Helpful Articles
Helping Teenagers Cope with Grief
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Teenagers Mourn Too Each year thousands of teenagers experience the death of someone they love. When a parent, sibling, friend
Why Choose A Final Resting Place for Your Loved One
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. When a loved one dies, many important decisions must be made. How the person’s body will be cared for and
Pre-planning your funeral: Tips for creating a meaningful and memorable service
Pre-planning a funeral is an important part of estate planning, as it allows you to ensure that your final wishes are carried out and that
First Aid for Broken Hearts
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. “Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it.” —
The differences between direct cremation and full-service cremation
When a loved one passes away, there are many decisions that need to be made quickly. One of the most important decisions is whether to
Coping with Grief and Loss after a Funeral Service
Losing a loved one can be one of the most difficult experiences anyone can go through. After a funeral service, it’s normal to experience a
Why pre-planning your funeral is the ultimate gift to your loved ones
When it comes to death, many people don’t like to think about it, let alone talk about it. But avoiding the topic won’t make it
Helping a Suicide Survivor Heal
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Historian Arnold Toynbee once wrote, “There are always two parties to a death; the person who dies and the survivors
The Importance of Self-Care During the Grieving Process
Losing someone we love is one of the most difficult experiences any of us will face. Grief can be overwhelming and all-consuming, and it can
Helping Children Cope With Grief
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. When Someone Loved Dies Adults grieve. So do children. As an adult or child, experiencing grief means to “feel,” not
How to Support a Friend or Family Member Who is Grieving
Grief is a complex and challenging experience that everyone goes through at some point in their lives. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one,
The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Funeral Service
Losing a loved one is never easy, and planning a funeral service can be a daunting task during such a difficult time. However, with proper
Helping Your Family Heal After Stillbirth
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Few events in life bring about such warm and wonderful feelings of anticipation as the announcement of a pregnancy. As
The benefits of memorializing a loved one through charitable giving
Losing a loved one is never easy, and finding ways to cope with that loss can be a difficult process. One way that many people
You Must Make Friends with the Darkness Before You Can Enter the Light
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. A paradox is a seemingly self-contradictory statement or situation that is in fact often true. The paradox of mourning we