How to Grieve What We've Lost: Evidence-Based Skills to Process Grief and Reconnect with What Matters

Grief is a journey that can lead to powerful, personal growth. With contributions from grief experts Russ Harris, Alexandra Kennedy, Sameet Kumar, Mary Beth Williams, and Soili Poijula, this thoughtful compilation will help you heal the pain of loss; no matter the cause; and move forward in life with a renewed sense of meaning and purpose.

Grief comes in many forms. You may grieve a loved one who has passed on, a romantic relationship which has ended, the loss of a job you loved, or even a place you used to go that no longer exists or has changed. You may also be dealing with another kind of loss—a sense of who you are and how you can live your life in an increasingly uncertain and changed world. But what if you could transform your grief into lasting positive growth?

Featuring excerpts from the authors’ previously published works, How to Grieve What We’ve Lost offers effective therapeutic tools based in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and more. In the book, you’ll find strategies for immediate relief, including present-moment awareness and mindful breathing. You’ll learn to create a safe sanctuary for your grief, so you can honour your feelings and give them the space they deserve. And you’ll discover ways to create a support network, give voice to your sorrow, and share your humanity with others.

This heartfelt guide also includes simple tools to help you:

• Identify the things that really matter to you
• Honour your grief
• Prioritise your mental health and self-care
• Learn and grow from your loss

Whether you are struggling with your own loss or a collective sense of grief, the evidence-based skills in this book will help you mourn in healthy and resilient ways—leading to profound personal growth and a renewed sense of meaning and purpose in life.

"How to Grieve What We’ve Lost lives up to its title and will help any person who reads it. The exercises are presented clearly, and techniques for early grief provide grounding to help navigate difficult emotions. How to find meaning again and ways to handle difficult issues are addressed with gentle understanding. The compassionate therapists who collaborated to write this guide have created a book filled with gentle wisdom."
- Claudia Coenen, grief counselor; and author of Shattered by Grief, Karuna Cards,  The Creative Toolkit for Working with Grief and Bereavement, and Seasons of Grief

"Discover your courage and compassion through How to Grieve What We’ve Lost, an essential guide for anyone experiencing loss. Rooted in a therapeutic approach, this book blends reflective and actionable exercises meeting you wherever you are on your unique grief journey. In the face of great change, this invaluable resource supports you in opening to the tenderness, resilience, and wisdom of your own heart."
- Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life