Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart [Paperback]

Alan D. Wolfelt (Creator)

Book Description

Series: Understanding Your Grief | Publication Date: February 1, 2004

Explaining the important difference between grief and mourning, this book explores every mourner's need to acknowledge death and embrace the pain of loss. Also explored are the many factors that make each person's grief unique and the many normal thoughts and feelings mourners might have. Questions of spirituality and religion are addressed as well. The rights of mourners to be compassionate with themselves, to lean on others for help, and to trust in their ability to heal are upheld. Journaling sections encourage mourners to articulate their unique thoughts and feelings.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alan D Wolfelt PhD, serves as director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition. He writes the 'Children and Grief' column for Bereavement Magazine and has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, and Today. He is the author of Healing Your Grieving Heart, Healing a Teen's Grieving Heart, and Understanding Your Grief. He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Companion Press; 1 edition (February 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879651351
• ISBN-13: 978-1879651357
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Death & Grief

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Organized Approach to Dealing with Grief, July 15, 2004

By 

James Barnes (Traverse City, MI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart (Paperback)

Enduring the pain of losing a loved one is certainly among life's biggest trials, and there is no "quick fix" for dealing with the grief. Before you can solve a problem you must understand it, so it's helpful to have some expert assistance for such a big endeavor. This book offers a step-by-step guide through the process, answering tough questions, dispelling myths, and dispensing advice along the way. Dr. Wolfelt is a compassionate, experienced and knowledgeable voice who presents his approach to the grieving process logically and efficiently. Ten "touchstones" make up the pathway, labeled with words like dispel, embrace, recognize, and nurture. Taking an organized approach to something like grief might sound impossible, but it may well be a critical part of making it through a very difficult time.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding The Enemy, April 12, 2008

By 

Rachel Elaine - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart (Paperback)

Of all the books I've read since my son was killed (and there are plenty), this one would be at the top of the recommendation list for the bereaved to read. It thoroughly covers every facet of grief that one will ever experience along the journey. For once, I had my own worst time of day acknowledged and explained. In our mourning-avoiding society, this book validates and fortifies the bereaved. In addition, Ph.D. Wolfelt adeptly and compassionately shows the way to integrate grief into a positive transformation toward a new life of hope as our loved ones would want us to live.

(Note: Knowing the nature of grief as it is, I suggest this book might be best read months after an intense loss. Otherwise you may find yourself reading each sentence or paragraph over and over trying to make sense of it due to the inherent lack of concentration caused by the severe assault to the mind as well as the heart. Where ever you are along the grief journey, it is never too late to read this book and begin proactive healing.)

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars for a loss of anyone close, November 1, 2009

By 

J. Breshears (Pullman, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart (Paperback)

When I lost my brother I had a lot people provide me with support, and encouraging words, but I still felt alone. I saw a grief counselor and she suggested this book. I loved it-- It's a great tool for dealing with the loss of someone close. It helped me realize that a lot of my feelings were natural. I could summarize the book, but if you lost someone recently and need support-- this is a great book and a useful tool.