News & Press
Dr. Wolfelt in the News: The London Free Press
Dr. Wolfelt was honored to be interviewed about this critically important topic in the London Free Press. The article, “With restrictions easing, families begin to turn grief into mourning” can be found here.
Moving Forward: Post-pandemic ideas for thriving in funeral service
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured in the April 2022 Director “Moving Forward: Post-pandemic ideas for thriving in funeral service” is available here.
The Gift: How Our Newly Enhanced Mortality Awareness Makes Us Better at Living
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “The Gift: How Our Newly Enhanced Mortality Awareness Makes Us Better at Living” is available here.Dr. Wolfelt in the News: The Denver Post
Dr. Wolfelt was honored to be interviewed about this critically important topic in the Atlantic. The article, “The Dinner Party Helping Your Colorado Adults Grieve,” can be found here.Dr. Wolfelt in the News: The Atlantic
Dr. Wolfelt was honored to be interviewed about this critically important topic in the Atlantic. The article, “The American Workplace Isn’t Prepared for This Much Grief,” can be found here.
Reflections of a 9/11 Widow: I Feel a Peacefulness Now
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “Reflections of a 9/11 Widow: I Feel a Peacefulness Now” is available here.
And Now What?.. Now We Learn from the Geese
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “Now What? Now We Learn from the Geese” is available here.
The Director: Now What? Now We Learn from the Geese
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “Now What? Now We Learn from the Geese” ran in the July 2021 issue of The Director magazine. Find the full article here.
The Director: A Healing Balm
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “A Healing Balm: Caring for Yourself By Engaging with the Natural World” ran in the May 2021 issue of The Director magazine. Find the full article here.
The Director: Finding Your Way Through
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “Finding Your Way” ran in the March 2021 issue of The Director magazine. Find the full article here.
Waking Up to Gratitude
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. I’ve become a fan of sunrises. Before COVID-19 changed all of our lives, my busy travel and teaching schedule had me hopping. Most mornings after I woke up, I went straight to work. I had a love-hate relationship with the adrenaline of...
The Director: Too Much Loss
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “Too Much Loss” ran in the October 2020 issue of The Director magazine. Find the full article here.
The Director: Strength to Cope
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “The Strength to Cope” ran in the September 2020 issue of The Director magazine. Find the full article here.
COVID Caregivers and Grief Overload: Coping with Too Much Loss
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. For many caregivers, COVID-19 has been a nonstop wrecking ball. It has swung back and forth across the globe, decimating families and communities. And who’s there in the midst of the ongoing crisis, providing care to the hundreds of...
The Leader: Exploring the Natural Complications of the “WHYs” of Funerals During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “Exploring the Natural Complications of the ‘WHYs’ of Funerals During the Coronavirus Pandemic” ran in the July 29, 2020 issue of The Leader Find the full article here.
Funeral Service Insider: Ways to Cope with Grief Overload
An article interviewing Dr. Wolfelt, “Ways to Cope with Grief Overload” ran in the July 2020 issue of the Funeral Service Insider Find the full article here.
The Director: The Power of Touch
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “The Power of Touch” ran in the August 2020 issue of The Director magazine. Find the full article here.Exploring the Natural Complications of the “WHYs” of Funerals During the Coronavirus Pandemic
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. I often say that when words are inadequate, have a ceremony. However, as you well know, right now is a challenging time to fully make use of ceremonies that help grieving families. COVID-19 has made it impossible for many families to...Human Touch During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “How to Make Up for the Loss of Human touch During the Coronavirus Pandemic” is featured by Yahoo Life. Find the full article here.
The Director: 5 Pillars of Self-Care
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “5 Pillars of Self-Care for Funeral Directors” ran in the July 2020 issue of The Director magazine. Find the full article here.
The Director: Nurturing Hope in Difficult Times
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “Nurturing Hope in Difficult Times” ran in the June 2020 issue of The Director magazine. Find the full article here.
“Tell Me How to Grieve” Thoughts on Leaning on Ceremony After a Death During the Pandemic
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. This pandemic is replete with tragedy, but one Colorado story not far from my home has been weighing on my heart. In the Huffington Post on May 7, 2020, Mary Hagen Roberts published an essay about the death of her precious daughter,...
The Director: The Other Pandemic
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “The Other Pandemic,” ran in the May 2020 issue of The Director magazine. Find the full article here.
Ten Freedoms for Using Ceremony During the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. If someone you love has died during the novel coronavirus pandemic, you have come to grief in an exceptionally challenging moment in history. You may have been separated from your loved one as they were dying. You may have been unable...
Condolences in the Time of COVID-19: Guidance for Conveying Your Love and Support
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. When someone dies—of COVID-19 or any cause—during this pandemic, their loved ones are being left to grieve in especially harrowing circumstances. They may not have been able to be by the dying person’s side in the hospital or long-term care...
The COVID-19 Mourner’s Bill of Rights
Dr Wolfelt has been a long-time supporter and member of the Board of Advisors to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). At their request, he created this Mourner’s Bill of Rights related to the pandemic.
The Art of the Freeze: A Pandemic Lesson in the Value of Liminal Space
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. I keep thinking about freeze tag. As we move into our second stay-at-home month during the COVID-19 pandemic, I find my thoughts returning to the old-timey childhood game I played decades ago with my neighborhood friends in my Indiana...How to Talk to Children About the Coronavirus Pandemic
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. As the coronavirus spreads across North America and our daily lives are transformed, we all must be aware of the need for good mental-health care. Obviously, it’s a stressful time. Families are confined to their homes. School is canceled....Coronavirus and the Six Needs of Mourning
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Alongside the physical pandemic, the novel coronavirus is causing a pandemic of grief. That’s what we’re all feeling right now—grief. It’s important to recognize that. Grief is everything we think and feel inside of us whenever our...
Funeral Directors, We Need You! The Five Pillars of Basic Self-Care During the Coronavirus Pandemic
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. I’ve been privileged to work with funeral directors for more than forty years. I know and respect many of you as colleagues, and I count some of you among my closest friends. Funeral directors are good people. You’re “people people.”...Nurturing Hope in Difficult Times
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. “Hope is the pillar that holds up the world.” — Pliny the Elder The caller to the Center for Loss asked a question that is on the hearts of many right now: “Are we going to get through this?” It became obvious as the...This Pandemic of Grief
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. The coronavirus is not only causing a viral pandemic—it is giving rise to a pandemic of grief. As I write this, in mid-March, we as a global community are suffering so many losses that I hardly know where to begin. Death and grief go...
The Coronavirus Challenge: The Wonder of Waiting
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Have you noticed a number of people are saying some variation on, “I just can’t WAIT until these restrictions are lifted”? The trouble is, in our fast-paced, hurry-up culture, we’re not good at waiting. Waiting for a streaming movie to...Grieving a Coronavirus Death: Help for Special Circumstances
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. If someone you love has died of the novel coronavirus, it is likely that you are facing a number of challenging circumstances. Grief is always difficult, but it is especially difficult whenever a death is sudden, unexpected, and...Funerals in the Time of Coronavirus: Thoughts for Families
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Needless to say, the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 is a challenging time for everyone. But if someone you love has died, it is likely that the current social distancing orders and travel restrictions are making funeral planning...For Funeral Directors: Dealing with Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Acknowledging the Current Reality – Implications for Families As you consider how to approach funeral planning during this global pandemic, don’t forget: 1. Anything that delays a funeral delays the natural mourning and healing...
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