Understanding loss and its effects is integral to effective counselling and support in the treatment of grief. This book is a both a guide to the key theories of bereavement, and a practical workbook that can be used with clients to help them understand and work through their grief in a positive, transformative way.

Divided into two parts, the first section presents current models of grief used by thanatologists, and advice on when to apply them, these models provide a springboard to deepen the conversation with clients, allowing them to discover insights, consider memories and express their pain. In the second part of the book, creative exercises encourage clients to engage with their stories and actively apply their discoveries to their own healing. Offering a straightforward guide to bereavement models and therapeutic approaches, with photocopiable exercises and worksheets, The Creative Toolkit for Working with Grief and Bereavement is a valuable resource for information on grief and how to help grieving clients, and an invitation to explore creative possibilities for healing.

For counsellors, therapists working with bereaved or traumatised people, social workers, arts therapists.

Author Bio:

Claudia Coenen is a Fellow in Thanatology which is an advanced certification, demonstrating expertise and knowledge in the field of death, dying and bereavement. She also holds an Advanced Grief Counselling Certificate and is experienced in pre-bereavement, issues of coping with cancer and other serious illnesses and has worked with families to help them accept the death of their loved one and work through the challenges of grief. Her experience in Hospice gave her the opportunity to work with people of all ages and cultures, providing innovative programming and compassionate support.

Review:

Claudia Coenen’s The Creative Toolkit for Working with Grief and Bereavement is a lovely guidebook and bible for those working with clients dealing with grief. Claudia’s book provides some wonderful how-to exercises to use with bereaved clients, indicating which exercises are most beneficial with the client’s current process in dealing with loss. In addition, she provides a wonderful foundation of historical information related to how grief has been addressed, the changing views on supporting someone going through loss, as well as her own personal experience with this challenge. As a seasoned person-centered expressive arts therapist who has worked with those dealing with traumatic loss and bereavement, I feel enthusiastic about her literary contribution and believe it to be a great resource for those working with loss, grief, and bereavement, especially those using expressive arts therapy.