YOU CAN take practical steps to survive grief and one day thrive in your restored life. If you have lost a loved one you may be feeling sad, isolated, foggy, empty, numb, or lost and in need of guidance. Through the stories of many resilient survivors of loss, this handbook allows you to share in the wisdom and experiences of others who have suffered grief and be equipped with practices that help … help you reflect on the changes taking place in your life and identity and guide you in becoming a restored resilient survivor.
Every grief journey starts with a first step. Often, this step is the most difficult one. Author, Marilyn Willis, took her first step at fifteen years old after her mother died from cancer. Her healing began in high school when she joined a grief group. She has been leading grief groups ever since. Over the past twenty years, Marilyn, now a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, has been leading grief groups at churches, nursing homes, and as a hospice bereavement coordinator. “RESTORED: A Self-Paced Grief Workbook for Your Journey from Loss to Life,” provides those that are not in the position to attend a grief group or extensive grief counseling with the same care as therapy clients receive.
Foreword by Mary Wall, RNC, the President of the Board for Kauai Hospice stated, “I highly recommend this book to anyone that has experienced the loss of a loved one. This book has offered me time to reflect on my own grief journey for which I am grateful.”
Endorsement by leading grief expert, Susie Kuszmar, LMFT, Creator and Director of nationally awarded FOOTSTEPS Hospital Bereavement program stated, “An excellent resource to rely on over and over as one moves through grief. The author, a courageous survivor herself, offers a brilliant framework to assist the mourner in a step by step process to restoration of body, mind and spirit.” This grief recovery handbook includes space for grief journaling for the mourner or makes an excellent grief gift for a friend.
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Good Book for Grief Loss for Christians, Would Need Adaptation for Non-Christians
Grief is a very specific field and RESTORED: A Self-Paced Grief Workbook for Your Journey from Loss to Life gives a good start with one caveat: it is really just for Christians. To a certain extent, I wish that Ms. Willis had added to the book options and paths for those who are not Christian, as they can benefit from the five principles and 15 practices listed in the book. The overview of the 5 R principles as listed in the illustration by Rachelle Walker is clear, very helpful, and direct. This one cartoon-like illustration sums up the entire book for those who are in the early stages and just not ready to read the entire work.
In my work with families of the dying or those who are grieving after a loss, these tenets are excellent; however, 99% of my clients are non-Christian, so giving them this book in this form would offend them. Overall, I found that the questions and examples given are appropriate for anyone in the grieving process or for those who are assisting or guiding others through the healing process. Many of these points are ones that are helpful to remember for those who are not able to participate in a grief support group, or during this pandemic, those who cannot gather easily with others who willingly would understand or share the journey of grief. A note in the introduction and a supplement would go a long way to help those who wish to use this book, but who do not follow a Christian path.
Again, this would be an excellent work for Christian religious based clinicians. For non-Christian clinicians, while the basic points are more than valid, it would be helpful to replace with verses and scripture from a text of the non-Christian religious tradition. The best part of the book would be the various reference sections after the chapters which can help to deepen the reader’s understanding of the grief process and journey. Personal stories throughout the book give the overall text a feel that the reader is not alone in the process of a self-paced working through grief. The title truly reflects what this book does.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What I liked most about Restored, is the easy to read format. When people are grieving, they cannot handle lots of text. What they want is a way to explore their journey from loss to life and build their personal resilience in the process. Willis has done just that! Highly recommended.
Wonderful Grief Workbook for Christians
This book is written by a woman who’s been a bereavement coordinator for a hospice organization, so she understands loss and grieving. The workbook is divided into sections that are guided by five principles: re-establish order, reset expectations, remember your loved one, renew your identity, and restore life after loss. Each of these is broken down further, giving you many things to think about as you build a new life after the death of a loved one. I have to say, though, that I wish it was more General. Lots of Bible quotes are scattered throughout as well as other references to Christianity. Not everyone who grieves, of course, is Christian. Perhaps the author will consider making a book for those who do not adhere to those faiths. But for Christians facing loss, this could be a helpful book as they work through grief and come to a new normal.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
A hands-on, personal workbook for anyone living in the wake of grief, loss, suicide, and emotional trauma. If you’ve ever lost someone, and most of us have, then you will relate to this book right away.
Grief can manifest itself in various ways, from depression, to denial, to reckless behavior, substance use, and anything in between. This accomplished and experienced author hopes to guide you through your feelings so that you can come to an understanding of grief, what it means in your life, and how you can manage it. Yes, healing from grief is possible, and Willis shows you how, with clinical anecdotes, images, and her own expertise. Since each person’s journey through grief is unique, this workbook asks you to personalize the material and use the practical advice, recommended exercises, and personal questions in an honest way.
Not only is this book a valuable resource for professionals, it’s a thinking, feeling, and behavior tool for the person struggling with grief. One thing I like–and there are many–is that Willis uses a body/mind/spirit approach, taking the whole person into consideration during the healing journey. Another thing I like about the book is that it doesn’t let you wallow in grief. It asks you to examine it, and then work your way out of it and into the sunlight again. Willis doesn’t ask you to minimize your grief or forget about your lost loved one.
This workbook is perfect for grief and bereavement support groups, but if you don’t feel comfortable sharing in one at this time, this book can be a bridge to opening up about it. It will help you deal with your loss in a private way. If you feel yourself being confused or consumed by grief, allow “RESTORED: A Self-Paced Grief Workbook for Your Journey from Loss to Life,” by Marilyn Willis, to lead you out of the wilderness.