Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Caleigh – Play Therapy

Caileigh explains how play therapy, a form of psychotherapy can help children in grief. It is specifically used when working with children and families and youth because it’s developmentally appropriate. They are never expected to sit down and to talk. And it is through the language of play that they’re able to learn about the confusing feelings of grief. They are able to learn new skills to cope with their grief, and they’re able to go at their own pace.

Maureen – Preparing for holidays

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

Claudia – Taking your art home after art therapy

Claudia talks about why sometimes not to take your art home after therapy

Jacqueline – Advice to Younger Self

Jacqueline talks about seeking help and being kind to yourself

Maureen – “Pregnancy and infant loss”

Maureen explains how pregnancy and infant loss is often misunderstood or underestimated.

Grief, Breastfeeding, and Care

In this essay, I share a bit about my story of grief and breastfeeding. I also share some thoughts about the cultural grief some people are carrying about the lack of support afforded to lactating families whose goal it is to feed their baby from their body. I use some gendered language throughout this essay…

Amanda – “Listening”

Amanda shares the importance of listening and being comfortable with silence.

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.

Claudia – Waterlillies

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

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

Amanda – “Hospice”

Amanda talks about the comfort zone in palliative care.

Keith – “Disenfranchised Grief”

Keith describes disenfranchised grief.