observations are applicable to other forms of art therapy. He describes the characteristics of art therapy and how these affect the types of research that can be carried out in the field... The author addresses questions relating to research by practicing art therapists, the investigative processes open to them, and the necessary differences between the approaches they take and those of traditional academic research. He proposes an art-based form of research, which uses art as both the means of interpreting art and of presenting that interpretation.'- ARTbibliographies ModernIn The Social Symbolism of Grief and Mourning Roger Grainger focuses on the role of funerals in promoting the personal and social adjustment of the bereaved. The work explores the significance of many of the areas and stages connected with death, with chapters covering such topics as:* attitudes towards death* our fear of death and dying* ways in which we attempt to come to terms with death* the rituals that surround these processes.By tying together folklore and traditional beliefs with actual funeral practices, both ancient and modern, the author has created a work that examines the anthropological, psychological and superstitious aspects of our relationship to death and dying.'Grainger is multi-talented, drawing on his expertise in drama, counselling, acting, theology, sociology and anthropology... He has some interesting things to say about the necessity of chaos, and how this is ritualised in the Irish wake. Unlike many authors on bereavement, Grainger takes seriously the ghost beliefs that are widespread throughout history'- Bereavement Care'The Social Symbolism of Grief and Mourning is a complex study of death from the perspectives of drama, psychology, anthropology, and working pastoral practice. Roger Grainger ties his study to ancient and current funeral practices, and examines the beliefs about death implicit in our social behaviour; but more importantly, he had understood and can communicate, the absurd quality of death and its religious nature. By its very nature, death is paradoxical: it cannot be contained by words or rites, but that is just what we seek to do, must do, to make sense of it. In doing this, we make sense of life. The important bearing on changing funeral practices, but more pressingly on the way we speak and preach (if we do) about death.'- Church Times'Roger Grainger's book is a refreshingly new approach to a wide range of theory and practice regarding attitudes towards death, dying and the dead. Most of the material cited was collected presumably for his PhD in the 1970s and the only major criticism relates to the absence of contributions of contemporary philosophers and commentators such as Foucault, Levinas, Primo Levi and Elias. However, this is more than compensated for by a fresh look at the work of some of the late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century anthropologists as well as eastern works, such as the Tibetan Book Of The Dead … Grainger cites sources which deplore the current state of British funerals and promotes the charter of the National Funeral College. In concluding the book with a chapter entitled The Rite of Passage, he conveys, with good supporting evidence, the importance of sustaining these rites in order to support bereaved people in what can be seen as a mythical experience which is also practical and rooted in reality. I recommend this book not least because of its exhaustive research which provides an excellent resource for any further study in this area.'- Progress in Palliative CareTable of Contents1. The Refusal to Die. 2. The Fear of the Dead. 3. The Unbuiried. 4. The Shape of Death. 5. The Rite of Passage. Appendix: The Principle Motives of the Funeral. Bibliography

