Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Claudia – Defining an art therapist

Claudia talks about art therapy as a form of psycho therapy

Cara – Grief and intellectual disabilities is a topic that needs to “get out there”

Cara shares some information from a participant in her research on intellectual disabilities and the bereaved. A person with an intellectual disability said… “Grief: It’s a topic that needs to get out there” Grief is something that so many people are hesitant to talk about, to display, to show, because there’s so many social rules around how we grieve. This is particularily challenging for the intellectually disabled.

Janice – “Being triggered”

Janice discusses triggering, overreacting, under-reacting, and taking responsibility for the size of our feelings.

Jacqueline – How to help a grieving friend

Jacqueline discusses the power of just being there with someone in grief

Jenn – The difference between expressive and creative arts

Jenn explains the difference between expressive and creative arts. You don’t have to limit yourself to art making to help you through your grief process. Expressive arts encompasses a wide variety of approaches including drama, dance, movement, writing and music

Jen – “From funeral director to yoga for grief”

Jen talks about how being a funeral director and how yoga and grief became connected for her.

Alongside

That is also our best, and only role, when supporting a person with a developmental disability to grieve. We must be the one that comes alongside. There is no closer place we can get to. We must be present, be with, perhaps not understanding or comprehending what the person we support is experiencing, but alongside them nonetheless. We must be there, ready to provide whatever we can discover of their unique need in grief.

Jean – It’s all about love

Jean talks about losing her husband to a heart attack on valentines day

Jean – Helping your children through grief

Jean discusses how helping her children through grief also helped her

Maureen – “Trust yourself”

Maureen talks about finding your own way in your healing process.

Keith – “How can you help”

Keith explains that by imagining being in someone’s position can show you practical ways of helping them.

Amanda – “The Little Things”

Amanda talks about how little things can be a huge gift during palliative care.