Coping with / advice about death and bereavement Books

Book SynopsisThe first translation into English of 'Mother Homer is Dead, 'written in the immediate aftermath of the death of Cixous's mother in the 103rd year of her life.

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Book SynopsisProcess your grief, protect your mental health, and find moments of happiness with these 100 self-care activities specifically designed for difficult and distressing situations.When faced with loss or trauma, the grief can oftentimes feel overwhelming. It can feel difficult, if not impossible, to focus your attention elsewhere. And yet, during hard times is the perfect time to look inwards for support and practice self-care. Tuning in to your personal needs and taking the time to create a thoughtful self-care practice can make all the difference in moving forward in a healthy way. In Self-Care for Grief, you’ll find 100 self-care activities that are specifically designed to help you protect your mental health, even while grieving. You’ll find useful activities like: -Cooking to honor your loss -Practicing saying “No” -Naming your emotions -And many more No matter what the circumstances are, Self-Care for Grief has the activities you need to de-stress, stay calm, and even find moments of joy in the most challenging of times.Trade Review“A comprehensive guidebook…useful and important.” —Bitch Media

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Book Synopsis‘A most magnificent, beautifully written memoir’ - Nina Stibbe'Deft, witty and profound . . . had me turning the pages all night' - Jessie BurtonJean Hannah Edelstein was looking for love on OKCupid the night she lost her father. She had recently moved back to America to be closer to her parents, leaving behind the good friends, bad dates and questionable career moves that defined her twenties. But six weeks after she arrived in New York, her father died of cancer – and six months after that she learnt she had inherited the gene that determined his fate.Heartbreaking, hopeful and disarmingly funny, This Really Isn’t About You is a book about finding your way in life, even when life has other plans.Trade ReviewDeft, witty and profound . . . Jean Hannah Edelstein's writing glows with a peerless clarity that had me turning the pages all night. A stunning book. -- Jessie BurtonOne of the most brilliant writers of her generation, as witty, wry and unsentimental as Nora Ephron . . . a magnificent book, about families, mortality, love and the hard, necessary work of becoming an adult. -- Olivia LaingNever sentimental, this memoir is by turns extremely funny and extremely sad; Edelstein is a wonderful writer, and this is a stunning book. * Stylist *A most magnificent, beautifully written memoir. Unsentimental but heartbreaking, the voice – true and clear. Brilliant. -- Nina StibbeA very funny and charming and bittersweet book. -- Jami Attenberg, author of All Grown UpOne of Red’s favourite essayists, Jean Hannah Edelstein’s memoir is a work of deceptive simplicity and heart-crushing truths . . . by the end, you’ll never want to let her go. -- Sarra Manning * Red *Jean Hannah Edelstein is an exceptional writer, simultaneously wry and heartbreaking. -- Nikesh ShuklaIt hits you with the truth, it reads as enthrallingly as fiction can, and it leaves you changed * Elle *This Really Isn't About You is wry and poignant and true, and I loved it. -- Julie CohenThe book to read if you’re a Nora Ephron fangirl . . . Jean Hannah tells her story of returning to the U.S after years living abroad, upon hearing the news of her Father’s terminal illness diagnosis. Sometimes sad, sometimes funny; always thought-provoking * The Anna Edit *Insightful and charming, this is a breathtaking exploration of grief and becoming -- Laura Jane Williams, author of ICE CREAM FOR BREAKFASTIt’s a wonderful, warm and funny dissection of grief and life that left me feeling like Jean was a friend I never made, and wishing I had. -- David Whitehouse, The Long ForgottenThis Really Isn’t About You really isn’t about me, but it resonated in all sorts of ways: as a woman, as a writer, as a daughter. It is funny and serious, moving yet entirely unsentimental, and bracingly truthful. Jean Hannah Edelstein considers life in all its complexity with great clarity, grace and wit. -- Lisa Owens, author of Not WorkingA bold and unusual meditation on loss, instability, freedom and home. Engrossing, funny and brave. -- Kate Murray-Browne, author of The Upstairs RoomA powerful debut about a woman who is diagnosed with a genetic cancer syndrome shortly after her father’s death from cancer. Read if you’re into: memoirs, powerful tales written by Jewish women, and heartbreakingly funny writing. * Alma magazine *Jean Hannah Edelstein has written an elegant, beautiful book about a time in her life that was messy and ugly. It's strange to say such a sad story was "a joy", but her gift as a writer is that it was. -- Emma Forrest, author of Your Voice in My HeadShe writes about the biggest and most recognisably tiny aspects of humanity with such detail – and she’s darkly hilarious. -- Daisy Buchanan * Sheer Luxe *[A]n emotional, rich memoir, and ultimately a story of strength, acceptance, and hope * Publishers Weekly *

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Book Synopsis'I think the world should read it' LISA TADDEO, AUTHOR OF THREE WOMEN A Guardian Book of the Year After the unexpected death of her partner, Carolina Setterwall found herself bereft and rudderless at thirty-six, faced with the seemingly impossible task of raising her son alone. In this remarkable Swedish memoir about grief and guilt, memory and intimacy, she explores the nature of bereavement itself – the difficulty of learning to live with the ones we love, and the trials of living without them. 'The most compelling book I’ve read in years’ The Times ‘It’s impossible not to draw comparisons with Karl Ove Knausgaard. I absolutely loved it' Evening Standard 'Every spare, controlled sentence has the ring of truth. Gripping' Daily MailTrade ReviewThis book! Swedish, confessional, shockingly honest about desire, love, loss. I've read it twice now and can't stop thinking about Carolina. Utterly compulsive -- Marian KeyesPainfully clear-sighted, unsentimental . . . It’s about grief in all its raw messiness * Daily Mail *Brutally candid. The book’s power lies in Setterwall’s lacerating honesty. It’s the most compelling book I’ve read in years * The Times *Quite simply one of the best bereavement memoirs I’ve read. It’s impossible not to draw comparisons with Karl Ove Knausgaard, but there is a unique voice here, a style of disclosure all her own, incidentally beautifully translated. It’s an emotional battering ram, I thought, and I absolutely loved it * Evening Standard *Heart-wrenching and unsettling -- Rowan Coleman, internationally bestselling authorMoving, tender . . . Depicts the obsessive interiority of grief * Kirkus Reviews *The kind of book that you’ll never forget. It gets under your skin. It moves into the heart. The story is so vulnerable and direct that one cannot avoid caring for the people it is about, and to love them . . . I have never read a book that, so beautifully, puts into words how difficult it is to live without – but also to live with – the one you love. One of the best, most touching and most relevant books I’ve ever read * Randiglensbo.dk *An electrifying read. A book that forces itself upon you, impossible to resist and difficult to pause * Dagens Nyheter (Sweden) *A rich, honest, and poignant portrayal of the many dimensions of grief * Alba.Nu *One of the best books I’ve ever read . . . You’re drawn into her raw grief, anger, guilt, bitterness, fear and loss – all of it, without any filter . . . Real and alive * Sidses Bogreol *Breathtaking . . . Astoundingly well told * NWT *A magnificent reading experience * Magasinet Liv *Honest and unvarnished . . . Setterwall writes about the many nuances of grief, but also about love, family life and expectations of life before and after tragedy * Litteratursiden.dk *

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Book SynopsisHave you found yourself wilting in midlife, and wondering what you might do to flourish in your remaining years? Have you lost your way in the midlife maze due to a significant loss? Did you lose your job or desired career advancement? Did you separate or divorce? Did your last child leave home? Did your family experience a virtual storm of bankruptcy or lose your life savings in a financial meltdown? Did you or someone in your family experience the loss of good health? Or did you weather the death of a family member, partner, or friend? Your loss story is personal. Your path through winding passages during midlife is unique. Perhaps the most important encouragement for your grieving process is to know this simple fact: grieving is a natural healing response to loss rather than a pathological experience. Midlife can be a time of reflection, rebellion, or reconnecting to old or new interests and activities. It can also be a time when losses start to happen or begin to pile up – divorce, death of a loved one, loss of a job or home, the moving out and on of grown children—and learning how to move forward can be a challenge. Here, a seasoned psychologist looks at the geography of loss in midlife, the way it can affect us, and what we can do to get back on track or redirect ourselves when necessary. Through first hand stories and practical exercises, the author leads readers through the midlife maze to a place of recovery, purpose, and peace.Trade ReviewExceptionally well written, impressively informative, exceptionally well organized and presented, "Midlife Maze: A Map to Recovery and Rediscovery after Loss" is as thoughtful and thought-provoking as it is inspired and inspiring. Thoroughly accessible for the non-specialist general reader, and having extraordinary value for academia as well, "Midlife Maze" is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library collections. * Midwest Book Review *Janis Clark Johnston’s professional life as a psychologist and therapist as well as her personal experiences of loss have prepared her well to guide the reader through the depths, challenges, and ultimate opportunities that accompany loss in midlife. Combining scholarship with practical advice at every turn (a key inspiring concept), Johnston offers the reader a needed helping hand through life’s inescapable losses. -- Thelma Reese, EdD, author, with Barbara Fleisher, of The New Senior Woman: Reinventing the Years Beyond Mid-Life; blogsite: www.ElderChicks.comIn Midlife Maze, Dr. Johnston identifies the inevitable losses which accumulate in the course of our lives, and reframes this potential victimage as a challenge to replenishment, renewal, and redefinition. Moving from a recipient position to one who constructs a new life, and develops new resources, recovers one’s autonomy in the presence of loss. -- James Hollis, PhD, Jungian analyst, Washington, D. C.; author, Finding Meaning in the Second Half of LifeTable of ContentsIntroduction -- Midlife: The Afternoon of Life Part I: “There’s a Hole in the Bucket….” 1.M -- Maneuvering Midlife 2.A -- Acclimating to Loss 3.P -- Pursuing a Personality beyond Loss Part II: “…With What Shall I Fix it?” 4.C – Celebrating Needs 5.R – Rearranging Personality Roles 6.E – Embracing Energy 7.A – Achieving New Discipline Habits 8.T – Tapping into Creativity 9. I – Inviting Belonging Connections 10. V- Validating Ability 11. I – Involving an Inner Self Part III: Before “Kicking the Bucket,” Grab Your Bucket List and Enjoy! 12. T – Tickling Your Fancy 13. Y— Yearning for Joy References

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Book SynopsisMany people who suffer the death of a loved one cling to the experience of grief long after the actual pain of loss goes away. This is because grief itself is a complex issue, fraught with misinformation and unrealistic expectations, often leading to interpersonal isolation at the times people need connection the most. Ironically, it is often by embracing the experience of grief that people become most fully mindful of life. Grieving readers will find, in this book, a new understanding of their own grief process. They will learn about the spiral staircase, a metaphor used to describe the ebb and flow of emotional pain that typically follow loss. The book offers readers ways to cope with the events and situations that trigger personal grief by using mindfulness exercises and radical acceptance, a concept that encourages the experience of grief rather than its denial. Ultimately, the book presents strategies for making life more meaningful by acknowledging death and working to embrace life.

