Here we are, coming up on another Valentine’s Day. Another Febuary 14 appearing on our calendars and at a Hallmark store near us. And there are just way too many little sugar candy hearts with imprinted sayings dominating the grocery store aisles.

My website www.jillgriefcounselor.com has a Book List.  I encourage you to click on it and take a look at the books within the different categories of grief. And now I am adding more…

In life, we often fear the worst – the death of a parent, a sibling, a spouse or a child. We except that if such a death happens, it will be the most difficult, shattering time in our life. We tend to try not to imagine what it would be like for us when a close friend dies. It’s not an experience we can understand until it happens.

Grief can create physical illness. And it’s real. You’re not just imagining things if you don’t feel well. Do you have these symptoms…Read More…

The start of the new year, and we’re also settling into wintertime.  Some already feel the  winter “blahs and blues.”

Here’s what I start to see right about now in my grief counseling practice….Read More.

Time can stand still when you’re grieving. Days turn into nights and weeks, and you find you’re still grieving…Then, here comes the BIG NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAY… Read More.

When it comes to bereavement, a lot of attention is directed towards adults. Remember one thing, though… CHILDREN ARE THE FORGOTTEN GRIEVERS.

Are you having a hard time coping during the holidays? Even in the midst of what is considered the most festive time of year, many out there in the real world are NOT celebrating and are NOT joy-filled. In fact, many are really sad during this season.

If you are a younger person who has lost a spouse or partner, the words “unfair” and “unexpected” are generally at the forefront of your mind when it comes to your grief.

Both are true; younger widows and widowers certainly face unique challenges….Read more.

Thanksgiving is this month’s major event, or at least for the majority Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  And for those grieving, it can be a challenging time. No matter what your situation is this year…Read More…

Suicide is a death like none other. Survivors of suicide can often experience different emotions that are unique to this kind of loss. It brings about so many unbearable feelings and emotions in people.

For those grieving a loved one, any holiday can be difficult, even Halloween.

Planning to connect with Halloween celebrations this year? You may feel more like the holiday is a “trick” than a “treat.”

Read more…

The holiday, Yom Kippur, which occurs in a few days, is considered one of the High Holy Days in the Jewish calendar. The High Holidays – Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – are also .... read more.

All over the world, Jewish people will soon be celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the start of a new year on the Jewish Calendar, with wishes all around for a … Read More.

Nobody can fully understand what a twin goes through upon the death of their sibling unless they themselves are a twin. And even then, as we know, no two people grieve alike, as no two relationships are the same.

Labor means work. In fact, it usually means “hard work.” Grief work is hard labor too. Don’t underestimate the kind of work that a grieving person does every day, though it may often be done silently, discreetly, and is often invisible to others.

National Grief Awareness Day is Angie Cartwright’s attempt to properly address grief and how we deal with it to end the stigma. It has become a movement of people dedicated to showing compassion for others and striving to educate those who hold a negative attitude towards grief.

Here we are in the midst of summertime. The days are long and from sunrise to sunset, there is an emphasis on enjoying summer fun, with a cheerful smile on your face.

But what if you were just hit with the most awful experience of a lifetime?

Two people may experience the same loss, but one may find that some loss is socially sanctioned or publicly mourned, whereas in another person’s is not. … read more.

Read my favorite article about Independence from grief from Hospice Foundation of America. It’s time to find independence from your grief. Read more to find out how.