Grief

"Grief is like the ocean. It comes in waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we do is learn to swim."

— Vicki Harrison

Grief Resources

Grief Support Groups

Grief Support Groups on Mondays in Flint Township at 10:00 am and Tuesdays in Davison at 6:00 pm. Clients must pre-register to attend. 

These groups are for adults who have lost a significant other, a spouse, a sibling or a child.

If you are interested in being a part of this in-person grief group, please reach out to schedule an intake with a therapist. We offer groups to Best Life Therapy clients as an added layer of support. Participants are also expected to be involved in individual therapy, so they have a space to process their feelings one-on-one. Your therapist can talk with you about registering for the group and will help to assess the appropriateness of group work based on where you are in the grief process.

Books on Grief:

• "It's Ok That You're Not Okay" by Megan Devine

• "Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief" by Joanne Cacciatore

• "It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength when Disappointment Leaves You Shattered" by Lysa Terkeurst

• "Life After Loss: A Practical Guide to Renewing Your Life After Experiencing Major Loss" by Bob Deits

• "The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Love" by Mary-Frances O'Connor, PhD

• "Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief" by David Kessler

• "Resilient Grieving, Second Edition, How to Find Your Way Through Devastating Loss" by Lucy Hone, PhD

• "On Grief & Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss" by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D. and David Kessler

• "The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief" by Frances Weller

• "The Wilderness of Suicide Grief, Finding Your Way" by Alan D. Wolfelt, PhD.

• "Grief Day by Day: Simple Practices and Daily Guidance for Living with Loss" by Jan Warner

• "A Grief Observed" by C.S. Lewis

Grief Journals:

• "How to Carry What Can't be Fixed" Grief Journal by Megan Devine

• "52 Week grief journal" Prompts and Reflections for Navigating Loss by Jennifer Trinkle

• "Shattered: Surviving the Loss of a Child" by Gary Roe

• "Grieving the Child I Never Knew: A Devotional for Comfort in the Loss of Your Unborn or Newly Born Child" by Kathe Wunnenberg

• "The Understanding Your Grief Journal: Exploring the Ten Essential Touchstones" By Alan Wolfelt, PhD

Support Groups and Resources Coming Soon:

• https://grief.com - Tender Hearts Grief Care Online Groups, categorized into the types of loss, also offers a grief course online that you can do at your own pace

• The Compassionate Friends (compassionatefriends.org) community provides support for parents after the death of a child.

• The Dinner Party (thedinnerparty.org) is a worldwide community of twenty-to-thirty-somethings who have lost a parent, partner, child, sibling or close friend.

• Center for Loss & Life Transition

Loss of a Pet.:

• "The Rainbow Bridge: Healing Your Heart and Finding Peace after Loss" by Elena Flores

• "I'm Still Here, a dog's purpose is forever" by Cathryn Michon

• "The Invisible Leash: An Invisible String Story about the Loss of a Pet" by Patrice Karst

• "Losing My Best Friend: Thoughtful support for those affected by dog bereavement or pet loss" by Jeannie Wycherley

• "Soul Comfort for Cat Lovers: Coping Wisdom for Heart and Soul After the Loss of a Beloved Feline" by Liz Eastwood

• "Goodbye Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet" by Gary Kowalski

• "I'll Always Love You" by Hans Wilhelm

• Lap of Love Pet Loss Support Community on Facebook

Books on Death and Dying for Children:

• "Lifetimes: The beautiful way to explain death to children" by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen

• "When Someone Dies: A Children's Mindful How-To Guide on Grief and Loss" by Andrea Dorn, MSW

• "The Invisible String" by Patrice Karst

• "Something Sad Happened" by Darby A. Strickland

• "Tear Soup, a Recipe for Healing after Loss" by Pat Schwiebert

• "When Someone Very Special Died: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief" by Marge Heegaard

• "The Memory Box: A Book About Grief" by Joanna Rowland - Combine this book with an activity and help create a memory box with children who have been impacted by grief

LGBTQ+ Grief: Support and Resources:

LGBTQ+ is a multifaceted experience, complicated by the adversity and challenges individuals in these communities' experience. While grief is something we all experience, social stigma and discrimination can make grief even more complex. There are many resources available in affirming spaces. Here are a few of these resources:

• LQBTQ Grief Loss Support Group on Facebook

• https://samaritanshope.org - SafePlace suicide grief support group for individuals who have lost someone who was a part of the LGBTQ+ community to suicide. Meetings are facilitated by individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ loss survivors.

• https://www.emptyarmsbereavement.org - LGBTQ+ Resources focused on pregnancy and loss specifically focused on supporting members within the LGBTQ+ community, support related to transgender pregnancy and loss.