News & Press
Healing Your Holiday Grief
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured in the Winter 2022 TAPS Magazine “Healing your Holiday Grief” is available here.
Understanding Your Grief: 4 Part Article Series
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured in the October 2022 Director “Understanding Your Grief: Part 1” is available here. Part 2 is available here. Part 3 is available here. Part 4 is available here.
Dr. Wolfelt in the News: InStyle
Dr. Wolfelt was honored to be interviewed about linking objects in InStyle. The article, “How ‘Transitional Objects’ Can Help Us Process Grief” can be found here.
Violence Anger: Understanding it, mourning it, and using it to effect change
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured in the September 2022 Director “Violence Anger: Understanding it, mourning it, and using it to effect change” is available here.
They Are All Too Aware: Suggestions for talking to and supporting children
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured in the August 2022 Director “They Are All Too Aware: Suggestions for talking to and supporting children after a school shooting or other traumatic loss” is available here.
Understanding and Mourning Your Anger Over Gun Violence
Understanding and Mourning Your Anger Over Gun Violence by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Since 35 people were killed in mass shootings in Buffalo, Uvalde, and Tulsa in the past few weeks, I’ve been fielding calls, emails, and texts from journalists, colleagues,...
Tips for Talking to and Supporting Children after a School Shooting or Other Traumatic Loss: Dos and Don’ts
Tips for Talking to and Supporting Children after a School Shooting or Other Traumatic Loss: Dos and Don’ts by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Sadly, school shootings such as the one in Uvalde, Texas, are not a rarity here in the United States. Neither are mass...
Coping with Your Grief Over the Uvalde Tragedy
Coping with Your Grief Over the Uvalde Tragedy by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Uvalde, Texas, is grieving. America is grieving. A single man has committed a crime of unimaginable violence, taking the lives of at least 21 people—19 of them children—and now an entire...
In the Aftermath: How One Funeral Home Business Fared During the Pandemic
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured in the June 2022 Director “In the Aftermath: How One Funeral Home Business Fared During the Pandemic is available here.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.
Grief Is Not a Disorder
Grief Is Not a Disorder My Position on the New “Prolonged Grief Disorder” Diagnostic Category in the DSM by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Our phone at the Center for Loss and Life Transition has been ringing off the hook in recent weeks with requests for my opinion of...
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.
When Your Pet Dies: The Six Needs of Mourning
ICCFA Magazine recently published an article by Dr. Wolfelt in their pet loss issue. Find the article, When Your Pet Dies: The Six Needs of Mourning, 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.
Coping with Grief During the Holiday Season – COPS
Dr. Wolfelt has been a supporter on Concerns of Police Survivors for many years. They recently published his article on holiday grief in their Fall/Winter Magazine and let the families they serve know how to access his book on this important topic. Find the article...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.
Frontline: Appreciate Your Transformation
Dr. Wolfelt’s article, “Appreciate Your Transformation” ran in the Fall 2020 issue of Frontline 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.
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...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,...
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.
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...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...
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.The Paradoxes of Mourning: Part 3 of 3
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Backtracking on the Route to Healing Paradox 3: Mourners must go backward before they can go forward. A paradox is a seemingly self-contradictory statement or situation that is in fact often true. The paradox of mourning we will consider...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....Watch your words: The importance of semantics in funeral service
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Editor’s note: This article is excerpted from Dr. Wolfelt’s book, “Funeral Home Customer Service A-Z.” Have you ever noticed the power of words? Well-chosen words give structure to an entire chain of...The Paradoxes of Mourning: Part 1 of 3
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Creating Hello Opportunities Paradox 1: Families must say hello before they can say goodbye. A paradox is a seemingly self-contradictory statement or situation that is in fact often true. The paradox of mourning we will consider...The Paradoxes of Mourning: Part 2 of 3
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. The Dark Night of the Soul Paradox 2: Mourners must make friends with the darkness before they can enter the light. A paradox is a seemingly self-contradictory statement or situation that is in fact often true. The paradox of mourning...Helping Yourself Heal When Someone You Care About Dies of a Drug Overdose
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. A friend or family member has died of a drug overdose. Death and grief are always hard, but when someone dies from drug use, understanding your feelings and knowing what to think and say about the death can be especially difficult....
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