Grief Support 101

02/23/22 • 35 min

The support person role is integral to a griever. It is natural to want to care for a grieving loved one or friend.

Where do you start? How do you use your gifts to tend to a grieving person? When do you offer your help?

In this episode we talk about some conventional and unconventional ways that we were cared for in our early grief. We also touch on how to check your expectations when supporting a grieving person.

The support person role is integral to a griever. It is natural to want to care for a grieving loved one or friend.

Where do you start? How do you use your gifts to tend to a grieving person? When do you offer your help?

In this episode we talk about some conventional and unconventional ways that we were cared for in our early grief. We also touch on how to check your expectations when supporting a grieving person.

Previous Episode

Platitudes

Grief is uncomfortable. Our cultural response to seeing a grieving person upset is to say something to cheer them up. Although well-intended, many of the phrases used to try to lift the spirits of a grieving person can be hurtful and confusing. In this episode we discuss some common platitudes heard by grieving people and why they aren’t helpful. Some of the platitudes we discuss include:

“Everything happens for a reason.”

“They’re in a better place.”

“It was God’s plan.”

In this episode, we reference a helpful guide by therapist Whitney Goodman, LMFT. You can follow her on Instagram at @sitwithwhit.

Next Episode

Our Favorite Memories

We wrap up the first season of Grief Talk with some of our favorite memories of our older brother, Leland, who passed away 5 years ago. Memories of live music, trying new foods, and childhood mischief warm our hearts as we remember the years we had with Leland.

This lighter-hearted episode reflects how our grief can grow from painful trauma to warm memories. Memories and photos of the years we have together are all we have now and hold sacred the remembrance of our brother.