The Essential Guide to Grief and Grieving
At the beginning of The Essential Guide to Grief and Grieving, Dr. Debra Holland states: “My wish is that this book gives you hope that you’ll eventually recover from your grief.”
This book helps readers understand the grief process, their emotions and reactions. It also helps individuals who are supporting others through the grief journey.
This book is divided into four sections:
1. Loss and Grief
2. Bereavement (examines specific losses encountered in life)
3. Loss in Other Life Circumstances
4. Recovery
Each section includes detailed chapters that provide definitions, describe emotions, tell stories and describe reactions to loss. Dr. Holland does a nice job explaining the grief walk.
She adds “side-bar boxes” throughout the book listing survival strategies, cautions and concerns, definitions and typical expressions of grief. At the end of each chapter, there are “Essential Takeaways” to summarize the chapter. The Essential Guide to Grief and Grieving is an informative, easy-to understand book that covers many situations.