On the internet, anyone can be a grief therapist now Practitioners and clients struggle to navigate the unregulated counseling certification industry by Astrid Landon from https://www.codastory.com/waronscience/grief-counseling-online-certifications/ Image by TEONA TSINTSADZE   In one of our previous posts we referenced this very important article, but it really needs its own dedicated space in our blog. Many…

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Why the Death of a Celebrity Feels Like a Personal Loss

  This article was originally published in 2020, after the death of Kobe Bryant. I am re-publishing it today because of the world’s response to the death of Queen Elizabeth.  By Dr. Terri Daniel, CT, CCTP   As America grieves the tragic death of sports hero Kobe Bryant, we are stunned not only by the…

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Grief and God: When Religion Doesn’t Help

  In many religious traditions, God is believed to be responsive to the needs of believers, and in difficult times, the faithful turn to God for comfort and guidance. When God is viewed as a benevolent protector that can shield us from harm, what happens to faith — and healing — when God fails to…

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Rituals for Grief and Loss

by Dr. Terri Daniel, CT, CCTP   Most of us go through our lives living with a set of assumptions about our sense of safety in the world. But when we face a profound personal loss or trauma, those assumptions can no longer sustain us, and our grief invites us to look for deeper meaning…

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Grief and Non-Attachment

Danny’s Bed: Reflections on Grief and Non-Attachment Excerpted from Turning the Corner on Grief Street by Terri Daniel 2014       CHAPTER SIX This is a good place to explore how it’s possible to experience a traumatic loss and emerge whole and healthy rather than bitter and broken. Let’s start by examining the difference…

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Bereavement and Bad Theology: A Toxic Cocktail

For those who are struggling with frightful and disempowering religious beliefs that complicate the grief process, this video from my presentation on Jan. 10, 2021 at The Conference for Death and Bereavement Studies will be helpful. On a similar topic, please consider reading this article in The Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling. Dr. Terri…

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Shame and Self-Loathing
in the Name of God

  I recently discovered this excellent article on how Christianity — as it is understood, taught and practiced by most Christians — encourages shame and self-loathing. Many thanks to Neil Carter for his insight and wisdom on this topic. Here’s an excerpt: “In order to need a savior, you have to feel there is something…

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Bereavement and the Buddhist Bardo

I shared this article by Pema Khandro Rinpoche in the January 2021 issue of our newsletter, The Afterlife Advocate, and want to also post it here, because it’s one of the best pieces on death and grief that I’ve ever seen: Breaking Open in the Bardo

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