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Book SynopsisIf your mom is dead, is she still your mom? At twenty-five—nearly two decades after losing her mother to breast cancer as a little girl—an accident on a downtown street unleashes startling emotional reactions in Peg Conway, and this question starts to percolate. She comes to understand what she’s experiencing as long-buried childhood grief, and as she marries and becomes a mother herself, Peg’s intense feelings challenge her to offer herself compassion. Gradually she confronts how growing up surrounded by silence in a family that moved on from sorrow had caused her to suppress her mother’s memory for far too long. Ultimately, after excavating all the layers, Peg finds her mom again, and in the process discovers that truth, no matter how painful, heals.Trade Review2022 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Winner in Parenting/Family (Non-Fiction) 2022 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in Memoirs (Overcoming Adversity/Tragedy)“A brave and beautifully written memoir that shows anyone who lost a parent as a child how to move forward, even decades later. By sharing her moving search for healing and answers, Peg Conway gives the reader the best gift of all: wisdom.” —Michael Hainey, New York Times best-selling author of After Visiting Friends “Motherless daughters acquire a very specific wisdom at an early age, and Peg Conway knows this well. The Art of Reassembly is her poignant exploration of how the early loss of her mom reverberated throughout her life. In this beautifully crafted memoir, Conway takes readers on her journey of reconnection as we watch her ‘graft myself back to that original branch.’ She speaks for so many of us on these pages.” —Hope Edelman, New York Times best-selling author of Motherless Daughters “Peg Conway has written a memoir sure to resonate with those who experienced the death of a parent as a child. We are taken along on her adult journey as the ‘Inner Lost Girl’ confronts the grief of losing her mother at the age of seven. Many will recognize themselves as the ‘Responsible Girl’ and relate to the painful secondary losses that a death sets in motion. Peg brings to life the challenges and needs of grieving children and helps create much-needed awareness by sharing her own story so bravely.” —Vicky Ott, MA, LPCC-S; executive director of Fernside: A Center for Grieving Children “The Art of Reassembly teaches readers how to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of grief and have self-compassion along the way. If you have yearned to be seen and understood while in the depths of loss, read this beautifully written memoir, and you will feel lonely no longer.” —Nadine Kenney Johnstone, author of Of This Much I’m Sure and host of the Heart of the Storypodcast “From the opening paragraph, these pages hold readers in a gentle but firm grip. Peg Conway brings a striking blend of keen self-knowledge, profound empathy, and detective-like determination to her quest to piece together a more complete story of the reaches of unacknowledged grief. With unwavering honesty, Conway is unafraid to reveal her own humanness and how the ‘happy ending’ she grew up believing impacted her own development into adulthood. Deftly written and deeply insightful, this book invites readers on a journey of discovery and the healing power of self-compassion and truth. A stunning memoir.” —Jena Schwartz, writing coach and author of Why I Was Late for Our Meeting

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Book Synopsis“This glorious story of a life lived in love is the perfect read because it is hilarious, honest, and full of hope. Brava!” —Adriana Trigiani, best-selling author of Tony’s Wife In this laughter-through-tears memoir, Sallie Weissinger, a late-in-life widow, recounts the highs and lows of navigating the tricky online dating world of the 2000s. Interwoven throughout her adventures in search of a new relationship are stories from her childhood as a military brat, her southern heritage, her various marriages, and the volunteer work in Central and South America that helped her keep moving forward through it all. Weissinger keeps her sense of humor as she meets men who lie, men who try to extort money, and men with unsavory pasts. When she experiences even more loss, her search for a partner becomes less important, but—with the help of friends and dogs—she perseveres and, ultimately, develops her own approach to meeting “HIM.” Blending the deeply serious and the lighthearted, Yes Again shows us that good things happen when we open up our minds and hearts.Trade Review“A funny, touching, and ultimately uplifting story of a woman searching for love and purpose.” —Kirkus Reviews “Sallie Weissinger celebrates her seventy-fifth birthday in Yes Again by taking the reader on a tour of her big heart and where that heart has taken her. This glorious story of a life lived in love is the perfect read because it’s hilarious, honest, and full of hope. We are all lovers, or we wish we were, and Sallie shows us how: never give up, occasionally give in, and don’t stop believing. Brava!” —Adriana Trigiani, best-selling author of Tony's Wife “This memoir gives us the fascinating story of a woman’s quest for a meaningful life. It is by turns charming, hilarious, heartwarming, and tragic, and yet, in the end, it delivers hope. I don’t ask for more.” —Lynn Freed, award-winning novelist, short story writer, and essayist “I have spent decades writing about how to live well. In her book, Sallie Weissinger writes about something maybe even more important—how to love well. And she does so spectacularly. Hers is the book for everyone who has loved and lost, and wants to love again.” —Eugenia Killoran, coauthor of The Pritikin Edge: 10 Essential Ingredients for a Long and Delicious Life “Linearity works for many things; however, in Sallie Weissinger’s potent book (and even more potent life) she shows us how tapping into grace can be a tangible way of entering into mystery, meaning, and direction. By recounting times of staggering loss, loneliness, self-doubt, perseverance, and openness to the ineffable, Sallie demonstrates how the journey of life can be a glorious pathway for those with a bit of daring!” —Bill Say, MA, life coach, Process Work Diplomate, and instructor at CIIS, JFK University, and the Wright Institute “After reading Sallie's soulful book, I have to say this gifted writer got the love she wanted the old-fashioned way . . . she earned it!” —Lacy J. Dalton, singer and songwriter “This glorious story of a life lived in love is the perfect read because it is hilarious, honest, and full of hope. Brava!” —Adriana Trigiani, best-selling author of Tony’s Wife

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Book SynopsisYou can t attend your own funeral. But you can have a blast planning it! Death is scary but planning your funeral doesn't have to be! It's Your Funeral! will help demystify death, decrease your anxiety, and put the fun back in funeral, whether that means a drunken bacchanal or a somber reflection on just how great you were. Every stage of the legacy planning process is considered, from a burial outfit to a funeral theme. Practical and cheeky questions alike are answered, including What is the most eco-friendly burial method? Can I write my own obituary? Can my body be shot into space after I die? How can I manage my digital legacy? Offering a plethora of curious facts, strange stories, and inspiration to help you think outside the coffin, It s Your Funeral! includes worksheets that will ensure your wishes are recorded for posterity. Planning for death should be the time of your life, so let s get started!Trade Review2022 Imadjinn Award Finalist“Benjamin exposes readers to death in a light, humorous, and practical way.”—Chicago Tribune“Kathy Benjamin puts the fun in funerals by making readers chuckle, kind of in a shoulder-nudging way that lets us know it's okay if we don't necessarily want crying beside our crypts.”—PostBulletin.com“This illuminating, brisk guide breathes vibrant life into a topic many would rather avoid.”—Publishers Weekly“Just the right touch of macabre....helpful, introspective, and fun.”—Library Journal “A complete, non-depressing reference to end-of-life planning that every household should have and every person should read.”—BookTrib“Laugh-out-loud funny.”—GeekMom, 5/5 stars“[A] concise but comprehensive guide with charm, wit and more than a little absurdity. It's the rare book that I'd recommend even to someone who hates the subject matter (in fact, I'd argue that's precisely who needs it the most).”—Jason Pargin, former executive editor of Cracked.com and author of John Dies at the End“Fact-packed and funny, It’s Your Funeral! is essential reading for these changing times.”—Florence Isaacs, author of Do I Have to Wear Black to a Funeral?“Glib and slightly irreverent, this quirky tome is packed with useful nuggets for planning one's final send off. With breezy writing and helpful planning guides, It's Your Funeral! makes the task of funeral planning seem less daunting, and dare I say a bit of fun.”—Todd Harra, undertaker and author of Mortuary Confidential“Dying seems bad—which is why I never really planned to do it—but Kathy’s hilarious and informative book proves that it doesn’t have to be. I laughed, I learned and I even started coming up with basic plans for my own funeral including a funeral cake (which, Kathy’s right, should be a thing). I’m still not entirely sold on the *idea* of dying, but I at least feel better equipped to handle it on a logistical level.”—Daniel O'Brien, writer on Last Week Tonight

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Book SynopsisAn inspiring book for readers of Sheryl Sandberg and Arlene Dickinson

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Book SynopsisThe loss of a baby, however it occurs, can be heartbreaking and painful and leave parents in need of support as they grieve. While awareness about baby loss is increasing, the suffering and sadness, isolation and loneliness parents feel is often invisible and it can be hard for them to reach out, and for those around them to know how best to support them. Why Baby Loss Matters explores what happens when families experience baby loss or the end of a pregnancy, drawing on the first-hand experiences of parents who have navigated life and the fourth trimester without their baby, and the vital work of charities and services which offer support. By examining different approaches to coping with the loss of a baby and keeping memories alive, the book offers insight into the ways that families have found the support and peace that they need to continue living after saying goodbye.

