Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Shannon – Blessings and sadness

Shannon discusses how just showing up, being present is a powerful way of supporting to someone who has lost. Listen more – talk less.

Kristal – Attending Memorials as a Support Worker

Kristal discusses the importance of finding ways to honour people that have been lost and how they have impacted you. She speaks to how she often chooses not to attend public memorials for those she has lost as a support worker as they are often very overwhelming. Instead, she has her own personal rituals or ways of honouring those she has lost personally including opening a window. She discusses how this practice was used when she worked in palliative care.

Corrie – Getting comfortable with discomfort

Corrie talks about being comfortable and uncomfortable with grief

Sara – Listening to music

Sara discusses how listening to music can help navigate loss

Cara – My story with intellectual disabilities and grief

Cara talks about how she came to see how people with intellectual disabilities need to be supported in grief

Maureen – Preparing for holidays

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

Rev. Sky – “Why”

Rev. Sky talks about the question of why and how to look beyond it.

Maureen – “Group therapy vs individual therapy”

Maureen talks about what kind of counselling may work for you.

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

Rev. Sky – “Feeling stuck”

Rev. Sky describes being stuck and shifting.

Maureen – “Trust yourself”

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

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.