Coping with / advice about death and bereavement Books

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Book SynopsisA journal for meeting grief with honesty and kindness-honoring loss, rather than packing it away With her breakout book It's OK That You're Not OK, Megan Devine struck a chord with thousands of readers through her honest, validating approach to grief. In her same direct, no-platitudes style, she now offers How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed-a journal filled with unique, creative ways to open a dialogue with grief itself. "Being allowed to tell the truth about your grief is an incredibly powerful act," she says, "This journal enables you to tell your whole story, without the need to tack on a happy ending where there isn't one." Grief is a natural response to death and loss-it's not a problem to be fixed. This workbook contains no cliches, timetables, or checklists of stages to get through; it won't help you "move on" or put your loss behind you. Instead, you'll find encouragement, self-care exercises, daily tools, tear-and-share resources to help you educate friends and allies, and prompts to help you honor your pain and heartbreak. "Your grief has an intelligence of its own," Devine writes. "Let it tell you what it knows." With How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed, this pioneering author brings you an essential resource to help you enter a conversation with your grief, find your own truth, and live into the life you didn't ask for-but is here nonetheless.

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Book SynopsisA poem to mortality and the beauty of how we can cope with it.Atul Gawande, author of Being MortalNew York Timesbestselling artist Wendy MacNaughton shares wisdom from hospice caregivers: how to be, when to help, what to saywith full-color drawings throughout.As artist-in-residence at the Zen Hospice Project Guest House in San Francisco, Wendy MacNaughton witnessed firsthand how difficult it is to know what to do when we're sharing final moments with a loved one. In this tenderly illustrated guide to saying goodbye, MacNaughton shows how to make sure those moments are meaningful. Using a framework of the five things taught to her by a professional caregiver, How to Say Goodbye provides a model for having conversations of love, respect, and closure: with the words I forgive you, Please forgive me, Thank you, I love you, and Goodbye, each oriented toward finding mutual peace and understanding when it matters most.With a foreword by renowned physician and author BJ Miller, and practical resources, How to Say Goodbye features MacNaughton's drawn-from-life artwork from both the Zen Hospice Project Guest House and her own aunt's bedside as she died, paired with gentle advice from hospice caregivers on creating a positive sensory experience, acknowledging what you can't control, and sharing memories and gratitude. A poignant guide to embracing the present and deepening relationships during great vulnerability, How to Say Goodbye shows that just as there is no one right way to live a good life, there is no one right way to say goodbye. Whether we're confused, scared, or uncertain, this book is a starting point.

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Passionate advocate for end-of-life care and TikTok star Hadley Vlahos shares moving stories of joy, wisdom, and redemption from her patients’ final moments in this “brilliant” (Zibby Owens, Good Morning America) memoir. “This extraordinary book helps dispel fear around death and dying—revealing it to be a natural part of our soul’s evolution.”—Laura Lynne Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of Signs and The Light Between UsTalking about death and dying is considered taboo in polite company, and even in the medical field. Our ideas about dying are confusing at best: Will our memories flash before our eyes? Regrets consume our thoughts? Does a bright light appear at the end of a tunnel? For most people, it will be a slower process, one eased with preparedness, good humor, and a bit of faith. At the forefront of changing attitudes around palliative care is hospice nurse Hadley Vlahos, who shows that end-of-life care can teach us just as much about how to live as it does about how we die. Vlahos was raised in a strict religious household, but began questioning her beliefs in high school after the sudden death of a friend. When she got pregnant at nineteen, she was shunned by her community and enrolled herself in nursing school to be able to support herself and her baby. But nursing soon became more than a job: when she focused on palliative care and hospice work, it became a calling.  In The In-Between, Vlahos recounts the most impactful experiences she’s had with the people she’s worked with—from the woman who never once questioned her faith until she was close to death, to the older man seeing visions of his late daughter, to the young patient who laments that she spent too much of her short life worrying about what others thought of her—while also sharing her own fascinating journey. Written with profound insight, humility, and respect, The In-Between is a heartrending memoir that shows how caring for others can transform a life while also offering wisdom and comfort for those dealing with loss and providing inspiration for how to live now.

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Book Synopsis*The basis for the wonderfully funny and moving TV series developed by Amy Poehler and Scout Productions* A charming, practical, and unsentimental approach to putting a home in order while reflecting on the tiny joys that make up a long life.In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” This surprising and invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, artist Margareta Magnusson, with Scandinavian humor and wisdom, instructs readers to embrace minimalism. Her radical and joyous method for putting things in order helps families broach sensitive conversations, and makes the process uplifting rather than overwhelming. Margareta suggests which

