News & Press
Frontline: Walking the Wilderness Together
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “Walking the Wilderness Together” ran in the Summer 2020 issue of Frontline. 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...
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,...Dr. Wolfelt in the News: The Scottsdale Independent
Dr. Wolfelt is pleased to have have his article about liminal space during the coronavirus lockdown. The article can be found here.
ICCFA Magazine: Educating Families About the Critical Importance of Permanent Placement
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “Educating Families About the Critical Importance of Permanent Placement,” ran in the May 2020 issue of the ICCFA magazine. Find the full article here.
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.Dr. Wolfelt in the News: NBC Today Show
Dr. Wolfelt is pleased to have been interviewed about grieving losses in the time of coronavirus in a recent interview with the NBC Today Show. The article can be found 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....Dr. Wolfelt in the News: Yahoo Life
Dr. Wolfelt is pleased to have been interviewed about ceremonies in the time of coronavirus in a recent interview with Yahoo Life. The article can be found here.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...Dr. Wolfelt in the News: ALL IN
Dr. Wolfelt is pleased to have been interviewed about navigating loss in the time of coronavirus in a recent interview with ALL IN. interview can be found here. The segment starts at 31:25.
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...Dr. Wolfelt in the News: Rolling Stone Magazine
Dr. Wolfelt is pleased to have been interviewed about funerals and grief in the time of coronavirus in a recent article for Rolling Stone Magazine. The article, “Processing Grief During a Pandemic, When Nothing is Normal” can be found on here.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...Dr. Wolfelt in the News: Grief and Social Distancing
Dr. Wolfelt is pleased to have been interviewed about funerals and grief in the time of coronavirus in a recent article for the IndyStar. The article, “Grief and social distancing: How Indiana funeral homes are helping families seek closure” can be found on...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...Dr. Wolfelt in the News: Kobe Bryant’s Memorial and the Value of Ceremony
Dr. Wolfelt is pleased to have been interviewed about the value of ceremony in a recent article for USA Today. The article, “Kobe Bryant: How will wife Vanessa work through incomparable grief” can be found on here.Dr. Wolfelt in the News: How to Cope with a Celebrity Death
Dr. Wolfelt is pleased to have been interviewed and referenced in a recent article for Sweety High. The article, “How to Cope with the Loss of a Beloved Celebrity, According to a Grief Expert” can be found on here.Eleven Tenets of Companioning the Bereaved
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Tenet One: Companioning is about being present to another person’s pain; it is not about taking away the pain. Tenet Two: Companioning is about going to the wilderness of the soul with another human being’ it is not...An Invitation from Dr. Wolfelt
Dr. Wolfelt invites you to attend our trainings in Fort Collins, Colorado or Scottsdale, Arizona! Find more information and registration here. View the training catalog...Dr. Wolfelt in the News: Meaningful Condolence Gifts for Grieving Friends
Dr. Wolfelt is pleased to have been interviewed and referenced in a recent article for the Strategist in New York Magazine. The article, “18 Meaningful Condolence Gifts for Grieving Friends” can be found on here.August 2019 Newsletter
The Center for Loss released its quarterly newsletter on August 6, 2019. Find it here.Mourning Fictional Characters
Dr. Wolfelt was pleased to be interviewed by Popular Science on mourning the death of fictional characters. The article, by Eleanor Cummins, can be found here.The Grief and Mourning of Cancer
The article, “The Grief and Mourning of Cancer” by Dr. Wolfelt appears in the March/April 2019 edition of Coping with Cancer. Find the PDF here. The magazine website can be found here.How to Thrive Through Major Changes at Work
Dr. Wolfelt is pleased to have been interviewed and referenced in a recent article for WeWork The article, “How to Thrive Through Major Changes at Work” can be found on here.What to Say When a Friend’s Loved one Dies by Suicide
Dr. Wolfelt is pleased to have been interviewed and referenced in a recent article for SELF. The article, “What to Say When a Friend’s Loved One Dies by Suicide” can be found on here.Dr. Wolfelt in the News: 10 Things to Do After Losing Your Job
Dr. Wolfelt is pleased to have been interviewed and referenced in a recent article for Thrive Global. The article, “10 Things to Do After Losing Your Job” can be found on here.February 2019 Newsletter
The Center for Loss released its quarterly newsletter on February 4, 2019. Find it here.November Newsletter
The Center for Loss released its quarterly newsletter on November 5, 2018. Find it here.Dr. Wolfelt in the News: My Jewish Learning
Dr. Wolfelt is pleased to have been interviewed and referenced in a recent article for My Jewish Learning. The article, “How to Help a Friend Through a Loss” can be found on here.October 2017 Center for Loss Newsletter
Please click here to see the October 2017 Center for Loss newsletter.New 2018-2019 Training Catalog Released
Dr. Wolfelt invites you to his upcoming bereavement care trainings. They’re filling quickly. Register soon! Come learn from the founder of the Companioning Model of grief care. We will continue to offer trainings in both Fort Collins, Colorado and Scottsdale,...Healing Your Grief About Getting Older – Age Brilliantly
An excerpt from Dr. Wolfelt’s book “Healing Your Grief About Getting Older” has been highlighted by Age Brilliantly. Find the link here.Australia Funeral Service makes use of Dr. Wolfelt’s teaching to advocate for the Importance of Meaningful Funerals.
The Australia Funeral Service is making use of Dr. Wolfelt’s teaching to advocate for the Importance of Meaningful Funerals by running a series of article in a local newspaper. The article will run every six weeks and help support the educational tours and discussions...Dr. Wolfelt honors Jan C. Scruggs
This year’s Lasting Impact Award, presented by The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association Education Foundation, was presented to Jan C. Scruggs, the driving force behind the construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Dr. Wolfelt was...Important Training Schedule Announcement – Updated!
Great News! After some reflection and discernment, Dr. Wolfelt has decided to continue to offer his trainings into future years. As he noted: “I was humbled by the number of people who sent notes or called in to encourage me to continue my trainings anchored in the...In Praise of Slow Funerals
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Have you ever noticed that we are speed-obsessed these days, even though faster is often not better? A century ago, the Industrial Revolution brought about mass production and with it an emphasis on speed, efficiency, and productivity....Center for Loss 2017 Training Schedule Announced!
The Center for Loss and Life Transition provides quality bereavement care training for caregivers. Dr. Wolfelt’s seminars have evolved out of a demand for concise yet comprehensive information in the growing area of death education and counseling. If you want to learn...New Book Helps Funeral Directors Create Exceptional Funerals
Companion Press announces the publication of a new book entitled A Tale of Two Funerals: The Throw Rug and the Tapestry, by renowned grief educator Dr. Alan Wolfelt. Written specifically for funeral directors, funeral service leaders, and funeral home staff members,...
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