News & Press
Companioning is About Being Still
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured on the AfterTalk blog “Companioning is About Being Still ” is available here.
Dr. Wolfelt in the News: Yahoo News
Dr. Wolfelt was honored to be interviewed about children attending funerals. The article, “Should you bring your kid to a funeral? Experts way in. ” can be found here. Companioning is About Discovering the Gifts of Sacred Silence
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured on the AfterTalk blog “Companioning is About Discovering the Gifts of Sacred Silence ” is available here. Companioning is About Walking Alongside
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured on the AfterTalk blog “Companioning is About Walking Alongside ” is available here.
Living and Grieving Together – Acknowledging the Illusion of Control
Dr. Wolfelt’s article “Acknowledging the Illusion of Control” was published in the May 2023 edition of the Director Magazine. It is part of a 6-part series.This part, part three, is available here. Part two is available here. Part one is available... Companioning is About Bearing Witness
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured on the AfterTalk blog “Companioning is About Bearing Witness ” is available here.
Ask the Expert – A Healthy Path to Long-Term Healing
An interview with Dr. Wolfelt was published in the April 2023 edition of the American Funeral Director. It can be found here.
Living and Grieving Together – Easing Fear in Early Grief
Dr. Wolfelt’s article “Easing Fear in Early Grief” was published in the April 2023 edition of the Director Magazine. It is part of a 6-part series.This part, part two, is available here. Part one is available here. Companioning is About Listening With the Heart
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured on the AfterTalk blog “Companioning is About Listening with the Heart ” is available here. Companioning is About Honoring the Spirit
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured on the AfterTalk blog “Companioning is About Honoring the Spirit ” is available here.
Living and Grieving Together – Crazy is Normal
Dr. Wolfelt’s article “Crazy is Normal” was published in the March 2023 edition of the Director Magazine. It is part of a 6-part series.This part, part one, is available here.
Funeral Directors Life Now Offering Wolfelt Experience™ Training Nationwide
ABILENE, TX – Funeral Directors Life (FDL), in partnership with Dr. Alan Wolfelt, has offered the successful Virtual Wolfelt Experience™ Training to funeral professionals for years. This training, which has been called “life-changing,” “career-changing,”... Companioning is About Curiosity
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured on the AfterTalk blog “Companioning is About Curiosity” is available here. Companioning as a Reflection of Love
Dr. Wolfelt’s article featured on the AfterTalk blog “Companioning as a Reflection of Love” is available here.
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.”...
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