Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Christian – “Stigma of opioid death”

Christian talks about the social acceptance of an opioid overdose.

Carrie – Thanatology

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

Christian – “Grief can shape you”

Christian talks about realizing the impact grief has.

Cara – People with intellectual disabilities need to be recognized and honoured in their grief

Cara talks about grievers living with intellectual disabilities and that it’s not about those of us who are neuro-typical, giving them a voice or providing them or saying things for them. Rather, it’s that they already have a voice. They already have these experiences and they want them to be recognized, acknowledged and honoured.

Carrie – Grief and creativity

Carrie talks about creativity and expressing grief and loss… that in many ways can offer insight and comfort for those who are grieving

Cheryl – “Complicated Grief”

Cheryl discusses unresolved grief.

Amanda – “Reach out”

Amanda discusses the importance of connecting with others.

Adrianna – Death doulas and grief

Adrianna explains what a death doula is

Rev. Sky – “If you have experienced sudden loss”

Rev. Sky discusses things you can do to help navigate emotions.

Janice – “Feelings just are”

Janice explains the importance of listening to, trusting and honouring ourselves and our feelings.

Madelyn – My story

Madelyn tells her story and how she became a music therapist working in palliative care

Tending to My Garden of Grief

So long as I remember the lives of those I have lost, honour their presence and impact on me and celebrate their spirit, they will continue to live with me and the pain will feel bearable. It will no longer stop me in my tracks. Instead, it will encourage me and propel me forward through the transmutation of that grief into something different, something more nuanced and fluid. I’d like to share a practice for processing grief which I have found to be especially helpful.