How We Grieve: Regression and Regrowth

Grief that follows the death of a loved one places us on a path we do not choose. We begin an emotional journey without a roadmap that would help us avoid the pitfalls along the way. Where are we going? Is there a destination? Why is this journey ours to take? Must we make this trip alone? In our concern for self care we want to do it right. Is there a "right" way to that place of resolution and comfort?

For each of us the answer may be different, but for all of us there are some answers that are similar. Are there signs along the way that can alert us so that we travel the right course? Must we make this trip in isolation? Is there a guide so we might avoid some of the detours and stumbling blocks that would keep us from our destination the resolution of our grief?

Can we, as adults, see these signs and find our way by observing the open grief of a young child?

"How We Grieve" explores that possibility.

Pickens Halt is a retired Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) who specialized in grief counseling in a hospital setting. Had it not been for her experiences and the lessons she learned when her father died, she would not have had the desire to pursue this career. For several years Pickens was a member of a team in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles teaching volunteers to be active members of the Bereavement Ministry in their local churches. Since retirement, she's been a bereavement minister co-facilitating grief groups in our parish. Pickens is a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother who has worked through the grief that comes with the death of a loved one in various age groups and relationships. These personal experiences coupled with the knowledge gained in her career have shown her how little most of know about what to expect in a time of grief. Her hobby of genealogy and avocation of writing my own memoirs gave her the desire to write this book to enable others to come to an understanding of grief and find a path to healing.AUTHOR HOME: Ventura, California