Navigating the aftermath of a sudden, traumatic loss can feel overwhelming, both for the grieving individual and those offering support. The impact of this type of loss can be challenging and leave grieving individuals with the need for specialized grief support. This article provides insights into understanding and responding to a devastating loss that occurs unexpectedly.

We often think that grief is something we deal with after someone we love passes away. For many, however, feelings of grief and loss occur before the death of a loved one. This is what we call anticipatory grief. To help the healing process begin even before a loved one’s death, we have provided some tips and coping strategies in this article.

Certain times of the year can be particularly difficult for those who have lost parental figures in their lives or who themselves have lost a child. It can feel overwhelming to be met with social media posts of celebrations, parental acknowledgements, and children’s milestones while confronting a loss of your own.

The grieving process can leave us with many complex emotions, especially during times when difficult memories arise. Coping with memories and milestones can feel overwhelming, especially when you are navigating all of the changes that come with loss. Here are some ideas to help cope with memories and milestones associated with grief.

Navigating the complexities of grieving the loss of a loved one involves acknowledging that difficult emotions are a natural part of the process. Releasing such emotions requires one to willingly let go of attachments to the past or expectations for the future and embracing the present moment.  Here are some tips to help you navigate the path toward healing...

When we think of self-care in grief, it may not initially make sense. We might ask ourselves, how can we take care of ourselves when grief is so overpowering? How can we focus on ourselves when our focus should be on the loss experienced? How can we take care of ourselves when there are a million other things to do? Just as we are reminded on every airplane flight, you have to put your mask on first before helping someone else. In this article, we will explore different strategies that can be used to reduce stress, anxiety, and help ground ourselves when feeling overwhelmed by complicated emotions.

Parents and caregivers often need support themselves when caring for children after a loss.  In responding to a loss or crisis, whether it’s a death, natural disaster, violence, or trauma children and their families can benefit from the following information as a guide for conversation, and support, during times of need.

It is estimated that over 600,000 children missed one or more days of school due to fear of bullying or intimidation by other students (CDC, 2015). When a child is grieving, they are more vulnerable to bullying as they may display emotional and behavioral changes at school when processing their losses. Here are some tips for parents and adults to provide practical and emotional support to a grieving child by recognizing signs of bullying.

The Holiday Season is sometimes difficult and often filled with emotional stressors, even during the best of times. For those of us who have suffered the death of a loved one, the holidays may seem especially complicated and can be filled with ambivalence and mixed emotions. Anticipation of a new experience, like the first holiday after a death, or familiar rituals that remind us of our loved ones, can be overwhelming.

Many bereaved families have found unique, and meaningful, ways of remembering their loved one during the holiday season. Here are some ideas which have helped others and may provide additional support.

The holiday season is a special time for families and communities; however, it can be challenging for those who experienced the loss of their loved ones. Grief is constantly evolving and, at times, can be an unpredictable process and fortunately there are activities a person can do to help themselves or others get through this potentially painful period of time.

Perinatal loss is a unique type of loss involving a baby’s death during pregnancy, labor, or shortly after birth. It has become a significant global health issue. According to the United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), the global neonatal mortality rate in 2020 was 17.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, and the World Health Organization reported 1 in 4 women will experience pregnancy loss and 2.6 million stillbirths each year.

The beginning of a new school year can be stressful and overwhelming for children, families, teachers, and counselors, especially for those who have lost a loved one. This article provides tips and strategies as to how you can support a grieving child as they return to school.

Neurodivergence is a term to define brains that function differently in more ways than is considered standard or typical. When experiencing the loss of a loved one, people with neurodivergent brains are not exempt from intense emotions prompted by grief, and they are likely to express their grief differently than a neurotypical individual. To better help your child and loved ones navigate their grief process, it is important to familiarize yourself with neurodivergent responses to loss.

When someone you care about is grieving after the loss of a loved one, it can be hard to understand how to best console them. By learning how to lend support, you are creating a safe place that can help your family and friends know they are not alone while they are grieving. Here are some tips on how you can help those you love after a loss...

Losing a loved one can be overwhelming and emotionally fraught for individuals and families. When a loved one dies, we do not forget about or compartmentalize their memory. Instead, we slowly find ways to redefine our relationship with the loved one who has died, allowing for a continued bond with that person.