Guilt and Shame in Bereavement
By Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC The son flew in for the weekend to keep vigil with his family while his father was dying. The doctor informed the family that “though...
READ MORE
Coping with Grief – 1 Year after the Coronavirus
If you are feeling overwhelmed by grief, you’re not alone. We acknowledge over 500,000 Covid-19 related deaths in the Unites States alone. For each COVID-19 related death, there are an...
READ MORE
The Face/Mask We Wear as we Grieve
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC Daily, a friend would preface leaving her house with the phrase, “I have to put my face on,” which was her way of...
READ MORE
Complicated Grief: When We Need Extra Help in Mourning
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC There is no right or wrong way to grieve. There are some common reactions to grief, including feelings of sadness, yearning for what...
READ MORE
Hope and Grace: Shoes to Wear into the New Year
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC Being a bereaved, in a pandemic year, where nothing has been “normal” is waring. We are not only grieving and trying to adjust...
READ MORE
Healing Grief
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar Grief is powerful and is related to the specific loss we have experienced. Grief is a natural response to loss, and reflects our behaviors, thoughts...
READ MORE
Preparing for a Significant Family Holiday Without You…
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC After a loved one dies, we can find ourselves feeling overwhelmed by the notion of preparing for a major holiday without them. There are...
READ MORE
Reimagining Life After the Death of an Intimate Partner
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC I cannot imagine anything more difficult than going through the rest of life alone. Finding love again after the death of an intimate...
READ MORE
Mindfulness and Self-Care for Stressful Times
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC Who needs this mindfulness stuff? It’s just a slang word for something I’m already doing in my life anyways, isn’t it? I used...
READ MORE
Why do you keep talking to a dead person? Continuing Bonds…
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC “My loved one died a year ago, and I still say goodnight to their photo.” “I find myself being a cemetery person, since my...
READ MORE
Grieve the Ripple Effects and Losses of the Corona-virus
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC Since March I have been working from home because of this disease. When it became time, I packed up the office, choosing those things...
READ MORE
Corona Virus Grief Resources
Adults/Helping Children Grieve/Workplace Grief Hospice Foundation of America Helpful grief videos, articles and other grief resources, including supporting a colleague when family member dies and when a co-worker dies, what...
READ MORE