Companioning the Bereaved: A Soulful Guide for Counselors & Caregivers

by Alan D. Wolfelt

Renowned author and educator Alan Wolfelt redefines the role of the grief counselor in this guide for caregivers. His new model for "companioning" the bereaved gives a viable alternative to the limitations of the medical establishment, encouraging counselors and other caregivers to aspire to a more compassionate philosophy. This approach argues that grief need no longer be defined, diagnosed, and treated as an illness but rather should be an acknowledgement of an event that forever changes a person's worldview. Through careful listening and observation, the caregiver learns to support mourners and help them help themselves heal.

Genres: Grief, Nonfiction, Psychology, Counselling

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Robert Bogue]

Sacred is the way that Alan Wolfelt describes the grounds of his Center. Sacred is the way that I’d describe the opportunity to walk together as companion after a loss. There are no answers, no rules, no formulas, and no way to prevent the pain. There is only the opportunity – through simple presence – to help someone understand they’re not as alone as they feel. This is the heart of Companioning the Bereaved: A Soulful Guide for Counselors and Caregivers. If the goal is simply to be present for the bereaved, what is there to talk about? It turns out there’s a lot.

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[Grief and Loss In Motion and Trumbull County LOSS]

This book, for our organization, serves as a training guide for companioning individuals on their grief journey. We highly recommend this book for anyone providing trauma informed services- learning to companion can be the greatest gift you give people around you. We use this for trainings, personal development and a guidepost for programming. Highly recommended.

This title is part of our lending library for 501c3, Grief and Loss in Motion, and our Trumbull County LOSS (Local Outreach for Survivors of Suicide loss) in Trumbull County, Ohio. We are proudly located in TriYounity LLC in Warren, Ohio. For more information please visit our website SuicidePostvention.org.

[Allison Gary]

This is a lovely read that puts working with grief into a compassionate perspective. Grief is not a pathology, it is part of the human experience and I think Wolfelt expresses that beautifully. It encourages listening, observation, supportive approaches to help grieving individuals express themselves and help them to heal.

[Shauna]

Five stars for concept. Three stars for execution and redundancy. If you've read 15 pages of this book, you've read them all. 3.5 stars.

If you read it and decide you feel the same way, pickup J.S. Park's "As Long As You Need."

[Leandra Melton]

Lots of helpful information inside but the layout is hard to follow. The information also gets a bit redundant after a while.

[Andy Kerckhoff]

It's the best overall summary of all the teachings of Alan Wolfeldt, the best teacher of grief that we have today. Fantastic book.

[Victoria Guyadeen]

Excellent book. Practical. Easy to read and apply.

[Lou Ellen]

A must read book on how to be present with someone going through the loss of a loved one. Actually a good book for anyone helping someone else through difficult times. There is no arrogance here, only thoughtful, well written information on what does and doesn't help grieving persons, taught to him by the persons themselves.

[Jill]

This was the textbook used in a course I attended which was taught by Dr. Wolfelt, the author. His concept of companioning the bereaved, which essentially the book is based off of, is ingenious. I encourage anyone in the field of grief and bereavement to read this book AND attend his educational courses. Five star.

[JoAnn]

I found the companioning philosophy quite helpful for working with the bereaved. I would recommend this book to those that work with the grieving either by profession or volunteer work.

[Natalie]

"A wound that goes unacknowledged and unwept is a wound that cannot heal." - John Eldredge

[Umberia]

I found this book very helpful in the way it challenged caregivers/professionals to rethink how we approach people suffering with grief and loss.