ABCs of Healthy Grieving: A Companion for Everyday Coping | Updated Edition

by Harold Ivan Smith

For more than twenty-five years, ABCs of Healthy Grieving by bestselling author, counselor, and grief educator Harold Ivan Smith has been a trusted companion for tens of thousands of readers seeking hope, clarity, and healing after loss.Written for anyone navigating grief―whether recent or long carried―this gentle, practical guide offers short, easy-to-read reflections designed to meet readers exactly where they are. Each entry is just one to two pages long and weaves together real-life stories, thoughtful quotations, and compassionate wisdom for living with grief day by day.Every reflection concludes with an encouraging “I can…” statement―a small but powerful reminder that healing is possible, strength can be reclaimed, and life can still hold meaning after loss.In this beloved classic, readers will find guidance on how different grieving styles within familiesBefriend silence and create space for reflectionCherish memories without being overwhelmed by themAvoid hasty decisions during seasons of lossEstablish new end-of-day and bedtime ritualsPractice forgiveness and patience―with themselves and othersRelease rigid expectations, including the “five stages” of griefUse ritual, writing, and remembrance as healing toolsEntrust loved ones to God’s care in faith and hope
This updated edition acknowledges how grief continues to evolve in a changing world―shaped by technology, shifting family dynamics, pop culture, and modern funeral practices. It features a new introduction and closing reflections by the author, refreshed cultural references and quotations, and an updated bibliography for further support.Warm, wise, and deeply reassuring, ABCs of Healthy Grieving is an ideal resource for personal reflection, grief support groups, pastoral care, counselors, and anyone searching for comfort and companionship in the midst of loss.

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.