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Book SynopsisIn Ordinary Deaths, Dr. Samuel LeBaron reminds us of our need for human connection when experiencing death and loss. Based on more than thirty years of working with children and adults dying from cancer, LeBaron’s memoir contains stories of longing, confusion, love, and humility—often woven together. Sharing recollections from his childhood in rural Alberta and experiences from his career, LeBaron reveals a life of vital, intimate connection with others. His employment at a morgue during medical school, his early years as a clinical psychologist, and later careers in primary care and hospice in California, all translate into compassion and a deep understanding of death. Writing as he faces his own terminal illness—Stage IV lung cancer—LeBaron helps readers find acceptance and solace.Trade ReviewSamuel LeBaron … has collected his lessons from a lifelong dance with death into a profound memoir…. LeBaron’s recollections brim with emotional insights, celebrate the virtue of honesty between caregiver and patient, and authentically depict the value of letting each person find their particular way to peace and acceptance…. Ordinary Deaths reminds us that each individual’s path to death is as different and unique as their own life has been. In our death-denying world, that is extraordinary indeed.” John Terauds, Quill & Quire, August 31, 2022 [Full review at https://quillandquire.com/review/ordinary-deaths-stories-from-memory/]"Writing [Ordinary Deaths] was a 15-year process made all the more poignant by the fact that LeBaron is, himself, dying. Two and a half years ago, LeBaron was diagnosed with stage-4 lung cancer…. LeBaron’s ability to hold space for the uncertainty, mystery and doubts we have about dying is anything but ordinary." Deb Cummings, Alumni News, October 10, 2022 [Full article at https://alumni.ucalgary.ca/news/ordinary-deaths-anything]"Through LeBaron’s stories and the filter of his imagination, we witness his experiences as psychologist, physician and person. His clinical testimony makes us reflect: We may not want to look at death, but we can’t look away from it either. Our fascination with the death of others is often accompanied by the denial of our own death.... But the book is more than a memoir of how to face death: Ordinary Deaths is about how to face life." Tony Errichetti, The Intima, October 24, 2022 [Full review at https://www.theintima.org/book-reviews-intima/ordinarydeathbysamuellebaron]Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Magic Medicine 2. Worms 3. Voices 4. Under Water 5. In the Barn 6. Aunt Margie 7. Charlie Gough 8. In the Field 9. To Tell the Truth 10. The Laughing Cure 11. La Llorona 12. Día de Muertos 13. Second Chances 14. Permission to Breathe 15. The Ferryman 16. Winterreise 17. Fathers 18. Lost Horses 19. The River Styx 20. Dream Baby 21. Safe Harbor 22. The Tillandsia Epilogue  Notes Appreciations"

