What do you say to a teenager after they experience the death of a family member or friend? There are a lot of things one can say, but for teens, talking about grief is one thing, but demonstrating how to MOVE through it can be far more effective. That’s what sold me on this month’s book “Grief Recovery for Teens – letting go of painful emotions with body- based practices” by Coral Popowitz, MSW. All the exercises in this book can be real game changers in helping youth (and adults, too, I believe!) move through the pain of loss and grief.
The book begins with a very digestible understanding of neuroscience as it relates to grief, then moves into the ways our bodies hold and carry pain. Chapters carefully break down how pain can manifest in the body, be it anxiety, depression, numbness, denial, stomach aches, etc. It presents creative exercises to address the pain and stress. Chapter titles such as “Your Grieving Brain, Your Angry Body, Your Lonely Body”… and ending with “Your Healing Body” explore the reactive modes experienced in the face of death and grief. It features detailed accounts of three teenagers’ loss of a family member or friend. The detailed focus on just three stories really helps the reader better understand how grief manifests in so many ways. That focus was a wise decision on the author’s part, so the reader learns each teens’ story in the context of the chapter themes.
After having taught for many years in school and library programs, I think this book could be a great resource in many types of curricula. Obviously, it would be a great resource for bereavement camp counselors, too. The appendix is full of more great questions and resources for further exploration. For many reasons, I think this book should be on the reading lists for all teenagers and older students. I wish my sons had this book as teenagers, since they lost friends to drugs, murder and accidents. I have since recommended it, because it’s never too late to begin healing from any loss. This book is definitely on my top favorites list. Check it out at your local Lake County Library, or buy yourself a copy.
Until the book ends,
Esther Suarez
Hospice of Lake County Volunteer