What To Say, What Not To Say After Death To The Bereaved, The Dougy Center
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC “I’m sorry for your loss, my sympathy to you, I can’t imagine how you are feeling” are all phrases I have used when...
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Grieving Styles and Family Dynamics
Grieving Styles and Family Dynamics (adapted from Grieving Styles and Family Dynamics-Communicating with Children & Teens, Andy MCNiel, MA, by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC What is normal when...
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You Don’t Have To Celebrate If You Don’t Feel Like It
If the holidays bring about a lot of grief for you, you don’t have to celebrate if you don’t feel like it. There are a lot of things in life...
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Things to Say or Not Say During Terrible Times
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC When you get bad news, such as.. your wife has died, your husband has cancer, your child was in an accident… your heart...
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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...
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Art for Grief Support in Children
Grief and loss is a different experience for everyone. When talking about grief in children it can present itself in a variety of ways. The age of the child can...
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Grieving and Alone Vs. Alone in Grief
Being alone and grieving is different than being alone in your grief. How do you know the difference? Determining when being alone during a period of grief is healthy or...
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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...
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New Pandemic Perspective for a New Normal
Pandemic Life Lessons to Live By Life took a pretty abrupt turn for most of us over the past 6 weeks or so. The Coronavirus, covid-19 has created a global...
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Letting Belongings Go After a Death
The day she left us her room was organized nicely with only a few touches of imperfection. A small pink sweater thrown on to the tiny rocking chair she once...
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Grief Camps
by Chaplain Julia Rajtar, MAPS, BCC Years ago, I attended a volleyball camp. I remember how much I wanted to attend, because I wanted to learn skills to become...
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Making Ends Meet When a Spouse Dies
When a spouse dies it is devastating. Anyone who has dealt with the death of a spouse can surely attest to the pure agony it is. There are many different...
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