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Book SynopsisThis innovative guide to the chakras explains how grief and trauma impacts on every level of our being, and provides the tools to help clients experiencing trauma and grief by influencing, balancing and nurturing the chakra system.The book provides thorough and clear explorations of each chakra, their connections to each other, and tantric ways of working with energy. It features over 100 expressive and experiential exercises to remedy the ill-effects of grief and trauma, including yoga poses, mudras, pranayama (breath exercises), journaling, creation of ritual, use of essential oils and crystals and stones. Drawing on expertise as a licensed counselor, psychotherapist and yoga therapist, and personal experience as a bereaved mother, the author shares the teachings, practices and philosophies of yoga's ancient wisdom in a new way, and shows how to sustain personal chakra balancing that will resonate through all areas of life.Trade ReviewKarla Hebert does not back away from the depth and complexity of grief and trauma, a territory she knows well. Here is a book that understands the darkness and offers an equally deep understanding of a system that can help us find balance, even when healing seems impossible. What I love most about this book, is that it is not written to "fix" you or your grief, but rather welcomes and understands that your loss will always be part of you. If you are struggling, you will want this book by your bedside, guiding you back into balance. Hebert's compassionate understanding is boundless, as is her wisdom of the ancient Tantric systems that can restore body, mind and spirit to equanimity after tragedy. If you are a healing professional, The Chakras in Grief and Trauma lays a foundation for a timeless approach to helping your clients return to a life where joy and gratitude can be fearlessly embraced alongside loss and grief. -- Amy Weintraub, Founder of LifeForce Yoga, author of Yoga Skills for Therapists and Yoga for DepressionThe Chakras in Grief and Trauma by Karla Helbert is an invaluable resource for those who are grieving or suffering trauma. By providing an introduction to the Chakra system, the book is accessible and relatable to anyone-from novice to master healer. I recently lost my father, and by applying a few of the practical techniques outlined within, I was able to not only acknowledge but lessen the anxiety and physical pain I felt as a result of my grief. For the bereaved, our world has changed, and with it, our energy, and our relationship to the world. This book offers multiple approaches to balancing the energy flowing through our bodies. It was extremely helpful. There are so many activities, no matter how you learn or process, there's something for everyone. The author knows of what she speaks. Her wisdom comes from personal experience and years of study. Her positive energy informs every page. -- Michele Young-Stone, author of O Magazine's Reading Room pick Lost in the Beehive and Above Us Only Sky.Grief is like a circle of energy. The circle, the chakraic shape of grief, is always moving, infinitely spiraling in one direction or another, or simply moving in its place, round and round. Karla Helbert has moved with this energy of catastrophic loss and has directed it beautifully into its fullest potential with this book. While we cannot stop the energy of grief from its movement, we can learn how to be with it and allow it to transform into a bigger kind of energy: the kind of energy with which we can cope, the kind of energy that is productive and meaningful rather than destruction and absent of meaning. With tenderness and compassion, Karla introduces the reader to ancient wisdom, colors, oils, and stones for example, that pushes back against a more modern, medicalized approach to grief. Cover to cover, this book honors the circular energy, the chakras, in grief and teaches us to muster the courage to stay with it as the motion transforms our very being into beauty that stands beside the pain. -- Dr. Joanne Cacciatore, PhD, author of Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief, Founder of the MISS Foundation and the Selah Respite House and CarefarmAll those who have gone through grief and loss know that being expected to move on, as Karla writes, does not always work and might in fact be painful. It robs you from the space of fully being with your feelings and memories. In essence all you long for is to be yourself, and for the other to meet you with utter love and respect. There is no need for fixing, yet there is an inner longing of Being. The strongest message in this book is Karla's sharing of direct experience of feeling lost, how she stopped trying. This reveals the depth of the spiritual seeker, that one who is seeking to be inspired in finding freedom. This is the true meaning of all Vedic scriptures, to develop a relationship with your Inner Teacher and to let that guide you. The practical and sacred tools offered in this book, are open invitations. You get to choose which tool speaks to your heart and for that to guide you back to a state of serenity. I highly recommend this book for anyone experiencing loss, and walk your spiritual path, one step at a time. -- Chinnamasta Stiles, C-IAYT, NAMA-CAYT, PK, LMT, PCPN-AC, Founder at Shiva Shakti LokaA masterful blend of yogic wisdom, grief theory, and trauma-informed therapy, The Chakras in Grief and Trauma offers clear instructions on how to use the body's natural energy system to take back your power, restore balance, and rediscover your true self after the unthinkable has happened. Karla Helbert offers hope and compassionate guidance to those facing what feels like an insurmountable challenge, while shining a light on aspects of grief and trauma that are often left in the shadows. From self-care practices including aromatherapy and yoga, to easy-to-understand explanations of this complex topic, I am amazed at how much wisdom is packed into this one book! I recommend it to anyone working with trauma and grief - either personally or as a helping professional, including trauma therapists, yoga professionals and body workers. -- Heather Stang, MA, C-IAYT Mindfulness & Grief Author & Podcast HostThe Chakras in Grief and Trauma is a tender triumph. Intimate knowledge of multiple strands of yoga are woven together here to create a cohesive approach to grounding, healing and growth. This provides a framework for connective creativity and the possibility of refining this as a compassionate and practical art form. I love this book for valuing the details of peoples' experiences and the necessity of learning how to reconnect. It is a profoundly valuable contribution to the integration of yoga and contemporary psychotherapy. -- Todd Zemek, Clinical Psychologist & Yoga Teacher, Creator of YogaPsychology.comKarla Helbert has written the essential guidebook for anyone whose life has been impacted by grief and trauma. Rooted in wisdom traditions and backed by modern science, The Chakras in Grief and Trauma is a roadmap to healing and wholeness; destined to be a classic. -- r. R. Keith Bell Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Author of Refilling the Chalice: How to Heal from BurnoutThe Chakras in Grief and Trauma, is an in-depth journey offering wisdom rooted in Karla's own story of love, loss, and post-traumatic growth. The author's clinical skills, teaching experience, and subtle bodywork knowledge culminates into a comprehensive guide for healing. Karla holds the door wide open for the possibility of healing physically, emotionally and spiritually. The seven chakra energetic cycles accompanied with tantra yoga, meditation exercises, and recommendations for utilizing essential oils and crystals, comes together in rhythmic cadence. The accompanying illustrations and charts enhance clear understanding and demonstrate proper form. As an essential oil therapist and energy worker for several decades, I am in awe of her selection of oils for each chakra and demonstration for usage. I highly recommend this powerful book to everyone experiencing grief, loss and trauma. -- Katie Buggs, Certified Clinical Aromatherapist, Reiki Master, Cranial Sacral practitioner, holistic educator, owner of katybugs healingsense, author of katybugs PLANTSENSE deck with manualBefore losing my 20-year-old son Charles to suicide, I had not met grief. Since then, I have come to understand it's not my enemy but a connection to the one I love and lost. This book opened my eyes to a different kind of spiritual healing that allows me to embrace the journey, acknowledge and manage the emotional pain in a way that is healthy for my mind and my body. It offers tools to manage grief with love and grace. -- Anne Moss Rogers, writer & public speaker, founder of Beacon Tree Foundation and EmotionallyNaked.comThe Chakras in Grief and Trauma joins deep understanding of the chakras with instruction for helpful application to an individual's journey through times of grief and trauma. As a therapist who works with folks navigating these difficult waters, I find it extremely helpful. I love this book. It is a gift for all of us who engage with clients experiencing grief and trauma, in energy work and in therapy. Those who teach chakra material will also find that they can learn so much about how these events impact the energy system. I have such appreciation for this amazing book. It's a joy to read. -- Barbara H. Davis, LPC, FAMI, Reiki Master, Turning Point CounselingWhen grief and trauma occur, Western doctors too often turn to pharmaceuticals, which only suppress the emotions, which in turn prolongs the grieving instead of assisting it to its own natural stage of acceptance. If you are grieving and if you love yoga and resonate to the chakra system, Karla Helbert has laid out a beautiful methodology for walking your body and soul through the grieving process. -- Joy Gardner, author of Vibrational Healing Through the ChakrasTable of ContentsIntroduction. 1. Muladhara (Root Chakra). 2. Svadisthana (Sacral Chakra). 3. Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra). 4. Anahata (Heart Chakra). 5. Vishuddha (Throat Chakra). 6. Ajna (Third Eye Chakra). 7. Svadisthana (Crown Chakra). References. Appendices.

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Book SynopsisWe all sit on the edge of a mystery. We have only known this life, so dying scares us-and we are all dying. But what if dying were perfectly safe? What would it look like if you could approach dying with curiosity and love, in service of other beings? Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush began their friendship more than four decades ago at the foot of their guru, Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Maharaj-ji. After impacting millions of people through the years with their teachings, these friends reunited to share an extraordinary dialogue on the dying process-which became the foundation for Walking Each Other Home. In this book, published just a year before Ram Dass passed, readers will learn about: guidelines for being a "loving rock" for the dying, how to grieve fully and authentically, how to transform a fear of death, leaving a spiritual legacy, creating a sacred space for dying, and much more. "Everybody you have ever loved is a part of the fabric of your being now," says Ram Dass. The body may die, but the soul remains. Death is an invitation to a new kind of relationship, in the place where we are all One. Experience a profound exploration by two lifelong friends and spiritual luminaries on what it means to live and die consciously, remember who we really are, and illuminate the path we walk together.

