Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Caileigh – Through play children learn so much about their grief

Caileigh discussed how children learn so much about their grief through play. There’s less confusion, there’s less anxiety, there’s more awareness. For the child and the parent, there is more acceptance of grief.

Chantal – Graphic novels and art therapy

Chantal defines what a graphic novel is and how words mix with imagery like a dance

Janice – “Own our feelings”

Janice discusses the goals of emotional work and arriving at a peaceful place.

Rev. Sky – “Feeling numb”

Rev. Sky discusses how feeling numb is a normal emotion and what you need to move forward.

Claudia – Waterlillies

Claudia talks about how she painted on panels big enough to hug to help her with her grief

Cara – Intellectual disabilities, sharing and expressing about grief

Cara discusses how it’s very important that people living with intellectual disabilities have the opportunity to not only know about the information about the person being ill and dying and having the choice and opportunity to go to after death rituals. It’s also really important that they get the opportunity to share their story in whatever way they communicate. This can be verbally through sign language, through communication books, art, music, going for walks, being in nature

Rev. Sky – “It’s OK to cry”

Rev. Sky talks about loss due to gun violence, that it’s OK to cry and finding an outlet.

Janice – “Pay attention to our feelings”

Janice discuss the importance of being aware of your feelings.

Marija – Permission to mourn

Marija discusses the value of being allowing yourself to mourn

Rev. Sky – “What is a trigger”

Rev. Sky explains triggers, identifying them and what you need.

Christian – “Grief can shape you”

Christian talks about realizing the impact grief has.

Jacqueline – Where to store art works

Jacqueline explains how art can be like journal entries that you would keep private