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Book SynopsisThe cruel early death of his wife Helen tears up the script of Adam Golightly's middle-class, middle-aged existence. Miserably single, outnumbered by his kids and haunted by life's screaming fragility, he recounts his fight back against the hand of fate. This irreverent and frank memoir follows Adam's snakes-and-ladders journey through his grief in the year following his wife's death, as he struggles with small town tongue wagging, the trauma of teenage bra shopping and online dating anarchy.Adam's is the biggest mid-life crisis anyone could face and as he starts to build a new, alternative life for himself and his children, he shows not just how to survive bereavement but how to be transformed by it.Trade Review"Poignant, funny, ultimately uplifting. We are all Adam" – Harriet Green, Observer Magazine

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Book SynopsisHow can children begin to understand death and cope with bereavement? And how can we, as adults, support and engage with children as they encounter this complex subject?Exploring how children and adolescents can engage with all aspects of death, dying and bereavement, this comprehensive guide looks at how children comprehend the death of a pet or someone close to them, their own dying, bereavement and grieving. It covers how you should discuss death with children, with a particular emphasis on the importance of listening to the child and adapting your approach based on their responses. The book offers guidance on how your own experiences of loss can provide you with models for your interactions with children on the subject of death.Trade ReviewHelping Children and Adolescents Think About Death, Dying and Bereavement is a comprehensive resource that addresses how young people feel and think about death and includes practical suggestions on how to include them when a pet or person dies in their life. Marian Carter has shared excellent examples about children and has created a useful 'spiral curriculum' to aid the reader in understanding a situation more deeply. She also includes intervention that schools can use to help kids cope with bereavement. I would recommend this book highly for parents and professionals working with grieving children. -- Linda Goldman, author of 'Great Answers to Difficult Questions About Death: What Children Need to Know'Table of ContentsIntroduction. 1. What is Death?. 2. Grief and Bereavement. 3. Challenging Factors Influencing Grief. 4. What Should We Tell Children and Adolescents?. 5. Schools Coping with Bereavement and Death. 6. Funerals: The Attendance and Participation of the Child or Adolescent. 7. Continuing Care of the Child and Adolescent. 8. Care of the Carers Including Ourselves. 9. Weaving the Threads Together. Appendices. Further Reading.

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Book SynopsisThis pioneering book provides guidance for those helping bereaved adults through the process of grieving loved ones who died as a result of substance use. People bereaved in this manner require very specific support through these unique circumstances, and this book contains contributions from a range of leading experts in the field on how to help people bereaved in this way, with examples of good practice. It combines theory, research and practice in a straightforward and untechnical way, clearly describing the complex, severe nature of these bereavements and how to support bereaved people through this complex grieving process. The book also explains bereavement, substance use and how addictive substance use can affect a family, and provides comprehensive case studies that illustrate how to support and counsel.Rooted in specialist professional experience, this is the indispensable guide for all those whose work involves supporting these bereaved people, as well as being of interest to those bereaved this way and their family, friends and colleagues who may be supporting them.Trade ReviewThe response to loss, we have learned, is subject to many factors, cause of death being prominent among them. In this book Peter Cartwright shines a light on drug and alcohol related death, an epidemic that affects an ever growing number of the bereaved. The book offers abundant clinical illustrations, insight and information about the complexities of grief in these cases, and will be of interest to experienced bereavement therapists as well as those new to the field. -- Phyllis Kosminsky, PhD, LCSW, FT, Author of 'Attachment Informed Grief Therapy: The Clinicians’ Guide to Foundations and Applications'As Chief Executive of Adfam, England's leading organisation supporting families and friends affected by substance misuse, I am very pleased to endorse this book, which makes a very important contribution to practice around a particularly difficult and sensitive issue... that of substance-related bereavement. -- Vivienne Evans OBE, Chief Executive, AdfamWhat a timely, scholarly yet accessible book Peter Cartwright has composed on the neglected area of bereavement following a substance-related death. A wealth of much-needed information is provided on so many diverse aspects. The emerging good-practice guidelines are based on extensive clinical expertise and wisdom as well as available research. Not only health care professionals but those experiencing this special type of grief have much to learn from reading this ground-breaking book. -- Margaret Stroebe, Professor Emeritus, Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands, and Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The NetherlandsPeter Cartwright's Supporting People Bereaved through a Drug- or Alcohol-Related Death is a great gift to any counselor dealing with grief or substance abuse. Cartwright's book is solid -- theoretically grounded yet eminently practical. Therapists will find this book an essential tool for assisting bereaved family and friends in coping with such devastating deaths. -- Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, Senior Consultant, The Hospice Foundation of America, and author of Disenfranchised Grief: New Directions, Challenges, and Strategies for PracticeTable of ContentsIntroductionPart 1 - Making sense of substance-related bereavementsChapter 1 - Making sense of bereavementChapter 2 - Three useful theories for bereavement supportChapter 3 - Making sense of substance useChapter 4 - How addictive substance use can affect a familyChapter 5 - Substance-related bereavementsChapter 6 - Making sense of substance-related bereavementsPart 2 - How to support a bereaved personChapter 7 - Key considerationsChapter 8 - Supporting a bereaved personChapter 9 - Bereavement counsellingChapter 10 - Themes in bereavement counsellingChapter 11 - Anxiety, stress and traumatic bereavementChapter 12 - Unfinished businessChapter 13 - Shame and stigma Chapter 14 - Anger, blame and guiltChapter 15 - DepressionChapter 16 - Counselling clients who use medication, alcohol or drugsChapter 17 - Later bereavement and how far can we help?Part 3 - Examples of good practiceReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisFor bereaved parents the development of a continuing bond with the child who has died is a key element in their grieving and in how they manage the future. Using her experience of working in a children's hospital as a counsellor with bereaved parents, Catherine Seigal looks at how continuing bonds are formed, what facilitates and sustains them and what can undermine them. She reflects on what she learned about the counsellor's role supporting parents in extremely distressing situations.Using the words and experiences of bereaved parents, and drawing on current theories of continuing bonds, the book is relevant to both professionals and parents. It covers important subjects such as the benefits of a therapeutic group for bereaved parents, the challenges for parents when another child is born, the important role of siblings in keeping the bonds alive and how it is for parents whose child dies before birth or in early infancy. The book uses theory lightly but relevantly and places it into the heart of the lived experience. It offers anyone working with bereaved parents insight into the many and varied ways grief is experienced and expressed and what can be helpful and unhelpful. And it offers bereaved parents the opportunity to share other parents' experiences, to understand a little more about their own feelings and to know they are not alone, providing an original and valuable guide to continuing love after death.Trade ReviewIn this profound and beautifully written book Cathie Seigal opens our minds and hearts to a world of loss, grief and transformation that is far outside the experience of most people. She weaves together the stories of bereaved parents with her own capacity for deep reflection and understanding, and disturbs our settled notions of what grieving might be. The work she describes is not easy, and reading this book was a painful experience for me at times, but it is an indispensable resource for anyone concerned with accompanying other human beings in extreme pain. Truthful, grounded, intense, emotionally accurate, and ultimately spiritual in its sensibilities, I cannot recommend it too highly. -- Andrew Cooper, Professor of Social Work at Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation TrustThis book can be read by anyone, but will be an incredibly valuable resource for parents, professionals and those supporting the bereaved. It manages to convey the complex array of human responses to the death of a child with clarity and compassion. Her central thesis of the importance of creating a lasting relationship between the child who has died and those left behind is powerfully and beautifully rendered. -- Timothy Watts, Consultant Neonatologist at St Thomas' Hospital, LondonA humble, thoughtful and reflective book that demonstrates the author's ability to care for and emotionally hold her clients by bearing witness to their pain and walking alongside them as they recreate their relationships with their child after death. -- British Journal of Social WorkI would certainly recommend that this book be placed on the reading list for bereavement counselling courses. And I for one will be recommending it to parents struggling with a profundity beyond words, because this book speaks to that profundity. * Cruse Bereavement Care *In this remarkable book Catherine Seigal has distilled her work with bereaved parents and created a profound gift for anyone who has lost a child...Catherine goes right to the heart of the matter, writing about the love that is greater than death, and how it is in this love we find the continued bond with our dead children. Yet this book is not only for parents, it is also a resource for counsellors. Catherine describes the therapeutic benefit of groups as well as counselling. -- Anne Geraghty, Author of ‘Death, the Last God: A Modern Book of the Dead’ * Bereavement Care Journal *Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Establishing the bond through place, in a changed landscape; 2. Nurturing the bond through talking... counselling; 3. Creating the bond when there has been so little time together; 4. How a group can strengthen the bond; 5. Beginning the transition; spiritual meanings and the continuing bond; 6. The place of ritual in maintaining and nourishing the bond; 7. Holding on to the bond when another child is born; 8. How brothers and sisters help parents strengthen the bond; 9. What might get in the way of parents being able to establish a continuing bond?; 01. Can the continuing bond be a source of new energy and strength?; 12. Working as a counsellor with bereaved parents; References; Resources