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Book SynopsisWhen we are grieving the death of someone loved, we may struggle with making it through each day. How are we supposed to cope with our gut-wrenching grief and live our daily lives at the same time? What should we do with our chaotic, painful, and intrusive thoughts and feelings? How do we survive? And is it possible to both grieve and live with meaning and hope? If you’ve been asking yourself such questions, this book by one of the world’s most beloved grief counselors provides affirmation and answers. Rituals give us something to do with our grief. Simple, everyday practices can give structure to our grief and hold us up us when we’re feeling like we might collapse. In fact, when we’re in grief, rituals are essentially effective beelines to healing. Learn what makes a ritual a ritual. (Spoiler alert: Rituals can be easy and fast!) Try some of the many solo rituals gathered here, such as letter writing, meditating, intentional emoting, grief walks, and the 10-minute grief encounter. And reach out to friends and loved ones who might like to get together for one of the simple group ceremonies. By incorporating the healing power of ritual into your days, you’ll be not only surviving your grief, you’ll be building in meaning and hope so that you can go on to thrive.

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Book SynopsisFrom the writer of the classic Letters to a Young Poet, reflections on grief and loss, collected and published here in one volume for the first time.“A great poet’s reflections on our greatest mystery.”—Billy Collins“A treasure . . . The solace Rilke offers is uncommon, uplifting and necessary.”—The Guardian Gleaned from Rainer Maria Rilke’s voluminous, never-before-translated letters to bereaved friends and acquaintances, The Dark Interval is a profound vision of the mourning process and a meditation on death’s place in our lives. Following the format of Letters to a Young Poet, this book arranges Rilke’s letters into an uninterrupted sequence, showcasing the full range of the great author’s thoughts on death and dying, as well as his sensitive and moving expressions of consolation and condolence.Presented with care and authority by master

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Book SynopsisWhen a Loved One Dies we often go into shock. What has happened doesn't really penetrate. It's only later that we start to experience our emotions, what that person has meant to us. This is when grief and loneliness begin. For many of us this is also the time we start asking questions, like "what does death really mean?" We want to know, and understand. This time of sorrow can also be the start of a new, spiritual path. But whatever our reaction, for almost everyone it means passing through a dark tunnel. It is only beyond the deepest darkness that light begins to dawn again, and we can gradually open ourselves to life once more. When the end of the tunnel comes in sight, you are a different person. Every mourning process is a process of transformation.Trade Review"In the deepest darkness the light is born", says Hans Stolp. In a very careful and gentle way the well-known pastor/author guides the reader through the different stages and feelings of the mourning process. From the shock and first steps into the dark tunnel to opening slowly to life again and finding the lasting bond with the loved one, it is like a journey through a desolate and barren area, where the light of a single star has more meaning than a thousand suns. A beautiful book in which many people will recognise themselves and through which they will find comfort.' Onkruid (largest selling Christian magazine in the Netherlands)

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewTherapists have long felt required to keep their own emotional wounds and pain hidden from their patients. As finite human beings we are all subject to the traumas of death and loss, and I applaud this volume for bringing our existential vulnerabilities into a professional dialogue. Our patients can only benefit from this open and gripping acknowledgment of our existential kinship in the same darkness. -- Robert Stolorow, Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles For therapists whose life work is caring for others, this book is an essential read. Theoretically sophisticated, insightful, and moving, the contributors address experiences of loss in therapy that have barely garnered passing consideration. By drawing our attention to the dynamics of grief and loss in the clinical situation, the authors have also, with great poignancy, underscored the beauty and meaning of therapeutic relationships. -- Brian Rasmussen, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Rarely does one come across a book that combines good writing, good thinking, and good feeling. Well, here is that book. Adelman and Malawista's assemblage of reports and reflections on the loss of family members, patients, therapists, and institutions enhances our capacity for empathy and attunement with individuals facing such calamities. Their book mobilizes serious contemplation about human relationships that are simultaneously transient and everlasting. A bit of sadness follows, yet such 'good' sadness leads to psychic growth, maturity, and wisdom. -- Salman Akhtar, Jefferson Medical College In this remarkable volume, psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists explore their reactions to their encounter with death and loss: with patients' unexpected death, with their own life-threatening illnesses and personal mourning processes affecting their work, and with their philosophical posture to the challenge of death in health and illness. In the process, the authors reexamine critically psychoanalytic literature on depression and mourning and reveal their personal ways of dealing with experiences of death and mourning. A thought-provoking and moving work that will help mental-health professionals deepen their clinical expertise in dealing with this unavoidable aspect of human experience. -- Otto F. Kernberg, PhD, Weill Medical College, Cornell University This book makes a valuable contribution to a contemporary perspective on the analyst's experience within the therapeutic situation. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association The Therapist in Mourning is a thoughtful examination of grief in the psychotherapeutic relationship. OmegaTable of ContentsContents Acknowledgments List of Contributors "Another Kind of Sorrow," a poem by Judy Bolz Preface Introduction Part I. The Therapist's Experience of Loss 1. From the Faraway Nearby: Perspectives on the Integration of Loss, by Kerry L. Malawista and Linda Kanefield 2. Experiences of Loss at the End of Analysis: The Analyst's Response to Termination, by Judith Viorst 3. Missing Myself, by Sandra Buechler Part II. When a Patient Dies 4. The Hand of Fate: On Mourning the Death of a Patient, by Anne J. Adelman 5. Little Boy Lost, by Arlene Kramer Richards 6. When a Patient Dies: Reflections on the Death of Three Patients, by Sybil Houlding 7. When What We Have to Offer Isn't Enough: Suicide in Clinical Practice, by Catherine L. Anderson Part III. At the Crossroads of the Therapist's Personal and Professional Worlds 8. When the Frame Shifts: A Multilayered Perspective on Illness in the Therapist, by Jenifer Nields 9. The Loss of an Institution: Mourning Chestnut Lodge, by Richard M. Waugaman 10. The Death of the Analyst, the Death of the Analytic Community, and Bad Conduct, by Robert M. Galatzer-Levy 11. The Analyst's Death-Apprehension yet not Comprehension, by Barbara Stimmel Part IV. When Disaster Strikes a Community 12. Broken Promises, Shattered Dreams, Wordless Endings, by Sylvia J. Schneller 13. What the Living Did: September 11 and Its Aftermath, by Billie A. Pivnick 14. The Loss of Normal: Ten Years as a U.S. Navy Physician Since 9/11, by Russell B. Carr 15. Time, by Robert Winer Conclusion "The Five Stages of Grief," a poem by Linda Pastan Index

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Book SynopsisA moving illumination of the final transition of our lives.

