Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Cara – Defining Intellectual disabilities and grief

Cara discusses how grief literacy needs to be improved across the board for people with intellectual disabilities to learn more about grief, death and dying. There is a great need to include them in this natural, normal part of life that we’ll all experience.

Cara – The real issues for grieving people with intellectual disabilities

Cara provides some context for the real issue of grief in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and those supporting them, including that we consider that there’s not a lot of education or information out there about how best to support someone with an intellectual disability who is grieving.

Maureen – Preparing for holidays

Maureen gives some ideas to help during holidays like connecting and taking time out

Carrie – Creating a photo narrative

Carrie explains how photography can give insight and express things that there reallhy aren’t words for. Photography can be one addtitional way in which to express and capture those moments of our sorrow, grief and pain as well as transformation and healing

Jacqueline – How to help a grieving friend

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

Amanda – “Reach out”

Amanda discusses the importance of connecting with others.

Caileigh – Advice to my younger self about grief

Caileigh talks about things that you can do to balance out feelings that it’s okay to experience all of the big feelings that you have, to find joy in little moments, and to find ways that you can cope with those big feelings.

Jenn – Art can give a break from grieving

Jenn talks about one of the most overlooked benefits of making art during bereavement. It can provide and escape from your grief.

Jacqueline – Where to store art works

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

Madelyn – Rituals and the Chinese grieving process

Madelyn talks about expressing your grief in Chinese cultures and how rituals are a war of grieving providing comfort

Claudia – You do not have to be an artist to do art therapy

Claudia explains why you do not have to be an artist to benefit

Corrie – We cry because we love

Corrie talks about crying, hurt and love