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Book SynopsisIn this rich and humane book Ann Orbach explores, from the point of view of a psychotherapist, the subject of death in all its manifestations. Her intention is to look at death and what it means to us, as a means of coming to terms with the inevitable, and helping others to do so. She discusses not only existential questions such as fear of death (as a state of non-being) and fear of dying, but cultural attitudes and religious beliefs, dreams and near death experiences, and the consequences of the manner of death. She looks at death in war, suicide, euthanasia, terminal illness, accident and murder, as well as the death of children and the consequent needs of parents and siblings. She discusses the way in which a therapist can help the dying and their families.Welcoming the lessening of taboos surrounding the subject of death, Ann Orbach urges that all aspects of death should be approached with honesty and openness, with children just as much as with adults. She leaves us with the question of what dies with the body: is there anything left of our humanity that does not die?Trade ReviewAnn Orbach is a practising psychotherapist and her book represents a thought-provoking examination of death. In an open and honest way, she confronts some of the issues surrounding this subject and helps us reconsider attitudes to death and dying, and the needs of those who may ask for our help. Looking at the problems faced by dying patients and their families, she considers the role of the therapist as helper in this situation. This book is immensely readable. This is a book for everyone working with dying patients and their relatives - not only to aid us in our work, but also to challenge our personal assumptions about death, dying and bereavement. -- Bereavement CareDrawing on professional and personal experience and the literature, Orbach explores attitudes, beliefs, fears and responses to death at various life stages and in various ways. Her exploration of loss is, however, much broader, considering giving up a child for adoption, working with murderers, capital punishment and near-death experiences. In the chapter on "Partly Living" she addresses not only dementia but also those who suffer from anorexia, and those who feel their lives are without meaning. The book is both easy and enjoyable to read, while stimulating reflection of personal and professional experiences. I would have no hesitation in recommending this text to anyone wishing to explore issues around palliative care and bereavement. -- International Journal of Palliative NursingAnn Orbach's search for ego and self is well documented in this book, which is well illutrated with case histories and referenced excerpts from literature. Ann Orbach has experienced death close-up with the passing of family members and some of her clients. Her writing throws into stark relief the different approaches to death taken by clinicians and psychologists. This is a good read and if you are interested in this area of study, or have recently had experience of death, it could well facilitate your spiritual journey. Buy it and see. -- Community CareDeath and dying are the issues explored in Ann Orbach's Life, Psychotherapy and Death. She looks at people's reactions and fears, at bereavement and mourning. Different types of dying are addressed - the death of a child, of a person with AIDS, sudden deaths such as murder, capital punishment, suicide and in war. Cultural and religious attitudes towards death are discussed, and the role of psychotherapy. -- Church TimesAnn Orbach is a practising psychotherapist who is interested also in working with older people. I found it a heartfelt and provoking book. She writes of the reality that death permeates our lives from their very beginnings. She covers sudden death, slow death, AIDS, terminal "long time a-dying" conditions, child death, its timeliness, grief and mourning, near death experiences. Throughout the book the author is also exploring the notion of self which in turn provokes questions about the links between mind, body, emotion and soul/spirit; in other words our sense of identity. Is there, for example, life after mortal life is over? In exploring death in life, the author roams around different cultures. It was both a highly personal account as well as being intellectually rigorous, warm and challenging. -- CounsellingAnn Orbach's book is a wide exploration into the way people face death as the dying and bereaved. It is a book that is not content to stay with the psychotherapist's narrative but steps out confidently into philosophy, theology and some of the very practical issues that mortality presents illustrated with case studies, research, poetry and prose. This is not a work that dwells upon any particular aspect of mortality - there is fleeting reference to some of the major theories of bereavement and brief mention of important psychological concepts - but there is a wholeness to the book which leaves one, if not better informed, then more aware of how fruitful it can be at times to step over conventional boundaries. This is a book then not so much of information but, as the subtitle suggests, of exploration, and one which depends little on a prior understanding of psychotherapy. It should be helpful to those who are professionally involved in the lives of the dying and the bereaved and who have the curiosity to step over their own boundaries in order to appreciate less familiar perspectives and insights. -- Progress in Palliative CareTable of Contents1. All Must Die. No escape. Seeking therapy on the way to death. To be or not to be - is there a death instinct? 2. Out of Season. Fragile beginnings. What children know and what they can talk about. Answering children's questions. The first bereavements. Jonathan's story. Children who die. Parents whose children die. Slaughter of the innocents. The story of two mothers. 3. A Plague Called AIDS. Pandemic. What is AIDS and where does it come from? Health education, tests and counselling. Perry's story. AIDS in the family. 4. Sudden Death. Death by proxy. Meeting the shadow. Murder in mind. Forensic psychotherapy. Working with murderers. Capital punishment - the outcasts. Suicide. Suicide, psychotherapy and the saving of souls. Euthanasia. War. The manner of our dying. 5. Slow Death. Terminal illness. To tell or not to tell? Natural death. Where to die. Fear. 6. Partly Living. To eat or not to eat? The dying brain. The death of meaning. 7. In Fullness of Time. Being old. Dying of old age. Life review. Counselling, psychotherapy, analysis. 8. A Time to Mourn. Mourning on the way to death. Each bereavement is unique. Funeral options. 9. On the Edge. Dreams of death. View from the edge. 10. Who Dies? Ego. Self. Body, soul and spirit. Individuation. Can we still believe in an afterlife? Appendix. References. Index.