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Book SynopsisThe must-read memoir about the dazzling days and dark nights of a Chelsea childhood . . .''Brilliant and moving'' The Times''Dazzling'' Evening Standard''Beautifully written'' Marian Keyes''Unflinchingly honest Sunday Times''Superbly written'' Guardian''A triumph'' i_______Her father was a hairdresser to the rich and famous - he was also their drug dealer.Her mother was an alcoholic fashion model. Her days and nights were non-stop parties - she spent them taking care of her little sister and putting out naked flames.And when her sister dies aged nine, Gavanndra is left alone with her grief. Growing up in the dazzling days and dark nights of her parents'' social lives, surviving means fitting into their dysfunctional world, while stopping the family from falling apart . . ._________''A redemptive tale of an emotionalTrade ReviewUnflinchingly honestly. A beautiful book . . . everyone should read it * The Sunday Times *There are scenes that will reduce you to tears, but there's also humour, forgiveness and uplifting optimism [...] by the end of this dazzling debut you just want to give her a huge cheer for coming through * Evening Standard *Wise and moving . . . this memoir is an acknowledgment that love demands a price * Guardian *By turns painful and joyful, this beautiful book has plenty of poignant lessons to teach us about grief and love * Cosmopolitan *Gavanndra writes beautifully, her words are unsentimental but very lyrical [...] I loved this book and my tears fell into the bath as I read it -- Clover Stroud * author of The Sunday Times Bestselling memoir My Wild and Sleepless Nights *A devastating, heart-breaking and magnificent meditation on the function of memory. It will stay with me forever, so beautifully written * Daisy Buchanan, author of The Sisterhood *A completely unforgettable and unique family memoir. A total cliché but I honestly couldn't put it down * Hadley Freeman *A real tear-jerker * i *'Beautifully-written, calm-but-utterly-compelling life-story of trauma and healing... the author seems lovely and I want to be her pal!' * Marian Keyes *At a time when so many families are losing loved ones, and are denied even the scant comfort funerals provide, there is no more poignant moment for this book to appear -- Emily Hill * The Spectator *This is one of the best books I've read about grief - and the catastrophic consequences of addiction. Exquisitely written. Profoundly moving -- Robert PestonGavanndra Hodge's moving memoir recounts the consequences of an early life framed by beauty, glamour and tragedy * The Observer *A heartbreaking and compelling memoir * Red *Looks at the power of love and loss in shaping one's life. Moving and beautifully written * Grazia *The must-read of the summer * The Times *So brilliantly written . . . ultimately joyful and uplifting * Daily Mirror *Brave and beautifully written * Elle *There are books - and then there are books that you'll never forget reading. A quite extraordinary memoir -- Becky Barrow * News Editor of The Sunday Times *I read it in one sitting without pause. It is an astonishing book. I haven't stopped thinking about it -- Charlotte Edwardes * columnist for Sunday Times Style Magazine *A wonderful and transformative memoir about the impact of loss and the power of love; and one that illustrates how it is never too late to tackle suppressed grief -- Julia Samuel * author of the Sunday Times Bestseller This Too Shall Pass *I read this in one sitting, tears splashing onto its pages. A beautiful book about grief, losing a sibling, trauma, drugs, parenting & memory in the most exquisite way. Please everyone read it -- Emma Gannon * podcaster, author of Olive and founder of The Hyphen Book Club *This book is genuinely extraordinary -- Eleanor WoodLife affirming [...] an enrapturing journey through darkness, destructive behaviour and an urgency for light and happiness now * Magic Radio Book Club, May's Book of the Month *A powerful memoir -- Laura Whitmore * BBC Radio 5 *Timely and highly original * Evening Standard *Brilliant and moving * The Times *The Consequences of Love is undoubtedly one of this year's most hotly-anticipated books, and with good reason * The Sunday Salon podcast with Alice-Azania Jarvis *Brilliantly written and heartbreaking but also joyful and uplifting * Psychologies *Extraordinary . . . profoundly moving * Sunday Mirror *A brave, lyrical, painful tale of bereavement, addiction, and the building of a new life -- Joanna Briscoe * Evening Standard *Superbly written. Beautifully written and utterly heartbreaking. Courageous, inspired, bleakly comic, extreme candour * Guardian *Searing * Daily Mail *Hodge's beautiful memoir is both a devastating, grief-fuelled account of her sister's death and a redemptive tale of an emotional reckoning * i *It's a vivid and oddly entertaining memoir, a hand plunged into the dark hole of grief . . . uncovers surprising treasures - most importantly, strength, resilience and love * Mail on Sunday *Searing. A masterful writer with a gift for storytelling. Her prose is rich with detail, combining a sharp sense of place with escalating drama. A triumph * i *The most moving, most exquisitely written book about addiction, grief, loss and coming to terms with trauma even decades on. One that you will be thinking about, and remember long after finishing * Quintessentially *One of the most beautiful memoirs I've ever read. This story will say with you long after you put the book down * Emma Gannon *I just turned the last page (reluctantly!). A bold, often brutal exploration of memory, grief and love. Full of hope and heart. I can't recommend it enough * Terri White, author of Coming Undone *A brave, brilliant book that is both beautiful and important. Read it then buy it for all your friends * Hello! *Gavanndra's memoir The Consequences of Love is absolutely beautiful. It's compelling, heartbreaking, sweet, honest, fascination. I recommend it HIGHLY. I absolutely LOVED it. * Marian Keyes *This stunning exploration of grief is so well written and profoundly moving * Good Housekeeping *An elegant study of grief and memory * Guardian *Hodge pours heartbreak and love into the pages of a book that never pretends to know the answers, and is all the better for it * Sunday Times *An elegant study of grief and memory * Guardian Weekly *An eye-opening snapshot of the fashion world in '90s London * Vogue UK *

