ABCs of Healthy Grieving: A Companion for Everyday Coping

by Harold Ivan Smith

Nationally recognized grief educator Harold Ivan Smith brings over twenty-five years of professional experience in grief recovery to ABCs of Healthy Grieving. Seventy-two brief suggestions for healthy grieving, each two-pages in length and titled starting with a letter of the alphabet followed by an "I Can" statement, encourage those suffering the loss of a loved one to grow through grief spiritually and emotionally. One particular aspect of living with grief day-to-day is introduced with relevant quotes and short excerpts. Readers can read ABCs of Healthy Grieving cover to cover, or choose a single topic to help them through their day.

Genres: Self Help

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2001

About the author

Harold Ivan Smith, 1947-

Harold Ivan Smith, MA, ED.S., FT, DMin, is a national speaker, noted author, experienced counselor and grief educator. He has presented bereavement workshops across the country, training more than 20,000 professionals and lay caregivers during a thirty-year career. Seminar and conference attendees rave about interactions with Harold Ivan, and his insightful gifts of helping, healing, and facilitating grief.

A prolific writer, he has authored dozens of books and resources, included best seller, A Decembered Grief: Living with Loss When Others are Celebrating. Also among his titles are Griefkeeping: Learning How Long Grief Lasts; ABCs of Healthy Bereavement; Grievers Ask, When You Don’t Know What to Say; When Your Friend Dies; Finding Your Way to Say Goodbye: Comfort for the Dying and Those Who Care for Them; and Grieving the Death of a Father. His newest book, Using Biographical and Historical Grief Narratives With The Bereaving (Routledge).

He is also an authority of the griefs of American Presidents and First Ladies. He facilitates Grief Gatherings, an innovative storytelling program at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, where he is a member of the teaching faculty. Harold Ivan is active in the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) and is designated a Fellow in Thanatology (FT).

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of the format of this book which consists of short sayings that start with each letter of the alphabet followed by a few paragraphs of writing emphasizing that saying. It feels too disjointed to me.

[Char · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a perfect book, but I like books that normalize death and how to deal with it. I would have liked more real life examples to support the advice, but I know it's meant to be more of a bite sized read. There were a few things in it I totally didn't agree with and many that I did agree with.

[K Steward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful ideas to help a person grieve well and move forward in various areas. Several ideas were new to me or something to chew on for a while. Will be a helpful reference as it is broken down into very short segments by alphabetical topic.