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Book SynopsisDrawing on her family's own experiences and those of other parents facing the death of a child from illness or a life-limiting condition, Sacha Langton-Gilks explains the challenges, planning, and conversations that can be expected during this traumatic period. Practical advice such as how to work with the healthcare professionals, drawing up an Advance Care Plan, and how to move care into the home sit alongside tender observations of how such things worked in her own family's story. The book also includes a template person-centred planning document, developed by experts in the field. Empowering and reassuring, this book will help families plan and ensure the best possible end-of-life care for a child or young person.Trade ReviewThis beautiful and heartfelt book is full of meaningful stories and concrete advice for families and healthcare providers caring for children with serious illness. It is a treasure and a wonderful resource that can help us all continue to love and support children throughout their lives. -- Jori Bogetz, Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UCSF Benioff Children’s HospitalThis invaluable book will be of enormous help to other parents treading this rather tortuous and sometimes agonising path towards top quality care at the end of life. It is a heartfelt account of Sacha's personal experience, with useful practical information, helpful insights, and guidance supporting better conversations and choices. -- Keri Thomas, National Clinical Lead, The National GSF Centre for End of Life CareIn openly and honestly sharing the "difficult conversations" she had with her son, his medical team, and family and friends, Sacha has reframed the narrative around paediatric palliative care to show that a good death is possible when end of life planning is done well. Follow the child is both a beautiful account of a mother's love and a practical guide for anyone caring for a life limited child -- Stephanie Nimmo, Author, Was this in the plan?This book would be extraordinarily useful for any parent faced with the problems of a dying child. Anybody working in palliative care, particularly pediatric palliative care, would benefit from reading this book. -- International Association for Hospice and Palliative CareTable of ContentsForeword. Introduction. 1. The Difficult Conversation(s) Part I. 2. The Difficult Conversation(s) Part II - The Advance Care Plan (ACP). 3. The Last Fortnight . 4. The Last Hours 24-48 . 5. The Hours after Death. 6. Celebration.

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of death, bereavement and grief. This first hand account gives Geoff Mead's experience of responding to the loss of his wife from a brain tumour. Giving insight into the grieving process and how Geoff learned to manage his grief, this book will offer hope to anyone experiencing something similar.After coming to the realisation that mourning is a conscious process, to which we can apply creativity, passion and intelligence, Geoff explored the unknown territory of bereavement through his writing. The book shows how artful practice, such as writing, can help to make sense of our experience and navigate the wreckage of grief.Trade ReviewA beautifully crafted tale of one man's grief - and a testament to the healing power of art. By inter-weaving the threads of his raw experience with strands of story, poetry, prose and photographs, Geoff Mead transforms his cruel and untimely loss into a tapestry of artful work and shining moments. There's a deep learning here and a visibly growing soul. Essential reading for those on the lonely road of bereavement. -- William Ayot, poet and author of Re-enchanting the Forest: Meaningful Ritual in a Secular AgeA compelling read, reminding us of the importance of facing into grief, of finding creative ways to consciously mourn, thus finding solace for ourselves as well as honouring our loved one. I will be sharing this book widely as a handbook for conscious mourning that reminds us of the sweetness of life. -- Juliet Grayson, UKCP registered psychotherapist and author of Landscapes of the Heart: The Working World of a Sex and Relationship TherapistA heartbreakingly moving and yet wonderfully hopeful chronicle of a unique and mysterious journey - from the shattering illness and death of his wife Chris to a beautiful reborn wholeness. Geoff unfolds the map of his grief over several years, from the first illness to the beginning of a new life and love. He offers no advice but this tale would be inspiring for anyone who has known loss of this depth.This is a story worthy of a great love, deeply borne. -- Judith Hemming, PsychotherapistA poignant and beautifully written account of life , love and grief. A personal story that will no doubt resonate with others who have lived through the death of someone they love. -- Diana Crossley, Clinical PsychologistIt is a privilege to bear witness to one man's deeply personal journey through the rocky terrain of grief, loss and bereavement, told with the raw pain and profound honesty of one who has been through the whirlwind and stepped out the other side. This will be a precious gift for others searching for comfort and solace whilst experiencing the anguish of losing a loved one. -- Jaki Harris, Grief and Loss SpecialistGone in the Morning is a testament to the power of writing to affirm, inquire and express doubt during difficult passages of life. Unswerving in its account, the reader is led alongside Geoff (and his charismatic cockerpoo, Ted) as he travels through 'active mourning'. His journey and his writing habits are an act to follow for the bereaved in this modest account of a recovery 'through' (not over) loss. -- Claire Williamson, Programme Leader, MSc in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes, Metanoia Institute.Like a master poet, Geoff moves in and out of story and reality in this marvelous book. He invites us to walk alongside him as he shares his experience of loss, love and the birth of a new narrative. -- David Drake, author of Narrative Coaching: Bringing Our New Stories to LifeI am moved and inspired by Geoff's beautifully written and closely observed account of bereavement after his vivacious and extraordinarily creative wife Chris Seeley was diagnosed with a brain tumour and died 18 months later. It is a tribute to the therapeutic power of writing and above all a story of love, tenderness and hope. As someone recently bereaved myself, I found Gone in the Morning has invited me more fully into life, love and creativity -- Dr Julia Wallond, General PractionerAs someone who has experienced the death of a spouse through illness, I recognise the archetypal journey through the landscape of bereavement that Geoff explores; as a storyteller working primarily with coaching people in the telling of their true life stories, I know that creating a coherent narrative from seemingly inexplicable life events brings understanding, acceptance and ultimately, peace. When that story is told well, those benefits spread. This is such a story. -- Sue Hollingsworth, Centre for Biographical StorytellingWritten with immediacy and resonance, poignancy and humour, Gone in the Morning strikes a fine balance between life and loss. Geoff Mead's warmly human writing voice makes it a trusty companion in this most solitary of human experiences. I am grateful that this book has been written. -- Barbara Turner-Vesselago, author of Writing Without a Parachute: The Art of Freefall, and Freefall Into Fiction: Finding FormA remarkable book - beautifully written by an accomplished writer/storyteller - it tells, through blog extracts, poetry and pictures, of the writer's emotional journey during the final months of illness and then, the two years after his wife's death...Each extract is a complete little story in itself - and brief enough that I could not resist the urge to read 'just one more' before turning out the light. It was a compulsive read...Most of us experience love and loss, and yet we find it hard to talk of such things. Now I feel that I have a greater understanding of my own journey of grief, and a better way of thinking and talking about it. -- Jill Lamede * Facts & Fiction *Table of Contents1. Here be Dragons. 2. Gone in the Mourning. 3. Wild Margins. 4. Into the Void. 5. Curating a Life. 6. Solitude. 7. After Ithaka. 8. Sassy Bear. 9. Being and Becoming. 10. The Wind Rises. 11. Ashes to Ashes. 12. Written on the Body. 13. Captain Midnight. 14. Parting Gifts.

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Book Synopsis"Jon, my husband, took his own life at the age of 35. He left for work at 7.30, as usual. He kissed me, and our two children, as usual. He told me he loved me, which was not usual, but that didn't occur to me until later."Sue Henderson candidly recounts the experience of raising her family as a single parent survivor of suicide. Alongside an honest and moving account of the day-to-day practicalities and emotional impact of Jon's death, there's advice on how to talk to children about death and suicide, how to support them as they grow up, and how to be aware of the heightened emotional risks for bereaved children.She also draws on her experience as a social worker of 25 years to provide a theoretical framework for the book in which she discusses theories of grief and bereavement, issues of men's mental health, and the heightened incidence of male suicide.Trade ReviewThis book is not another self-help manual ... it's a warm embrace from a kind friend: you will feel its arms come around you offering comfort, support and, above all, understanding. -- Kate Buchanan, Humanist Celebrant, Humanist Society ScotlandResilience and incredible positivity shine through the pages, and her frank account of the emotional fallout is balanced with some sound theoretical information. A must read for anyone affected by suicide. -- Dr Mary Turner, Reader in Health Services Research, University of HuddersfieldSue Henderson's personal story captures the distress, the disbelief, the questioning - but also the need to recover, to survive as a family. She brings a professional eye and even a wry humour to this most painful of subjects. It's an unusual book about a frequently hidden topic. -- Prof Louis Appleby, Chair, National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory GroupReading Sue's book sent me on an emotional rollercoaster, which I didn't want to get off. I laughed at points, I cried at others, and at times I was so captivated I felt like I was experiencing their journey with them. -- Donna Hastings, Bereavement Co-ordinator, Richmond’s HopeSue's book gives a genuine, heart-warming and wrenching account of how suicide changes family life forever. Winston's Wish is proud to have been part of their story, which illustrates that the direction of grief is never straightforward but families can find their own 'new normal'. -- Suzannah Phillips, Development Lead, Winston’s Wish – the charity for bereaved childrenTable of ContentsIntroduction. 1. The Early Months - 'I Can Do This'. 2. A Crash Course in Widowed Single-Parenting. 3. Falling off the Conveyor Belt. 4. The Not-Rules of Grief and Mourning. 5. And the Walls Came Tumbling Down. 6. 'Too Stiff a Tree to Bear the Weight'. 7. Talking to the Children. 8. Risks for Bereaved Children. 9. Getting it Right for a Boy. 10. New Relationships. 11. A Word about Dreams. 12. Acceptance. 13. When is it OK to Use Bereavement as an Excuse?. 14. The Good Bits. 15. What Doesn't Kill You. A Man Called Jon by Eilidh. Appendix.