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Book SynopsisThose who have been bereaved are in need of support, and groupwork is an effective way in which people can come together and support each other in a trusted environment. This book provides a practical introduction to setting up and facilitating bereavement support groups, giving facilitators the confidence to run a group. It guides the reader through all the stages of setting up a group, and examines different types of facilitation and the skills needed. Case studies illustrate different types of group, such as closed, time-limited groups and open groups, with a discussion about the potential of online groups. Chapters also cover group dynamics, handling challenging situations, and overcoming problems that may arise. This accessible book helps to make groups successful for both participants and facilitators, and is a valued source of information and guidance for those working with bereaved people, including hospice and hospital staff, counsellors, trainers, managers and social workers.Trade ReviewHere the author gives us numerous practical tips on checking in and out, being respectful, using humour, managing dominant group members, handling silences, working with reluctant participants, and managing strong emotions... Each chapter is interspersed with snapshots of real scenarios - these illustrate actual happenings in a group and/or suggested wording for tricky situations. There is also a case study of a closed group and another of an open group. Even present are specimens of helpful paperwork including an excellent example of a list of ground rules... This very readable book is an excellent practical guide for anyone thinking of setting up a bereavement support group. -- Bereavement Care...the perfect resource for practitioners who are considering setting up and facilitating a bereavement support group. Here you will find the comprehensive guidelines, information, tips, advice and resources you need, as well as very clear messages on the importance of good preparation and clear ground rules as the bedrock of ethical and safe practice. -- Therapy TodayThe book provides guidance in setting up and facilitating a new bereavement support group. It is an honest book that highlights not only the highs and joys experienced by Dodie but also the pitfalls and lows that she has experienced through the years providing the reader with a balanced guide in setting up a new bereavement group... This book provides clear guidance for people setting up a new bereavement support group... This book would be suitable for new bereavement support groups and is written in such a fashion that it would benefit both the facilitator of the group and also the participants. -- Nursing TimesIt is an excellent practical guide. -- Ministry Today UKFor those thinking of setting up a group this book is invaluable, offering many examples and helpful advice. -- Survivors of Bereavement by SuicideThis book is a clear guide to assist people embarking upon setting up a bereavement support group. As the range of situations in which a group may take place is considerable, no one size can fit all. Dodie Graves shares honestly with the reader her learning gained over many years of experience; what has worked for her and what has not; the joys and rewards, and some of the difficulties encountered. Setting up and Facilitating Bereavement Support Groups will be useful for people new to setting up and running groups, as well as offering fresh ideas to more experienced practitioners. -- Una Smale, Counsellor and group facilitator, Highland Hospice, Inverness.Table of ContentsIntroduction. 1. Setting Up a Bereavement Support Group. 2. Thinking About Facilitating a Group. 3. Different Groups that Operate. 4. Managing Dynamics in the Group. 5. Pitfalls Along the Way. Conclusion. Appendix 1. An Example of a Support Group Three Fold Leaflet. Appendix 2. An Example of an Evaluation Questionnaire. Appendix 3. An Example of a Facilitator's Record. References. Further Reading. Useful Resources. Index.

