The death of someone we care about can be one of the most difficult experiences in life. Words fail to describe how painful the grief we feel can be. It is more challenging than we, or others, might expect.
These articles are meant to describe different types of grief; their intent is to help you understand your own, or to help you empathize with another person’s grief.
These articles were written by Dr Bill Webster, Executive Director of The Centre for the Grief Journey, and are part of a comprehensive library available on the Grief Journey web portal. Dr Bill is the founder of the Centre for the Grief Journey. He earned his doctorate at the University of Toronto in 1990, and has been awarded a prestigious fellowship in thanatology by the Association of Death Education and Counselling (ADEC).
Dr Bill’s knowledge of grief exists not just in theory, but from a very difficult personal experience. In 1983, Bill’s young wife died suddenly of a heart attack. Her passing left him in the difficult situation of coping with immense loss while raising his two sons, who were only seven and nine when their mother died. Dr Bill has become a recognized author, and a renowned international speaker and seminar leader who draws from 30 years of experience in the field of grief support and counselling.
Understanding Grief
These articles will help you understand your own grief or the grief of another. Grief is not as simple as it’s made out to be — it is more than just “feeling sad.”
10 Facts about Grief and Grieving
Understanding Bereavement
Coping With Loss
These articles will help you understand the dynamics of specific losses, such as the loss of a spouse, or the loss of a pet.
The Loss of a Spouse
The Loss of a Pet
Children And Grief
These articles will help you understand the grief process of a child, with tips on how to help them cope.
Loss from a Child’s Perspective
Helping Children Cope
Helping Those Who Grieve
These articles will provide you with some useful information on how to help someone who is grieving, as well as tips on how to help navigate special days and holidays, which can be especially difficult in the wake of a loss.
How to Help Someone who is Grieving
How to Help Navigate Special days and Holidays
Coping With Complicated Situations
Grief can come unexpectedly in life. These articles offer more specific information on certain types of grief, such as grief following a suicide, and grief in the workplace.