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Book SynopsisChildren have long been the "forgotten mourners". This new and revised edition expands on the original book by Sister Margaret Pennells and Susan Smith. It raises awareness of the sensitive issues involved for bereaved children, highlighting their needs and their emotional and behavioural responses when a bereavement occurs. The book includes two new chapters, on traumatic bereavement and secondary losses in bereavement, and it provides more information on each topic. Children's reactions to bereavement and their behaviours are described in more detail, and the consequences of failing to acknowledge children's grief and ways to tackle the subject of death are outlined.The Forgotten Mourners: Second Edition maintains the simple, accessible approach of the original book and will be of use to teachers, social workers and all those working in the field of child bereavement, particularly when faced with difficult situations.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. How Children Grieve 2. Traumatic Bereavement. 3. Secondary Losses in Bereavement. 4. What Do Children Need? 5. What Can Adults Do? 6. What Can Schools and Teachers Do? 7. What Can Social Workers Do? 8. Working With Bereaved Children. 9. Guidelines for Effective Coping. References. Resources.

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Book SynopsisWritten by children for children, this unique workbook is both written and illustrated by children and teenagers who have experienced the death of someone close to them - a parent, grandparent, sibling or friend. They describe their often confusing thoughts and emotions immediately after the bereavement and discuss how their day-to-day lives were affected, including such diverse issues as the reactions of those around them, practical changes and managing school and schoolwork. They offer advice, based on their own experiences, on how to cope with the practical and emotional upheavals of bereavement. The workbook's interactive style encourages readers to write about and draw their own feelings and experiences, to consider personal coping strategies and examine their relationships with those around them who may be able to offer support. Advice on how to seek external support and a list of helpful agencies are also provided.The supportive and interactive style of this book will make it a valuable source of help and encouragement for bereaved children and teenagers. It will also be useful to adults seeking to understand how children and teenagers experience bereavement.Trade ReviewMany children would find it helpful to realise that what they are going through is shared by others and quite normal and that it will get easier with time. I liked the exercises in the book which give children and young people an opportunity to access thoughts and feelings that may be confusing and express them in a way that is helpful. -- Climb UpdateTable of Contents1. Letter of explanation from the authors to readers. 2. Feelings, thoughts and the way things change after someone close has died. 3. What are the thoughts and feelings? 4. Finding a way through the difficult things. 5. What difficult things have to be coped with? 6. How bad can it get? 7. What helps? 8. A letter from a teenager. 9. Practical exercises. Resources: Books, games and organisations.

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Book SynopsisBereavement is a journey to be travelled, not an illness to be treated or a problem to be solved. This book talks about real people as they begin to understand their journeys of bereavement. It helps understand the unplanned and often frightening twists and turns grief forces the bereaved to face. It also gives insights into the processes of loss.

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Book SynopsisWritten since the death of his wife in 2014, No Shore Too Far is a collection of poetry and meditations on the themes of death, bereavement and hope. Taking in a broad view of the interconnectedness of the whole of creation, this collection stems from personal experience and touches upon the entirety of the human experience.

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Book SynopsisAfter the death of her father, Sakellaraki's photography emerged as a passageway to navigate her personal grief. The project evolved to explore collective mourning in Greek society, ancestral rituals, private trauma and the passage of time-inspired by the last female communities of mourners in the Mani peninsula of Greece. 'In the wake of witnessing loss globally within our cultures and civilisations, I want to stimulate the viewer to rethink mortality through this imagined path of departure onto a new landscape. ..The Truth is in the Soil, reflects on how my personal story has transformed into a collective narrative of loss aiming at contributing to the collection of tales of human struggle for meaning. To me, these images work as vehicles for mourning perished ideals of vitality, prosperity and belonging, attempting to tell something further than their subjects by creating a space where death can exist.'