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Book SynopsisInner Journeying Through Art-Journaling introduces a holistic journaling process that combines art, art therapy, design theory and spiritual direction in order to attain personal balance, awareness of one's own inner processes, resolution of internal conflicts and enhanced wellness.The book guides the reader through the process of creative journaling and presents the key elements of the technique. Case studies and art journals of Marianne Hieb's own clients and retreat participants show the effectiveness of journaling as a therapeutic intervention and as a meditative tool.Inner Journeying Through Art-Journaling will be of significant use to anyone interested in holistic healing, and of special interest to arts therapists, counsellors, spiritual directors, and anyone dealing with people who are encountering loss, grief, resistance, or discernment issues.It will also be helpful for the individual looking to add holistic journaling to his or her own meditation, prayer, or inner exploration practice.Trade ReviewRefreshingly, this book finds a middle path that can be both therapeutically useful and also allows the reader to travel at a pace that feels safe for them...the ideas and method are very grounded and both counsellors and clients will find much that is useful in this offering. -- Life WorksInner-Journeying Through Art Journaling will be of particular interest to those looking to embark upon their own holistic journey. and of relevance to art therapists, counsellors and sprititual directors alike. -- Inside OutThis book gently guides the non-practising artist through some of the techniques and theory of art but always with reassuring and non-judgemental words. But this is not an art book, "art-journaling is," the author says, "the use of simple art materials, the language of design, gazing, written journaling, noticing, to help focus, express, respond to, uncover or clarify inner wisdom." The emphasis is on the spiritual practice and inner journey of art-journaling rather than on the product. The book is illustrated with words and pictures drawn from the author's own experience and the experience of those she has guided in this practice.After reading the book I went out and bought some oil pastels and (yet another) blank notebook. I look forward to finding the courage to using them in some of the ways Marianne Hieb suggests. -- Lapidus QuarterlyHaving discovered the value of art journaling in my own life, I was intrigued by the title of Marianne Hieb's latest work: Inner Journeying Through Art Journaling…as I delved into it, I found that it was rich and poetic, filled with inspiring exercises and examples - a book to savour and linger over, and certainly not one to devour in a single sitting.I would recommend this book to anyone who wants t learn more about art-journaling, whether a beginner or a seasoned journaler. -- The Art Therapist (BCATA)This book gives practical instruction in recording your feelings from day to day in a visual diary with words as a supplement and aide-memoir. This process is regarded as a spiritual practice, almost a form of prayer, and is geared to people "who are encountering loss, grief, resistance, or discernment issues" as a therapeutic tool. Marianne Hieb also deals with the difficulty of avoiding intellectual constraints to spontaneous creativity.She does give a welcome intellectual framework in terms of design theory, and her definition of marks, line, shape, texture, form and colour use a simple language and are beautifully clear. The chapter on "The Principles of Design and the Creative Process" contains sections on balance, movement, rhythm, contrast, emphasis, pattern and unity as an introduction to forgetting and remembering, compassion, befriending the creative process and faceted prayer, which she calls "a blank openness into which you invite the voice of the Holy". -- Poetry ExpressArt-journaling is a way of prayer, and it is a tool for spiritual direction. I recommend Inner Journeying Through Art-Journaling for personal use as well as for use in spiritual direction. Hieb believes "our innate creativity is at the heart of spirituality," and she offers this book "as a place to listen for the authentic voice" (p. 15). -- Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual DirectionTable of ContentsAcknowledgments. Introduction. Invitation: Come as You Are. 1.Seeking Wisdom as a Creative Journey. 2. Entering into the Journaling Dynamics. 3. Art-Journaling as Process and Product. 4. Design Elements and the Language of Art. 5. Art-Journaling: A Way of Presence. 6. Art-Journaling and Practice. 7. Practice and Core Themes. 8. Principles of Design and the Creative Process. 9. Inner Journeying: Ways of Working, Ways of Continuing References. Index.

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Book SynopsisOffering heartfelt and simple advice, this book provides realistic suggestions and relief for an adult child whose parent has died. Practical advice is presented in a one-topic-per-page format that does not overwhelm with psychological language, but provides small, immediate ways to understand and reconcile grief. Some of the action-oriented tips include writing down memories, completing a task or goal left unfinished by your deceased parent, or honoring the parent's birthday. In addition the common challenges that face grieving adult children, such as helping the surviving parent, resolving sibling conflicts, and legal and financial issues, are addressed clearly and concisely.

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Book Synopsis “The very act of reading it makes you feel happier.” - A.J. Jacobs A bad breakup. A serious illness. The loss of a job. Life has a habit of throwing people curveballs. To which Karen Salmansohn says: “When life throws you curveballs, hit them out of the park.”Bounce Back! mixes from-the-gut wisdom with humor, feistiness, and sophistication, in a hip, inspiring resource that will brighten the darkest mood. The book is grounded in happiness research, psychological studies, Greek philosophy. And it delivers: Here are 70 easily digestible, potentially life-changing tips on how to bounce back from adversity, each on a spread that's as punchy in look as it is powerful in message.Shrink negativity into nuggetivity. Think of yourself as the type of person the world says yes to. With its attitude, techniques, and advice on everything from exercise to staying connected, plus charming illustrat

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Book SynopsisSharing her own deeply personal stories of loss, popular blogger and speaker offers practical tools and faith-based encouragement for hope and healing after miscarriage or loss.

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Book Synopsis'This is a book that takes you by the hand and promises the gentlest comfort in the darkest of times.' Tamsin GreigA Grief Companion offers us practical help to use alongside the theory of Sasha Bate's debut book, Languages of Loss. This guide gives us the starting points to begin our journeys of managing grief, providing us with space and pages to explore and process our feelings with Sasha's expert guidance.Sasha offers some optimism to let you know that you will find light and courage from out of this darkness, and you will be transformed by it. Your grief will not leave you, but you will arrange yourself around it differently. Split in to four sections, that can be read in any order - Mind, Body, Spirit and Everyday - this book explores the non-linear grief that you may be feeling and gives you permission to do your grief, your way. Filled with suggestions, resources, advice for friends of the bereaved and a guiding hand, we hope this book will help you see some light in the darkness of grief.'Explaining how the mind and body work together, A Grief Companion offers insights into the process of grieving. The writing is energetic, down-to-earth and honest as Sasha Bates helps readers cope with the many layers and levels of grief. A useful as well as a moving book.' Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of A Manual for HeartacheTrade ReviewImmensely practical, tenderly compassionate and reassuringly conversational, this is the perfect companion for anyone experiencing loss. Full of lived wisdom, insights, suggestions and hope, it is above all shot through with kindness. Part guidebook, part instruction manual, part love letter, this is a book that takes you by the hand and promises the gentlest comfort in the darkest of times. -- Tamsin GreigExplaining how the mind and body work together, A Grief Companion offers insights into the process of grieving. The writing is energetic, down-to-earth and honest as Sasha Bates helps readers cope with the many layers and levels of grief. A useful as well as a moving book. -- Cathy RentzenbrinkThis is the book I was searching for 20 years ago when my son died, thank heaven it exists now. It really is the perfect companion. It contains everything a bereaved person needs to piece together their new life without the person they loved. I will highly recommend it to my clients and to anyone accompanying a bereaved person through their grief. -- Lizzie Pickering, Grief Investigator, Film and Podcast ProducerSasha has put all her knowledge, as an experienced psychotherapist, and all her heart, as a woman grieving, into writing this book. It's a resource to treasure, and a great example of how to be kind to yourself from the midst of deep distress. It is beautifully laid out. I will certainly be using it in my practice and recommending it to clients who have suffered loss. -- Toireasa McCann, psychotherapistSasha Bates draws on her work as a psychotherapist and her own personal experiences of loss to offer a flexible and holistic toolkit to bring comfort and hope to anyone whose life has been shattered by grief. Structured into sections on mind, body, spirit and the everyday, this new book is packed full of useful insights and resources - from vocabulary lists that help you pinpoint and communicate your emotions, to advice about funerals, relationships, anniversaries, and a range of therapeutic and creative activities. A Grief Companion will act as both a compassionate friend and an expert mentor on your grief journey, enabling you to manage life after loss in a way that is right for you. -- Dr Lesel Dawson, University of Bristol and Arts and Culture Lead of The Good Grief FestivalGrief is inevitable for everyone and some kind of bereavement is something that none of us can avoid. So, why are we so afraid to talk about it? Sasha Bates latest book A Grief Companion helps normalise and bust the taboo around this subject. It is a hopeful and uplifting book for people of all ages about meaning making after loss. As well as providing a grief toolkit Sasha shares stories which widen conversations about a subject so often shrouded in silence and discomfort. -- Jane Harris co-founder of The Good Grief Project

