Never the Same: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Parent - Softcover

Schuurman, Donna

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312330952 ISBN 13: 9780312330958

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, 2004

Synopsis

For those who experienced the death of parent during their childhood or teen years, a guide to understanding and working through the impact this loss continues to have on their adult lives

Children and teens who experience the death of a parent are never the same. Only in the last decade have counselors acknowledged that children grieve too, and that unresolved issues can negatively impact children into adulthood. Unaddressed grief can lead to depression, substance abuse, and relationship difficulties. For at least three generations of adults, these issues have been largely ignored.

Having worked with thousands of families as Executive Director of the Dougy Center for Grieving Children, Donna Schuurman understands the dangers of unresolved grief better than anyone else. In Never the Same, Schuurman offers expert advice and encouragement to empower readers to reflect on their unique situation, come to terms with the influence of their parent's death, and live more healthful, peaceful lives.

The only book of its kind, Never the Same is an essential companion for those still struggling with the early loss of a parent.

About this title

Review

Time does not heal all wounds, warns grief counselor Donna Schuurman in her brave and practical book about the challenges adults face in coming to terms with the loss of a parent before age 18. Her premise in Never the Same defies the common wisdom. "Forget the stages of grief. There is no magical moment when you can say, it’s over." Using thoughtful self-assessments and examples, Schuurman persuades readers that grief must be reprocessed at every stage of life. First, she invites readers to look backward, examining their reactions and coping strategies at the time of their parent’s death. Moving into the present, she asks, what meaning do your make of your parent’s death as an adult? Schuurman details the high cost of unresolved grieving, including depression, anxiety, pessimism, underachievement, and troubled relationships. She then outlines suggestions for dealing with the legacy of a parent’s death and choosing healthy traditions for remembering. Adults and parents will find this a wise and compassionate book—-an indispensable guide to the unfinished business of losing a parent at an early age. --Barbara Mackoff

About the Author

Donna Schuurman speaks regularly in national venues in her role as Executive Director of The Dougy Center for Grieving Children (Portland, OR), the first peer grief support program in the world for children, teens, and families. She has directed The Dougy Center for seven years, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the largest professional association of educators, counselors, and thanatologists in the country. She received her doctorate in counseling from Northern Illinois University in 1990, and has a masters in communication from Wheaton Graduate School.

About this edition

• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0312330952
• ISBN 13: 9780312330958
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256