Coping With Painful Grief

Coping With Painful Grief

This seminar will offer guidance on what to say and NOT say when you want to comfort someone who is grieving.

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Someone you care about has suffered a loss and you instinctively want to offer comfort but don’t know what to say to a grieving person. Then, in a moment of awkwardness and with the best of intentions, you say: 

• “He’s in a better place.” 
• “There is a reason for everything.” 
• “Aren’t you over him yet? He has been dead for a while now.” 
• “You can have another child still.” 
• “She was such a good person that God wanted her to be with him.” 
• “I know how you feel.” 
• “Be strong.” 

You meant no harm, but such statements are not helpful or supportive. Attend this webinar and learn: 

• 64 of the worst things you can say and how to avoid them 
• 64 of the best things you can say and the best ways to say them
• Why grief is a journey, not a destination
• How to “companion” the griever through the wilderness of grief
• Six common grief emotions and how they impact a griever’s daily life
• How to deal with the physical symptoms of grief
• 6 grief myths and how they can prevent the griever from moving forward

This webinar is based on "Sympathy and Condolences: What to Say and Write to Convey Your Support After a Loss" by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., who serves as the Director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition and is on the faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Please note that you must be signed in to your AARP.org account or create an account to register for events. AARP membership is not required. Please do not opt out of event-related email, as you will be emailed a link to join the webinar via Zoom prior to the event.