You are not alone. Holidays are often difficult for anyone who has experienced the death of someone loved. Rather than being times of family togetherness, sharing and thanksgiving, holidays can…
Loss is the price we pay for loving. Given the benefits of loving others, we are typically willing to risk loss to love someone. We do not anticipate loss when…
1. Grief is the normal response to loss. Grief and its pain are the results of the love or emotional investment you have in the person who died. If you…
A young mother whose son was killed in a fire started by outdoor Christmas lights expressed her fear of the upcoming first Christmas following his death. She did not have…
Understanding the basic concepts of grief can prepare us to help a child who has experienced a death of a family member or friend. A child in Massachusetts went to…
By Vicki Straughan, LMSW Donna Schuurman, in her book Never the Same: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Parent, states that rituals are ceremonies that help us mark…
Every grief has its own unique complications. Whatever the mourner struggles with most emotionally, mentally, physically or spiritually is that mourner’s grief complicators. But, for the thousands of mourners affected by…
If you are a parent or loved one who must tell a child the news of someone’s death: Tell the child in terms that he or she can understand that…
by Vicki Straughan, LMSW Our nation faces complicated political issues, dissenting world views, and the continuing war on terrorism. How these issues affect our families is paramount to parents. A…
When tragedy and death strike as they have in recent news headlines, we adults often feel the need to protect our children, but that is impossible. With the age of…