The Dr. John Delony Show Grief Expert: Why Grief Demands a Witness (With David Kessler)
Dec 23, 2024
David Kessler, a world-renowned expert on grief and author of 'The Sixth Stage of Grief Workbook,' dives deep into the intricate nature of grieving. He emphasizes the necessity of having a witness in the grieving process and how storytelling helps in healing. Kessler explores the impact of virtual support during the pandemic and its surprising effectiveness. He also highlights the importance of teaching children about loss, using personal experiences to illustrate the profound life lessons that grief can impart.
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Teaching Children About Grief
- Teach children about grief when life events happen, starting with small losses like a goldfish.
- Use these moments to teach them about expressing emotions and coping with loss.
The Dog Burial
- John Delony shares how burying a dog with his son became a valuable lesson in grief.
- This experience helped his son understand and process subsequent losses of family members.
Shoveling Dirt Ritual
- David Kessler describes his goddaughter and son shoveling dirt onto his younger son's grave.
- This ritual became a meaningful act of saying goodbye and expressing love.
