The holidays are upon us, and many of us of look forward to the rituals, traditions and fellowship that are associated with this time of year. For many, however, this can be a difficult period and for some even painful. The Austin Center for Grief & Loss strives to provide connection and support for those grieving during the holidays. Those who have lost loved ones due to death, divorce or other separation are at risk of focusing on the void. Rather than seeing what is los

Five considerations when speaking to your children about tragedies. Don’t Over-Talk Adults can easily project our fears on to children. Do answer children’s questions in a way that reflects their asking. Try not to dwell on the tragic nature of an incident, yet don’t be evasive. Don’t lie or withhold information, but don’t be overly dramatic. Shield Children from Media After 9/11 children suffered trauma from overexposure to the media. Child psychologists call this “sec

Children’s Grief Awareness Day is observed every year on the third Thursday in November. It is a day that brings attention to the effect that grief can have on a child and to help make sure every child receives the support they need. When I was 10, my maternal grandfather (Papa as we called him), died suddenly and unexpectedly the week before school started. I was confused, devastated, and unsure of what was happening. Over the next few hours and days, family members and fr

The most common questions a newly bereaved client asks in grief therapy are: “What do I need to do? What are the steps to deal with this? Can you tell me exactly how to get through this?” The hard answer is that there is no “exact” answer, or set of steps. Each person’s grief and inherent capacity for healing will teach them what to do. Grief breaks all the rules Life teaches us there is a travel guide for every country, a manual for every purchase, and a recommended schedul

As we prepare for a transition into cool mornings and early sunsets, I have been taking the time to reflect on how nature beautifully represents our mission at Austin Grief. As the trees let go of their leaves in preparation for a season of rest and recovery, it allows me to reflect on what is lost, what is left, and what is possible. What is lost? I always look forward to the first signs of fall; the leaves begin to slowly change, brisk mornings, and the sun begins to change