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Book SynopsisHow can a preacher best address suicide from the pulpit? Pastors face many challenges. Suicide in a congregation is amongst the most heart-rending and intimidating. However, the preacher has a unique capacity to engender gospel hope for preparing the congregation and comforting the bereaved. To do so, preachers need help understanding the challenges and opportunities presented by addressing suicide from the pulpit. In Preaching Hope in Darkness, two practitioners in fields that do not typically interact--homiletics (Scott M. Gibson) and psychology (Karen Mason)--work together to support the preacher in this difficult task. Gibson and Mason offer wise advice on a range of topics such as suicide prevention, post-crisis care, and funeral sermon preparation. With an appendix of sample sermons and a sample funeral liturgy, Preaching Hope in Darkness is an essential go-to guide for this difficult topic.

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Book SynopsisAffirming a pet owner's struggle with grief when his or her pet dies, this book helps mourners understand why their feelings are so strong and helps them overcome the loss. Included are practical suggestions for mourning and ideas for remembering and memorializing one's pet. Among the issues covered are understanding the many emotions experienced after the death of a pet; understanding why grief for pets is unique; pet funerals and burial or cremation; celebrating and remembering the life of one's pet; coping with feelings about euthanasia; helping children understand the death of their pet; and things to keep in mind before getting another pet.Trade Review"A compassionate, practical guide for pet lovers." -- Parents Express.

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Book SynopsisAfter a significant loss, it’s common to feel like we’re going crazy. The sudden absence of someone we love is not only devastating, it’s disorienting. They were here one moment, and now they’re…gone? Forever? How can that be? The first year or two of grief is often unbelievably painful and confusing. We’re in shock, often for weeks or months. Time seems out of whack. We feel powerless, helpless, and ineffective. We can’t think straight; we can’t get anything done. Our moods swing wildly, and we say and do crazy things. We cry, and we cling to objects that belonged to the person who died. We have bizarre dreams. We think we hear, see, or experience communications from the person who died. We wonder if we can (or should) go on. And through it all, our minds and hearts return over and over again to the impossible reality that can never again talk to or touch a person who lived and breathed and gave our lives so much meaning. There is nothing more challenging than the early months and years of a major life loss. But this compassionate book, by one of the world’s most beloved grief counselors, will help you endure and thrive.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"For those who want to understand what’s happening to them and why grief is so confounding, this is a fascinating and comforting read.” — Oprah Daily “[A]n insightful book…fascinating look at what goes on inside our minds when we lose someone special.” — Wake-Up Call, Katie Couric Media “This book has helped so many who are grasping to make sense of loss, and I recommend it now, hoping that it will offer insights, solace, or even answers.” — Amanda Stern, How to Live (blog) “The Grieving Brain is a probing exploration into the science of grief and grieving. We are given an opportunity to view loss in a new way. If you have felt the pain of a loss and wondered if it will ever get better, O'Connor shows how the brain can help heal.” — Sharon Salzberg, author of Real Change “A pioneer of the neuroscience of grief, O'Connor lays out in simple prose how we try to make sense of the impossible conundrum of loss. Anyone who's been through a loss or just wants to know how bereavement works, this is the book for you.” — George Bonanno, author of The End of Trauma "We will all be touched by loss. To understand grief is to understand a fundamental human experience. This book is a powerful and comprehensive exploration of grief, the best I have read.” — Roshi Joan Halifax, PhD, pioneer in the end-of-life care field and author of Standing at the Edge and Being with Dying “Absorbing and wise, The Grieving Brain offers insights and coping mechanisms for those of us who have peered up from the depths of grief and wondered, why does this hurt so much? How can I make a meaningful life for myself now?” — Maryanne O’Hara, author of Little Matches "The Grieving Brain answered fascinating questions that I would not have thought to ask. State-of-science studies, fun facts and fascinating insights kept me turning pages and losing track of time." — Ira Byock, MD, active emeritus professor, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, author of Dying Well and The Best Care Possible “[C]lear, confirming, compassionate, beautifully readable …” — Mad In America

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Book SynopsisBased on the principles of the Life Between Lives process founded by bestselling author Dr. Michael Newton this book shares dozens of instructive stories featuring clients who have connected with their deeper soul purpose to overcome painful and traumatic loss

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Book SynopsisWhen your baby dies, you find yourself in a life you never expected. And even though pregnancy and infant loss are common, they are not common to you. In Unexpecting, bereaved mom Rachel Lewis is the friend you never hoped to need, walking you through the unique grief of baby loss. When nothing about life after loss makes sense, this book will.

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