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Book SynopsisIt is increasingly challenging for teachers to educate without a deeper understanding of the experience of their students. This is particularly the case in marginalised groups of young people who are subject to loss, grief, trauma and shame. Through a snapshot of the diverse student populous, this book explores the impact of these experiences on a student's learning and success. Topics covered include poverty, obesity, incarceration, immigration, death, sexual exploitation, LGBT issues, psychodrama, the expressive arts, resilience, and military students. The authors share the children's perspective, and through case studies they offer solutions and viable objectives.Trade ReviewOnce again, Linda Goldman has reached out across cultures to break down barriers and rally caregivers and educators to the aid of our most vulnerable citizens, children who are traumatically bereaved and in desperate need of trauma informed care. Those who serve and support these precious children now have an extraordinary resource to rely upon. It is an essential reference for teachers and caregivers and all those who yearn to profoundly impact - and quite possibly save - a child's life. -- Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder of TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)Linda Goldman has written yet another cutting-edge resource. This wide ranging book brings clarity and insight into relevant contemporary issues. This significant and practical resource is a wonderful asset for teachers, caregivers and those with the interest of marginalised children at heart. -- John Holland, Author of Responding to Loss and Bereavement in SchoolsTable of ContentsPreface. Introduction. PART ONE: The Problem: Impact of Loss, Grief, and Trauma on Students. 1. Grief and Loss in Our Schools: The Impact on Learning and Growth. Linda Goldman (Editor). 2. What Complicates Grief, Loss, and Trauma for Children. Linda Goldman (Editor). 3. Serving Underserved Students: A View from the Classroom. Kyle Schwartz, Elementary School Teacher, and Author. 4. Viewing Underserved Populations of Children and Youth Through a Trauma Sensitive Lens. Susan Craig, Ph.D., Author, Teacher Trainer, and Consultant. PART TWO: The Challenge: Supporting Underserved Student Populations. 5. Children and Poverty: Helping them Learn. Ruby Payne, Ph.D., CEO, aha! Process Inc. 6. Immigration Issues in the Schools: A Challenge to Learning and Living. Mari Moreno, Principal, Las Americas Newcomer School. 7. Addressing Weight Stigma and Body Dissatisfaction: Impact on Student Health and Wellbeing. Kathy Kater, LICSW. 8. Children with Incarcerated Family Members: Educators Can Help. Amalia Molina & Susan Truitt, Program Volunteer Get On The Bus. 9. LGBT Youth: What is their school experience? Eliza Byard, Ph.D., Executive Director GLSEN; Juan Martinez, Past Chief Communications and Advocacy Officer GLSEN, and Karl Hudnell, Media Relations Manager GLSEN. 10. Supporting Military Students with Separation, Loss, Trauma and Death: Equipping School Personnel to Help the Kids of Those Who Served. Lynda Davis, Ph.D., Executive Vice President TAPS: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. 11. Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Schools. Eve Birge, Office of Safe and Healthy Students, US Department of Education. PART 3: The Solution: Achieving Student Well-being. 12. Leading Students Who Are Hurting: Strength-Based Behaviour Approach to Learning. Jonathan Doll, Ph.D. 13. The Expressive Arts as a Vehicle for Change. Eric Green, Ph.D., Ronnie Nowicki, Michael Lotz, & Jennifer Baggerly, University of North Texas. 14. Media and Social Impact: Sesame Street Helps Children. Rocio Galarza, Assistant Vice President, and David Cohen, US Social Impact Sesame Workshop. 15. Our Children are Resilient Love, Try One: Supporting Resilience in Students. Sara Truebridge, Ph.D. 16. Catching Kids Before They Fall: A Principal's Perspective. Jim Sporleder. 17. Francis in the Schools: A New Community Paradigm to Serve Our Underserved Children. Linda Goldman and Terry Johnson, Executive Director of Francis in the Schools. Conclusion, Linda Goldman.

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Book SynopsisLosing someone to suicide can open up a world of pain, confusion and grief, and for people with ASDs, the effect can be acute and extremely challenging. Reaching out to fellow Aspies, Lisa Morgan proffers her insight and advice to ensure that others on the autism spectrum don't have to face suicide loss alone.Written from a first-hand account, this astonishingly honest book looks at the immediate aftermath, and how emergency responders can help, as well as the long-term implications of living with suicide loss for individuals on the autism spectrum. The book describes common difficulties after experiencing suicide loss, such as beginning to comprehend the death of a loved one and managing their estate, as well as matters more specific to people on the autism spectrum, such as overstimulated sensory issues and difficulties with misunderstandings and miscommunication at an already chaotic time. The book will also help those who aren't on the autism spectrum to understand how best to help someone with autism who is coping with suicide loss, as well as what not to do.Trade ReviewLiving Through Suicide Loss is a valuable addition to suicide grief literature. Morgan's account of the challenges she faced, following her husband's death, will resonate deeply with all suicide loss survivors. The special challenges she documented as someone with Asperger's syndrome, will sensitize and empower all involved in such tragedies. -- Ronnie Susan Walker MS, LCPC, Founder: Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss SurvivorsAnyone on the spectrum who has experienced a suicide in their family, a crisis which involved the police or other authorities, medical emergencies and the like, can relate to this book. Similarly this is a book the emergency service providers should read too because those in the helping professions aren't actually helping us, when they use their usual methods. But, this is not a clinical how-to. This is a detailed, emotional and vivid account, almost a play-by-play, of the events which transpired from the moment of that fateful phone call. Behind the events, the physical movements, are the thoughts and reactions that only another person on the autism spectrum can truly understand, but everyone should try. A heart-wrenching, honest account of the kind of experience that no one should have to go through, but, unfortunately many of us do. -- Rudy Simone, author of the A-Z of ASDs: Aunt Aspie’s Guide to LifeThe excellent and much-needed book deals with the specific issues - emotional and practical - faced by people on the autism spectrum when a loved one completes suicide. Written from a personal, lived experience perspective, this sensitive and valuable book validates the experience of readers and helps them to manage what is essentially unmanageable. -- Jeanette Purks, autism self-advocate and author of The Guide to Good Mental Health on the Autism SpectrumLisa compassionately, courageously and incisively offers the reader the wisdom and learnings she earned through experiencing the tragic loss of her husband to suicide. I can highly recommend this book to anyone on the autism spectrum bereaved by suicide and to their support network. The reader will discover distilled wisdom and strategies for each part of their own journey. -- Dr Michelle S. Garnett (BPsych(Hons), MPsych(Clin), PhD (Psych) MAPS MCCP), Clinic Director and Clinical Psychologist, Minds & Hearts Clinic, Brisbane, AustraliaTable of ContentsPreface. 1. June 24, 2015. 2. The aftermath begins. 3. Where did everyone go?. 4. Support. 5. Sensory issues & emotions. 6. Strengths. 7. A new life. 8. Time goes on. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisThis is a practical guide to help readers work through their grief via expressive therapies and activities, based on the techniques Claudia Coenen honed as a professional counselor after the unexpected loss of her husband.This book provides clear methods to process grief, experience its pain and learn how to live fully again. Readers are encouraged to completely engage with their grief through storytelling, self-care and ritual, and honest reflection. The book navigates the reader through the healing process while allowing them the freedom to explore their pain in a way that best fits their unique situation. Eschewing the idea of a 'quick-fix' to grief, it suggests ways in which tragedy and loss can be a springboard for rejuvenation and transformation.Trade ReviewIn Shattered by Grief, Coenen journeys through the unknown "why's" and "how's" of her husband's untimely death. She navigates these trails with profound authenticity and practical empowerment. She finds ways to be in grief's gaping holes, and to gather its shattered pieces of life and living. Daring to face grief head on, Coenen transforms her holes of loss into moments of healing and wholeness. Coenen reshapes grief's sharp, shattered pieces into a more fluid, life-giving peace - first for herself and family, and now for others as a professional counselor and guide. -- Dr. Joy Berger, author of Music of the Soul: Composing Life Out of Loss.This heart-opening book blends personal story, awareness, insight, and practices that will help soften and transform grief over time in a most intimate way. Claudia Coenen inspires us to respect our own grieving process and gives us hope that we can move through these difficult times. I felt her caring presence through her writing, as though she were sitting next to me holding my hand and supporting my journey. I recommend this book to anyone who is grieving and the people who support them. -- Nancy Mangano Rowe, Ph.D, Professor of Psychology, Sofia UniversityThey say if you're going through hell, keep going. Claudia Coenen is a wise and compassionate guide through the hell of deep loss, a place she knows well. Shattered by Grief offers a compelling personal story, helpful advice, and kind companionship for navigating the grief journey. Highly recommended. -- Cait Johnson MFA, Counselor and Creativity Coach, author of works of spiritual non-fictionTable of ContentsPreface. Introduction. Chapter 1. From Shattering to Wholeness. Chapter 2. What Happened? Who Am I? Chapter 3. HELP!! How can I get through this? Chapter 4. Opening to Emotion. Chapter 5. Learning to Life Fully Again. Chapter 6. Exploring the Past to Experience the Future. Chapter 7. Grief and Transformation.

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Book SynopsisAfter Sarah's body was found, abducted and murdered by convicted paedophile Roy Whiting, her mother, Sara, spoke of how she had survived those terrible times. Now, seventeen years later, Sara wants to tell the full story of how she coped then, and how she has survived. Through a series of letters to her beloved daughter, she takes the reader on a heart-breaking but uplifting journey through every parent's worst nightmare in a moving account of the ultimate emotional survival. It is a story for the little girl who was taken, but a reminder to us all that hope never dies - and love never ends.

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Book SynopsisA new Danish play by Line Mørkeby shining a light on how we talk about death. A dad loses his six-year-old daughter to cancer, and his world falls apart. He doesn’t know how to process the life-shattering void following her premature death. He starts running to deal with his loss. Only, he can’t stop. He runs through the pain, the memories and the grief to try and find the point where he no longer runs, but soars – the point where he is close to her again. I Run is a fast-paced, explosive and moving one-man play about running, grief and missing someone we love. About how you survive the death of your child. Why do we find it so hard to talk about death?

