Grief Library
Griefwords Online Library
Brought to you by the Center for Loss and Life Transition Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D., Director
Grief: General
These thoughtful articles provide guidance and direction for anyone touched by grief.
Helping Others with Grief
A friend has experienced the death of someone loved. How can you help? The following articles provide many practical suggestions for helping others with grief:
The Misconception of the Funeral as a Rite of Closure
Helping a Friend Who is Seriously Ill
Helping a Suicide Survivor Heal
Helping a Homicide Survivor Heal
Helping a Grandparent Who is Grieving
Helping a Grieving Friend in the Workplace
Helping Your Family When a Member is Dying
Helping Your Family When a Member is Seriously Ill
Helping Your Family Cope When a Pet Dies
Helping Your Family Decide if Organ and Tissue Donation is Right for You
Helping a Friend or Family Member After a Cancer Diagnosis
Helping Your Family Heal After Miscarriage
Helping Yourself Heal When Someone You Care About Dies of a Drug Overdose
Helping Yourself with Grief
Someone you love has died. You are now faced with the difficult, but important, need to mourn. Mourning is the open expression of your thoughts and feelings regarding the death and the person who died. It is an essential part of healing. The following articles provide many practical suggestions to help you move toward healing in your unique grief journey.
Too Much Loss: Grief Overload and Its Causes
The Grief of Dementia Care Partners
Why Choose A Final Resting Place for Your Loved One
The Teeter-Totter of Resilience and Vulnerability in Grief
You Must Say Hello Before You Say Goodbye
You Must Make Friends with the Darkness Before You Can Enter the Light
You Must Go Backward Before You Can Go Forward
Helping Your Family Heal After Stillbirth
Helping Yourself Heal When an Adult Sibling Dies
Mustering the Courage to Mourn
Love and Grief: In Communion and Greater Than the Sum of Their Parts
Helping Yourself Heal When Someone Loved Dies
Helping Yourself Heal When Your Child Dies
Helping Yourself Heal When Your Spouse Dies
Helping Yourself Heal When Your Parent Dies
Helping Yourself Heal When a Baby Dies
Helping Yourself Heal During the Holiday Season
Helping Dispel 5 Common Myths About Grief
Helping Yourself Live When You Are Seriously Ill
Helping Yourself Live When You Are Dying
Exploring the Uniqueness of Your Suicide Grief
Healing Your Traumatized Heart: Seeking Safety, Understanding, and Peace Part 1
Healing Your Traumatized Heart: Seeking Safety, Understanding, and Peace Part 2
Healing Your Grieving Body: Physical Practices for Mourners
The Spiritual Path to Healing: An Introduction
The Spiritual Path to Healing: Mourning Ideas, Part 1
The Spiritual Path to Healing: Mourning Ideas, Part 2
The Spiritual Path to Healing: Mourning Ideas, Part 3
The Spiritual Path to Healing: Mourning Ideas, Part 4
Dispelling the Misconceptions About Suicide and Grief and Mourning
Will I Befriend My Feelings Or Will I Deny, Repress, Or Inhibit Them?
Will I Grieve Or Will I Mourn?
The Capacity to Love Requires the Neccesity to Mourn
Healing Your Grief About Getting Older
For and About Grieving Children and Teenagers
Children and teenagers have special needs following the death of a friend or family member. The following articles provide wonderful insight in helping children and teens understand and express their grief.
Finding the Right Words: Guidelines on how to talk to grieving children about death
How to Talk to the Children and Teens in Your Life About the Newtown, CT Tragedy
Helping Children Cope With Grief
Helping Teenagers Cope with Grief
Helping Infants and Toddlers Cope with Grief
Helping Children with Funerals
Helping Children Understand Cremation
Helping a Child Who is Seriously Ill
Funerals, Memorials, Cremation and Related Topics
The days following the death of a loved one can be filled with sadness and confusion. The following articles can help you understand the importance of the rituals surrounding death.
For Hospices and Other Caregivers
Caregivers have special needs of their own. The following articles are designed to help caregivers take care of themselves as well as those who are suffering from loss.
Companioning the Bereaved: An Introduction
Tenet 1: Companioning Principle
Tenet 2: Companioning Principle
The Awesome Power of "Telling The Story"
Caregiver as Gardener: A Parable
Companioning vs. Treating: Beyond The Medical Model of Bereavement Caregiving
Growing Through Grief: The Role of Support Groups
