8 Reasons to Take Advantage of Preplanning a Funeral
Preplanning a funeral is something that is possible for anyone. Whether you are young and healthy or advanced in age, you can take advantage of preplanning a funeral for yourself...
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Grow with Your Grief
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC In a grief group, a bereaved woman frequently asked, “How long does grief last?” As the group facilitator, I felt my anxiety increase, as...
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Sorrow and Hope – a Map for the New Year
by Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC As much as I wanted the world to stand still while I was grieving, I discovered that it did not. Like time, people kept...
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Why Grief Feels Worse Now
Does your grief feel worse now? The last couple years have been full of grief. In March of 2020 the world started to shut down. Businesses closed, school doors locked...
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Children and Funeral Rituals: Attending and Participating
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC During the pandemic, the gathering ritual of a funeral, celebration of life, or service of remembrance was suspended for the safety and well-being...
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Find Your Heart Again After Loss
Do you need to find your heart again? When you lose someone close to you it can feel as though they take a piece of your heart with them. You used...
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Should Kids Go To Funerals?
“Should kids go to funerals”, is a question many ask. There are many concerns a parent may have about a young child going to a funeral. An open casket viewing...
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Holidays, Family Gatherings, Solitude and Grief
by Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC It’s that time of the year again when we begin wondering who will make the turkey, or who will host the holiday, how will...
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Grow around Grief
Can you grow around grief? There is a graphic that is commonly used when talking about grief. It is a picture of three jars all the same size. Each jar...
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Moving Beyond The Question Of “WHY” When A Loved One Commits Suicide
Moving beyond the question of “WHY?” when a loved one commits suicide can be the single most challenging obstacle to face. Coming to terms with the suicide of a loved...
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Talking to Kids about Death
by Julia Rajtar, M.A.P.S., BCC A 4-year-old boy kept asking his parents when grandpa was returning to play with him. Every day, the boy was playing outside the house...
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Grief Journaling Prompts
Writing can be very healing in times of grief. Grief journaling prompts are a great way to get you started. Sitting down and processing feelings on paper is easy for...
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