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Book Synopsis'Too often we minimise the reality of terminal cancer, concentrating instead on survival records and talking only in positive pink ribbon terms. But what of those who live daily with the shadow of the disease? This is a book about how that feels. It is about how to die as much as about to how to live; yet it is also life-affirming, funny and shot through with hope.'Life is full of small details that we tuck away somewhere to revisit when we need them most: the calming sound of the sea, that childlike joy when you feel the sun hit your face on an early February morning. These small details knitted together, make up our perfect, ordinary lives. Few understood the importance of these more than Sarah Hughes, who lived with terminal metastatic cancer for over three years and who died in April 2021. This book is a celebration of everything that can make up a life, and how to hold it all close: how to cherish the perspective-changing, exhale-bringing perspective of a trashy novel; how to find the upside of chemo (finally being able to fit into flippy french tea dresses); how to explore the intimate topography of a body that's yours and yours alone. For fans of Matt Haig and Maggie O'Farrell, this is a tender word-of-mouth bestseller: the sort of book you'll press into the hands of your friends, family and a stranger in a bookshop.Trade ReviewPacks in wisdom and wit, grace and frivolity... Her writing never fails to console, but it does so without cushioning reality's jagged edges. -- Hephzibah Anderson * The Observer *A lively rattle-bag of a memoir -- Helen Brown * The Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisIn this heart-breaking, inspirational memoir, Rochelle nurses her beloved mother through a terminal brain tumour. With sensitivity and enormous emotional depth, Handle with Care provides a window into the life of a young carer.When her mum falls seriously ill, 25-year-old Rochelle decides to give up her new job and move home to become her mother's full-time carer and look after her sisters. After the initial diagnosis of a stroke gives way to one of terminal cancer, Rochelle cares for her mother through her illness - helping her as the illness makes everyday life increasingly difficult - and remaining by her side when she passes away. And then, while still grieving, Rochelle must find her way back into the world again.A moving, painfully honest account, Handle with Care is a book about the agony of loss and the transformative power of grief, as well as an emotional handbook for anyone who has lost a loved one.

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Book SynopsisChildren experience death differently from adults and therefore need different kinds of help when they are bereaved. Understanding Children's Experiences of Parental Bereavement is a highly practical book for teachers and parents that explains how best to help and support a child whose parent or carer has died. The guidelines are based on the author's experience of work with child bereavement or loss, especially in schools, and of his research in this area. Project Iceberg involved adults who had been through the experience of bereavement while at school and looked retrospectively at the usefulness or otherwise of adult interventions at the time. The book includes discussion of such topics as funerals and the significance of rituals, as well as the importance of a careful transition back to school and of effective communication.As well as offering valuable insight into the impact of death on children, the author provides practical guidelines for how teachers and parents can better support children through the first stages of parental bereavement while they are at school.Trade ReviewHolland, a psychologist and researcher, offers a revised childhood model of loss around the meaning of the death of a parent. The authors examines funerals and significant rituals, especially as given meaning by children, the transition back to school, and effective communication. -- Resources Hotline ( The World Pastoral Care Center)The book is easy to read with a common-sense approach to the subject. There is a logical sequence to the chapters, the sections within these and it is equally good either to dip into or read through. It would make a good reference book for every school and be an especially useful starting point for teachers in those schools where immigrant children are trying to settle while dealing with the often unacknowledged loss and change in their lives. -- MortalityThis book is an important contribution to our understanding of how children experience bereavement and how they can and should be supported, both in the short and long term. It will be a particularly valuable resource for any professional working with bereaved children, especially within the school setting, or for anyone wishing to develop a greater understanding of the area of childhood bereavement or, indeed, for any practitioner wishing to conduct their own research in this area. -- British Journal of Educational PsychologyFor a bereaved child, school is a paradox. It can be both a haven from the emotional intensity of home and a source of additional demands. It can provide support and generate feelings of isolation and alienation. The challenge for teachers is to recognise how to develop school as a positive resource for bereaved children, which is the main focus of Holland's study. -- Bereavement CareTable of ContentsForeword. Guide to the book. 1. The Humberside studies and Iceberg. 2. Change and losses in the cultural context. 3. The `traditional' models of loss. 4. Schema theory and the importance of language. 5. Childhood bereavement and its effects. 6. How schools help bereaved children. 7. Children's understanding of and interest in death. 8. The background to Iceberg. 9. Introduction to the results. 10. The first reactions to the death. 11. The chapel of rest and the funeral. 12. The return to school. 13. The isolation of the Iceberg volunteers. 14. The Iceberg volunteers' feelings over the two year period after the death of their parents. 15. The medium and long-term effects of the death of their parents on the Iceberg volunteers. 16. The age at which volunteers gained an idea of death. 17. Different types of loss. 18. The experience of death by the Iceberg volunteers. 19. Conclusions to the research questions. Appendix 1: Interview sheet: pupil. Appendix 2: Interview sheet: parent. References. Index.

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Book SynopsisIn June 2000 Peter Houghton, a counselor in palliative care, was weeks from death due to cardiomyopathy. He had made his preparations and had said most of his good-byes. Then he was offered the chance to participate in a clinical trial. Six months later he was not only still alive, but planning a long distance walk for charity and writing this book about his experiences.With humor and honesty, his story chronicles the uneven path back from the brink of death. Combining knowledge drawn from his counseling work with other dying people and his unique personal experience, he describes what dying really feels like and explains the physical processes it involves. He also raises profound questions about medical trials and palliative care, and especially about our attitudes to life and death, and the way we approach death.Trade ReviewDrawing upon his extensive professional experience as a counselor in palliative care, Houghton raises many profound questions in each of the areas he discusses, and is not afraid to admit his own previous misconceptions…this is a book that contributes significantly to our knowledge of the natural dying process. -- Journal of Beliefs and ValuesTo me, the strength of the book was about its ability to refocus and question the care provided, as a recipient rather than a provider. This presented me with some thought-provoking questioning and reasoning induced in my own reflective practice. -- British Journal of Occupational TherapyPeter Houghton gives us an education on the process of dying and death itself. He witnesses dying and death from the outside as a counselor in palliative care and observing those who were dying, their death and their carers. He then through his own seemingly terminal illness, experienced the process first hand, to the point of death. Then as a participant in a new clinical trial he was given a return to life.With humour and honesty he relays his own bumpy path on moving towards death and back from the brink, together with his counseling work with other peoples' dying processes. He gives an in-depth picture of the physical deterioration processes of the body and resultant physical pain leading to death, also detailing the medical processes involved. Equally well described is what it feels like: the psychological processes and emotional pain, through the stages of denial, anger and hopelessness to acceptance and transformation. -- Towards WholenessWith great honesty, sensitivity and humor Peter Houghton has chronicled and reflected upon his physical, mental and spiritual journey, which was far from being without set backs and deep self-questioning... This is a deep and challenging book and offers a rewarding read. -- PlusPeter Houghton had been a counselor in palliative care, Then he experienced what appeared to be a mild heart attack but which turned out to be cardiomyopathy, a chronic disorder affecting the muscle of the heart. Although drugs could control his condition to some extent, slowly, imperceptibly, it worsened until he was weeks from death. At the 11th hour, a doctor friend read a notice of a clinical trial of the Jarvik Heart Assist Device for end stage cardiomyopathy patients, which led to a pioneering operation to install a pump to take over the failing left ventricle of Peter's heart. I was eager to read Peter's resulting book because of the probably unique set of experiences he brought to the writing of it. Not only had he no doubt derived many insights from working for many years with dying patients but also he had actually experienced the final stages of dying himself-yet was able to report back on that experience. As someone who has cared for a dying relative and worked as a volunteer in a hospice, I was hoping to learn something from Peter's account. I did indeed learn much from it…Houghton personally is still struggling to make sense of his restored life and the renewal of his relationships. At 60 he doesn't want to return to work, and he never wants to counsel a dying person again. Unsure why, he suggests that it might be because of having seen the things from the perspective of the counseled. That is a particularly salutary reflection to take away from this book -- Human GivensIn On Death, Dying and Not Dying, Peter Houghton tells his own story. A palliative care counselor, he was given weeks to live. This book tells how he prepared for dying, until a new clinical trial gave him his life back. In the midst of this moving tale, there is much useful information. -- Church TimesThis book is appropriate for the general public as well as students and clinicians. The author has a conversational style of writing that is both easy to read and refreshing. The insight he is able to offer is unique. He identifies not only his emotions during subsequent events, but is able to link these to appropriate interventions that clinicians can make.Perhaps the most intriguing feature of this book is the connection the author is able to make with the reader. Although the subject matter is difficult, the style in which the information is presented places appropriate emphasis on the emotional and technical aspects.Although this topic is not new, this is the only book that provides clinicians with an insight into a patients experience while also providing direction for clinical practice. -- Lisa Stepp PhD, RN, APN, AOCN, CRNH (Private Practice)This book was written after his surgery, although it has much more than a simple account of his recovery and subsequent events. As a counselor in palliative care, he has experience and knowledge of death and the dying process; much of the book is taken up his thoughts on the subject, illustrated with various anecdotes. He also describes the actual process of dying, and outlines treatment strategies for symptom control. -- Bulletin of Medical EthicsTable of ContentsPreface. 1. My Own Story. 2. The physical process of dying. 3. The last days and death itself. 4. How Dying People Feel about Death and Dying. 5. Thoughts about life, death and dying. 6. The patient and the clinical trial. 7. Wider implications and the future. Appendix 1: Patient Care - The physician's role, Adrian Banning. Appendix 2. The Operation, Stephen Westaby. Glossary of Medical Terms. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe Inspiration of Hope in Bereavement Counselling stimulates the reflective practitioner to a multitude of questions. [It] speaks directly to the need for bereavement counsellors to attend to their own hope. John [Cutcliffe] has moved us beyond simply "hope as an outcome" to "hope as a process" of inspiring re-engagement with life.'- From the foreword by Ronna JevneA person's sense of hope is essential to the process of bereavement counselling and nursing. This book brings together empirical research and theoretical thinking on hope to give practical guidance to professionals working with the bereaved. Experienced practitioner and academic John R. Cutcliffe takes into account evidence-based practice, describing not only what we know about the role played by hope, but also how we know about it.The text builds on the requirements of practitioners consulted in its development, identifying and examining the dynamics, principles and social processes involved in bereavement counselling and helping practitioners to understand how they can break through grief, anger and despair to inspire hope in their clients. In addition it covers the wider implications of hope-centred counselling on training and policy.Taking in a variety of sources from philosophy to health policy, this book gives a unique and comprehensive view of the developments and possibilities in hope-inspiring bereavement counselling, providing a wealth of advice and guidance for practitioners at all levels.Trade Review'The Inspiration of Hope in Bereavement Counselling stimulates the reflective practitioner to a multitude of questions... [It] speaks directly to the need for bereavement counsellors to attend to their own hope... John [Cutcliffe] has moved us beyond simply "hope as an outcome" to "hope as a process" of inspiring re-engagement with life.' - From the foreword by Ronna JevneTable of ContentsForeword, Professor Ronna Jevne, University of Alberta. Introduction. PART ONE: Hope in Theory and Practice. 1. What is Hope? PART TWO: Inspiring Hope in Bereavement Counselling. 2. How Hope Works: Theory into Practice. 3. Putting the Theory into Practice. 4. Forging the Connection and Relationship. 5. Facilitating a Cathartic Release. 6. Experiencing a Healthy [Good] Ending. PART THREE: Implications for Research, Policy and Practice. 7. Fit for Purpose? Implications for Education and Training. 8. Implications for Research and Policy. Afterword. Appendix I. Summary of the Research. References. Index.