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Book SynopsisCosmo Landesman is a journalist, broadcaster and author. Along with Toby Young and Julie Burchill he was the co-founder of the influential magazine The Modern Review. He has written for a wide range of newspapers and magazines including The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator. Landesman is best known for his successful dating column in the Sunday Times Style Magazine alongside Dolly Alderton. His cultural memoir Starstruck: Fame, Failure My Family and Me was published to great critical success. He is currently a columnist for Spectator World and Perspective.

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Book SynopsisRapid advances in modern medicine and diagnostic techniques have revolutionized the way we think about death and the processes of dying. Where once death was defined as the absence of respiration or heartbeat, today patients can be kept alive for months or even years hooked up to a respirator and feeding tube. Ivan and Melrose carefully explain the various medical processes involved in death and dying. In so doing they also face the many ethical, moral and legal dilemmas that confront doctors today, as well as the decisions that may have to be taken by relatives. What, they ask, is the meaning of "life" when large areas of a person's brain have suffered irreversible damage? And what of the economic quandary when valuable hospital beds are occupied by people in a persistent vegetative state with no hope of recovery?Table of ContentsHistory of the definitions of death Coma Persistent vegetative state The "Do not resuscitate" order Brain death Harvesting and transplanting organs Dying with dignity and palliative care The living will The right to die Euthanasia and assisted suicide Near-death experiences Life after death? Body, Mind and Soul

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Book SynopsisThrough discussions of various theories of grief, narratives of the bereaved obtained in interviews with 22 men and women, case study analysis, and chapter summaries, this text integrates the literature about and the bereavement experiences of partners in varying types of relationships.Trade ReviewWalter offers 22 stories of individuals whose life partner died, presenting them against a tapestry of bereavement theories and issues. The widows and widowers describe the challenges of reframing their identity and life; particularly powerful are narratives and experiences of gay men and lesbians, because as disenfranchised grievers they lack the access to the legal benefits, supports, and social rituals of mourning... The captivating struggle of grief involves a crisis in meaning as bereavement shatters assumptions, support systems, coupled identity, and patterns of life. Choice First of its kind...psychologists and counselors can benefit from this book. Canadian Social Work Walter's book is well written, accessible and compassionate and certainly extends our understanding of the experiences and needs of bereaved partners. -- Carole Smith Journal of Social Work Well structured and accessible to both lay and professional readers. -- Christine Valentine MortalityTable of ContentsIntroduction Interviews Overview Chapter One Theories of Grief: How They Inform Our Understanding of the Loss of a Partner Classical Paradigm of Grief Postmodern Paradigm of Grief Integrating the Paradigms Chapter Two Loss of a Partner: Current Issues Review of Literature on Loss of a Spouse Gender and Grief Review of Literature on Opposite-Sex Partner Loss Review of Literature on Same-Sex Partner Loss Similarities and Differences Among Types of Partner Loss Chapter Three Loss of a Spouse Young Widows Bereaved Older Spouses Chapter Summary Chapter Four Loss of an Opposite-Sex Partner Disenfranchised Grief Chapter Summary Chapter Five Loss of a Gay Partner Issues Faced by a Bereaved Gay Partner Chapter Summary Chapter Six Loss of a Lesbian Partner Issues Faced by a Bereaved Lesbian Partner Chapter Summary Chapter Seven Similar and Diverse Themes Among Bereaved Partners Ambivalence Regarding Existing Ties with Deceased Partner Discrimination Experienced by Surviving Partners in Nontraditional Relationships Using Memories and Continuing Bonds with the Bereaved to Cope with Grieving Developing New Relationships While Continuing Bonds with the Deceased Partner Making Meaning from the Experience of the Death of a Partner Chapter Summary Chapter Eight Interventions A Classical Model of Interventions with Bereaved Partners A Postmodern Model of Interventions with Bereaved Partners Interventions with Bereaved Spouses Interventions with Young Widows Interventions with Bereaved Men Interventions with Bereaved Domestic Partners Interventions with Bereaved Lesbian Partners Interventions with Bereaved Gay Partners Working with Gay and Lesbian Bereaved Partners Chapter Summary Chapter Nine Clinical Implications Clinical Implications for Interventions with Bereaved Partners Clinical Implications for Interventions with Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Partners Clinical Implications for a Response to the Events of September 11, 2001 Conclusions References Index

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