Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Maureen – “Carrying grief”

Maureen gives an analogy of how hard it is to carry griefMaureen gives an analogy of how hard it is to carry grief.

Jean – Be good to yourself

Jean shares about support and not being hard on yourself

Teresa – Understanding people with intellectual disabilities and grief

Teresa shares an example and discusses the importance of truly understanding people with intellectual disabilities when they are telling us their stories

Maureen – “Milestones and anniversaries”

Maureen talks about loss and what happens over time.

Jessica M – Legacy

Jessica explains legacy and gives examples including her own.

Carrie – Thanatology

Carrie explains how thanatolgy is the study of death dying grief and loss.

Caleigh – Play Therapy

Caileigh explains how play therapy, a form of psychotherapy can help children in grief. It is specifically used when working with children and families and youth because it’s developmentally appropriate. They are never expected to sit down and to talk. And it is through the language of play that they’re able to learn about the confusing feelings of grief. They are able to learn new skills to cope with their grief, and they’re able to go at their own pace.

Michele – Talks about being a death doula

Michele explains what death doula’s do. Doula means servant. They support people on many different levels… for instance, emotionally, spiritually and physically

Amanda – “Listening”

Amanda shares the importance of listening and being comfortable with silence.

Chantal – Physical symptoms and grieving

Chantal talks about panic attacks and thinking she was having a heart attack

Shannon – Hope for Healing

Shannon shares about losing her husband to suicide, her parents and her father-in-law. She felt broken and to be able to take care of her kids and her self seemed overwhelming. It took someone telling her that you can heal from trauma to give her hope for healing.

Michele – Advice to younger grieving self

Michele tells what advice she would give to her younger grieving self