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Book SynopsisWhen a family member or close friend dies, it can be difficult to know how best to help the children and teenagers involved. Someone Very Important Has Just Died is a practical book written for those caring for children and teenagers suffering a close bereavement. Intended for use immediately or soon after the death has occurred, this book gives practical and detailed guidance on what adults might say and do to help children.This much-needed resource tackles the sensitive issues of what to tell children, how far to include them in the events immediately after the death, and how to tend to their physical and emotional needs. The material is suitable for anyone regardless of their background and beliefs, and is supplemented with information on where to go to obtain longer term bereavement support.Someone Very Important Has Just Died is an ideal resource for professionals in all areas of work relating to bereavement. It is designed to be given to adults with children in their care at the time of a death.Table of ContentsPreface: Why the need for this book? Introduction. 1. How you may react to the death of someone close. 2. How children and teenagers may react at the time of bereavement. 3. Getting support for yourself and the children. 4. Talking to children and young people about death and funerals. 5. Words you could use. 6. Immediate matters to consider regarding the funeral. 7. Looking after everyone's health and easing stress. 8. The way forward. Useful contacts. For you and the children.

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Book SynopsisAdults often believe that children are quick to overcome and forget loss, but there is evidence that children are affected by the memory and impact of loss throughout their lives, and especially during the years that they grow-up.In this sympathetic book, Tamar Granot explains the immediate and long-term effects of loss on children and adolescents. She describes how loss is experienced at different ages, explains the significant consequences it can have at each stage of the children's development and the effects it might have on the development of their personality. The author describes how the circumstances of the loss and its aftermath and the behavior of parents and other significant caregivers influence the child's reaction. She explores the special effects of different kinds of loss, including the suicide of a parent or sibling, murder, the loss of a parent through death and parental abandonment due to divorce, disease, substance abuse, etc. Tamar Granot emphasizes how important it is to stay attuned to the special needs of these children along their growing years and provides practical and sensitive explanations and advice on how best to support them. Adults who experienced loss in childhood will find the book insightful to retrospective understanding of the effects of the loss on their growth and adult life, especially on their emotional state and their functioning in intimate relationships and as parents.Drawing on theories of loss and child development in an accessible way, Without You provides valuable guidance for parents and carers of bereaved children, as well as for the professionals who support them.Trade ReviewThis book would be very helpful for any adult who needs to understand the full impact of loss and death for a child or young person. A good book to use when trying to get others to understand just how devastating loss can be for a child or young person. -- www.childbereavement.org.ukThis is a very informative book for students, emerging therapists and competent therapists to have on their bookshelf. It is easily read and very informative. -- Occupational Therapy Journal, Vol.11, Spring 2007It is a compassionate and sensitive exploration of the consequences, immediate and long term, of the loss of parents and other significant persons in the life of a child. Without You: Children and Young People Growing Up With Loss and Its Effects is a down-to-earth and practical guide to understanding and addressing issues of loss and grief in childhood. -- PsycCRITQUEFor 25 years, the author worked in a professional capacity with bereaved families in Israel. In this book, she draws on her long practical experience, combining it with her theoretical knowledge to produce a readable book fully of tips and suggestions, aimed at both the lay reader, teachers, counselors, parents and the professional therapist. For those bereaved parents past the early stages but still juggling with their own pain and that of their other children, Without You offers sound and practical advice, without being too theoretical. Also recommended for anyone working with bereaved families. -- The Compassionate FriendsThis is a book which has to offer the reader in an educational context, whether in teaching, counselling or special needs roles. -- Pastoral CareTable of ContentsIntroduction. 1. The Bereavement of Children. 2. Reactions to Loss According to the Child's Developmental Stage. 3. Additional Variables Affecting the Child's Response. 4. The Remaining Parent and the Family System. 5. A Few More Things That One Should Know. Glossary. Recommended Reading. Index.

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Book SynopsisLost for Words is an innovative "loss awareness" training package designed for teachers and carers supporting children who are experiencing bereavement, be it through death or any other kind of loss.Developed from collaborative multi-agency and multi-professional work with psychologists, educationalists, social workers and nurses, this package is designed for use by trainers over the course of a day, or over several days. It offers trainers and course delegates crucial guidance, soundly underpinned by research carried out with bereaved children and their parents, in schools, and by the "Iceberg" project at the University of York. Divided into fundamental "stand-alone" topics, from children's understanding of death and death as taboo to changes in learning and behaviour, these topic areas can be taught separately or together as required. The training is intended to be interactive and includes many group activities.All the required resources are included with the pack, including templates for OHP transparencies, handouts for trainees and a bibliography for further reading. This much-needed training package is an essential resource for teachers, social workers, psychologists and all those caring for and working with children.Trade ReviewLost for Words is a loss awareness package designed for trainers to guide those working, particularly in schools, in supporting children who have suffered bereavement or other major losses. The flexible modular structure of this resource means that a variety of sessions can be planned around trainees' needs. Group activities, including case studies, excellent templates for OHP transparencies, and handouts are clearly set out. Both anticipated and sudden death, cultural aspects, and loss response policies for schools are well covered. Of particular interest was the data on school responses to a bereaved child, whether teachers were approachable, and to whom children spoke about their feelings. Guidance is given on setting up a training session, making ground rules, and introducing useful icebreakers. There is a good section on children's learning behaviour, and main points for the trainer to emphasise in helping children. This is a valuable book for anyone who wishes to run courses on childhood loss and bereavement. There is a wealth of information to draw on, and this book could be useful aid in developing and running courses for those at the sharp end. -- MortalityThis book is a model of excellent practice both in theory and in its application to experience. This training package set out information in a clear and comprehensive way. Developed from collaborative multi-agency and multi-professional work with a range of professionals, the book is designed for use by trainers over the course of a day or several days. It is well organised into 21 sections providing trainers with a range of tools for awareness training. While focused upon children, their parents and schools, material is of direct relevance to all of us who wish to think about and reflect upon death and its meanings and practices in life.I think that much of this material could be adapted for use for training in care homes - it is stimulating, insightful, and wise but above all, practical. I was grateful for it during [a] particular crisis. What better commendation can a reviewer offer? -- Leveson NewsletterAn excellent source of information regarding loss and bereavement.It is a "loss awareness" training package designed for teachers and carers supporting children who are experiencing bereavement and loss. It is designed for use by trainers over the course of a day or several days. It offers crucial guidance backed by research. Resources include templates, handouts and a bibliography. I covers how to use ice breakers, engagement, ground rules, confidentiality and materials needed.Feelings on the return to school, the school response. Feelings to do with loss i.e. anger, sadness, guilt, shock, disbelief, unhappiness, worry, fear and abandonment. How to write a life line, active models of loss using diagrams, death as taboo and covering death in the school community.This is so good, anyone dealing with young bereavement issues should read this. It is set out very simply, without jargon and should definitely be kept as a school resource. -- Climb UpdateIt is a welcome, clearly expressed and practical toll for teachers and those supporting children through loss and bereavement. Lost for Words is an intelligent and adaptable resource, thoughtfully presented. The guidance that it offers to teachers, social workers, psychologists and nurses is invaluable. -- Pastoral Care, March 2006Table of Contents1. Introduction. 2. Introducing trainees to the package. 3. Ice-breakers. 4. Ground rules. 5. Research. 6. Loss experience. 7. Changes. 8. Case study. 9. Models of loss. 10. Children's understanding of death. 11. Euphemisms. 12. Death as taboo. 13. Changes in learning and behaviour. 14. Helping children. 15. Loss in the curriculum. 16. Anticipated and sudden death. 17. Cultural aspects. 18. Death of a pupil or staff member. 19. Loss in policies. 20. Helping agencies. 21. Resources.

