Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Claudia – Materials in art therapy

Claudia discusses all of the wonderful options of materials to use in art therapy. Art, markers, clay, pencils, water collours, cutting, tearing. They physical engagment with the materials is like alchemy.

Keith – “Hope”

Keith talks about time, healing and hope.

Craig – My Cumulative Grief

Craig shares his story of experiencing a series of significant losses over the course of two years. He talks about the shock, grief, and uncertainty he felt during this time, and how he coped with the accumulation of loss.Craig’s story is a reminder that grief is a normal and natural response to loss, but it can be overwhelming when it comes in waves. If you are experiencing grief, it is important to reach out for support from friends, family, or a therapist. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and everyone experiences it differently. The important thing is to be patient with yourself and to allow yourself to feel your emotions.

Amanda – “The Little Things”

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

Janice – “Grief can be complicated”

Janice discusses disenfranchised grief and holding on to hurt.

Amanda – “Ministry of Presence”

Amanda discusses how being present with someone can be helpful.

Maureen – Holiday Traditions

Maureen talks about anticipating a holiday and considering honouring a loved one

Carrie – Validation

Carrie talks about validation and feeling that someone is full responsive and fully present to you and what is going on in your grief… feeling “felt”

Jeff K – “What is grief”

Jeff discusses the many aspects of grief and how we are all connected. Jeff continues to grieve the death of his mother.

Keith – “Disenfranchised Grief”

Keith describes disenfranchised grief.

Caileigh – Working with children in grief

Caileigh shares why she likes working with and supporting children in grief. “Over the course of their lives, children and youth and families experience a lot of losses, and it’s an empowering job to empower others. I’m not only empowering them, but I’m also building parent capacity in recognizing that it does take a village and it takes a community to support a child.”

Marija – Types of Loss in a Pandemic

Marija explains how all of the losses we experience during a pandemic are compounded