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Book SynopsisA welcome read for the lay person who has been bereaved and is now experiencing the difficulties of loving again.'- British Journal of Social Work'For someone who is wrestling with the dilemmas of a new relationship, this is a comforting read which presents the candid accounts of other bereaved partners.'- British Journal of Social Work'Love and Grief recognises both the emotional magnitude of losing an intimate relationship and the difficulties encountered when attempting to re-establish one with another individual. In keeping with the author's intention to produce a book of direct relevance to the bereaved partner, throughout, they adopt an easy-to-read, conversational style.'- British Journal of Social Work'Life consists of a series of events. Some appear to be pre-ordained and some are unpredictable. A curiously simple, yet complex twist of fate prompted [the authors] to seek out some of the most fundamental human questions; questions about the meaning of existence and its ultimate demise, about the nature of love, in all its presentations and disguises... and ultimately, what can be gained (if anything) through "loss". In "Love and Grief", [the authors] boldly step into a labyrinth of spiritual and emotional paradoxes, guiding us alongside [some] intensely personal journeys.'- Annie Lennox'What is it like when a partner dies? How can you cope after such a bereavement? Love and Grief is a book that is long overdue - it tackles the topic with compassion and insight and will be helpful both to bereaved partners and those who support them.'- Susan Quilliam, Relationship Psychologist and Agony Aunt'An honest and compassionate guide to the complex issues surrounding love after loss. It includes courageous personal accounts which offer insight into the often taboo subject of forming new intimate relationships following bereavement, and will be of great comfort.'- Jackie Spreckley, Cruse Bereavement Care counsellor'I feel this book fills an important gap in the literature of bereavement. Looking bravely at the often taboo topic of intimacy after bereavement, the authors capture the confusion of enjoying a new relationship while still feeling grief and even guilt. As this book draws on a wide variety of personal experiences, I believe that it will be of great value to the many who find themselves in this situation. They will realise they are not alone.' - Denise Brady, St Christopher's HospiceLove and Grief offers sympathetic support to adults who have lost a partner, helping them to explore the difficult and often painful process of forming new relationships.Through a wide range of personal accounts and poems, the authors show how the challenges of grief and change are experienced and dealt with by the bereaved themselves, their new partners, and the respective families. They also consider the differences between men's and women's experiences of grief, and children's attitudes to new relationships. In particular, the authors highlight the way in which continuing attachments and social taboos can affect the process of recovery, and examine the rituals associated with death in different religions and in secular life.Written in an honest and accessible way, Love and Grief provides comfort and guidance for anyone encountering relationship difficulties after losing a partner, and offers real insights for those working in the fields of bereavement and relationship counselling.Trade Review'Life consists of a series of events. Some appear to be pre-ordained and some are unpredictable... A curiously simple, yet complex twist of fate...prompted [the authors] to seek out some of the most fundamental human questions; questions about the meaning of existence and its ultimate demise, about the nature of love, in all its presentations and disguises...and ultimately, what can be gained (if anything) through "loss". In...Love and Grief, [the authors] boldly step into a labyrinth of spiritual and emotional paradoxes, guiding us alongside [some] intensely personal journeys.' - Annie Lennox, Solo singer songwriter songwriter 'What is it like when a partner dies? How can you cope after such a bereavement? Love and Grief is a book that is long overdue - it tackles the topic with compassion and insight and will be helpful both to bereaved partners and those who support them.' - Susan Quilliam, Relationship Psychologist and Agony Aunt 'An honest and compassionate guide to the complex issues surrounding love after loss. It includes courageous personal accounts which offer insight into the often taboo subject of forming new intimate relationships following bereavement, and will be of great comfort.' - Jackie Spreckley, Cruse Bereavement Care counsellor 'I feel this book fills an important gap in the literature of bereavement. Looking bravely at the often taboo topic of intimacy after bereavement, the authors capture the confusion of enjoying a new relationship while still feeling grief and even guilt. As this book draws on a wide variety of personal experiences, I believe that it will be of great value to the many who find themselves in this situation. They will realise they are not alone.' - Denise Brady, St Christopher's HospiceTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Foreword by Sharon Whitehead, the WAY Foundation. Introduction. 1. Grief. 2. Past, Present and Future: the Threads that Connect Even in Death. 3. Living in a Triad - a Triangle of Confusion and Love. 4. Mars and Venus. 5. Through the Eyes of a Child. 6. Judgement - the World Comes In. 7. People's Stories. Epilogue. Bibliography. Additional Information. Index.

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Book SynopsisDealing with Death is a comprehensive and authoritative source of information for professionals on the procedures, laws and cultural customs that should be observed when someone dies. This completely updated and expanded second edition takes into account the recent changes in UK law and the impact of the Harold Shipman and Alder Hey enquiries.Clear guidance is provided on all the legal, technical and forensic procedures surrounding death, including:* medical certification of cause of death* coroner's enquiries* autopsy* organ and tissue donation* burial and cremation* exhumation.The authors give insights into a wide range of sensitive areas, such as dignified care for the dying and considerations for the bereaved, the particular issues that arise when a baby dies, and the appropriate handling of death from AIDS. Part 3 provides an overview of a wide range of cultural and religious death rites and the implications of religious beliefs on blood transfusions, terminal care and euthanasia.This professional handbook is a key text for coroners, lawyers, police, funeral directors and clergy, as well as healthcare professionals, palliative care workers, social care professionals and students.Trade ReviewThe details of organisations involved in bereavement and death are particularly useful, and for this reason alone the book should be available in all hospitals and care homes. -- Learning Disability PracticeThis book is one of the most comprehensive, well researched and practical guides through the difficult and complex geography of death that I have come across. It provides a brief but comprehensive guide to the current laws controlling, and the customs surrounding, the disposal of the dead. The book intelligently summarises a vast body of knowledge to a manageable size, and provides access to organisations and further sources of information... The Greens are to be congratulated in providing such an excellent book. It deserves to be widely used and the user should be confident in its skill and helpfulness. -- Leveson NewsletterThis handbook details procedures that need to be undertaken with patients at the point of death and offers information on the practicalities of caring for patients from different religions. This is undertaken competently and in some depth. There are separate chapters on each religion and the information in each follows a common format.It also covers legal and ethical matters surrounding death. The details of organisations involved in bereavement and death are particularly useful, and for this reason alone the book should be available in all hospitals and care homes. -- Nursing StandardThe book is well written with each section including interesting historical facts on the subject matter. The handbook manages to deal with all aspects of death in a clear and concise way and would be valuable to specialists and nonspecialists. -- Palliative Medicine JournalThis authoritative and informative h andbook on UK legal, Technical and forensic procedures has become a standard for professionals who deal with death, dying and disposal. The new edition adds a section outlining the implications for practice of a range of religious beliefs and death rites, reflecting increasing cultural and spiritual diversity in Europe... I recommend this as a valuable reference text for UK professionals such as lawyers, police, funeral directors, clergy, and for many health and social care professionals. -- Bereavement CareThis handbook should be on the bookshelf of every coroner, funeral director, crematorium and burial ground superintendent. It will also prove useful to the clergy of every denomination as over seventeen different faiths are dealt with in separate chapters. The police, social work and health care professionals, together with students of many disciplines will find this book invaluable. This is particularly so as a work of reference to the current laws concerning death, and customs surrounding it… All in all this book of three hundred and fifty two pages will have an honoured place on my bookshelf. -- Journal of the Royal Institute of Public HealthIn this comprehensive book, the authors provide answers to a large variety of questions from a broad range of areas that may arise when someone dies Each chapter of the book ends with a short list of references for further reading. In the appendices at the end of the book, the authors give the addresses of organisations, which may help to handle various aspects of death. -- Forensic Science, Medicine and PathologyThe authors manage to provide many important and fascinating insights into the sheer incredible number of aspects of dealing with death, and at the same time they accomplish to reduce the huge heap of information to a manageable amount. The book is a valuable source of information for professionals and the laity alike if it comes to dealing with death. -- Forensic Science, Medicine and PathologyThis is a completely updated and expanded version of what has for 14 years been a most useful handbook for chaplains and other healthcare professionals as well as for those in the funeral sector and those dealing with legal aspects of death and dying… The authors offer a huge resource of practical advice on legal and technical aspects of dealing with death, wide guidance on care for the dying and their relatives, and a final sections on religious, ethnic and cultural aspects of death and dying which on its own would make the book a good buy for anyone interested in Spiritual Care in the health care service. -- Scottish Journal of Healthcare ChaplaincyDespite the short time that death takes in our lives it is governed by more practices, procedures and law than at any other time of our lives. The extraordinary number of such rules is in stark contrast to the few rules known and understood by most health care professionals. Consequently this book is very welcome. -- DementiaTable of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgements. PART I: Legal and Technical Aspects. 1. Customs and Laws. 2. Medical Certification of Cause of Death. 3. Registration of Death. 4. Coroners and Coroner's Inquiries. 5. Fetal Loss, Stillbirth, Neonatal Death and Sudden Death in Infancy. 6. The Autopsy and Mortuary Practice. 7. Funeral Direction and Disposal by Burial. 8. Disposal by Cremation. 9. Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation. 10. The Law and Practice of Exhumation. 11. Deaths in Major Disasters. PART II: Considerations for the Living, Care of the Dying, and Death with Dignity. 12. Palliative Care. 13. Medico-legal Issues at the End of Life. 14. Last Offices. 15. Bereavement. 16. The Control of Infection in Life and in Death. PART III: Religious, Ethnic and Cultural Aspects of Dying and Death. 17. Christianity and the Sacraments. 18. The Anglican Church (The Church in Wales, the Church in Ireland, the Episcopalian Church in Scotland). 19. The Roman Catholic Church. 20. Free Churches and Other Churches. 21. Jehovah's Witnesses. 22. The Mormon Church. 23. Christian Science. 24. The African-Caribbean Community. 25. Rastafarianism. 26. The Jewish Faith. 27. Buddhism. 28. The Bahá'i Faith. 29. Islam. 30. Hinduism. 31. Sikhism. 32. Zoroastrians (Parsees). 33. The Chinese Community. 34. The Japanese Community. 35. HIV/AIDS. Appendix A. Organisations which may be able to offer help with various aspects of death. Appendix B. Sources of Advice on Forensic Pathology. Appendix C. Further Reading. Subject Index. Author Index.

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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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