Grief Support Guide
A guide to help support yourself and others during times of grief.
Grief. There are many forms of grief, and often times, you won’t know how you will react to the loss of your loved one until you are living through it. The good news is, no matter how you approach grief, there is no right or wrong way to deal with your feelings. All that matters is you handle it in a way that feels right for you.
On the other hand, when you are trying to support a friend or family member during their time of grief, you may struggle with finding the right things to do or say. While supporting a loved one during a time of grief may seem daunting, it’s important to recognize that you are already taking a huge step toward helping them by simply caring. When your heart pushes you to do more, consider showing your support with a thoughtful gift, such as cards or flowers, or by simply listening and sharing stories with them. It’s important to note that each individual responds to support differently, so take their preferences into consideration.
Get grief support from the comfort of your own home.
When it comes to grief, you should never have to go through it alone. At Bohlender Funeral Chapel, however, we understand that during hard times, it may be difficult to reach out for help. The benefit of our interactive videos created by Executive Counseling Director, Dr. Virginia Simpson, is that you can explore your emotions and feelings in the comfort of your own home with online grief resources that can help you cope in a way that is best for you. Through Dr. Virginia Simpson’s online grief support resources, you will learn more about the dynamics and dimensions of grief and discover coping tools and techniques that will help you heal and move forward.
Support your family, even the littlest ones.
While the loss of a loved one can be difficult for a child to understand, you would be surprised and how well children can detect grief. It’s important to support children involved in the loss of a loved one by sharing happy stories and memories and celebrating the life of your loved one.
The most important way to support your family is to simply listen to them — paying especially close attention to the feelings and needs of younger ones. If you notice a significant change in your child’s’ behavior, ask them open ended questions to better understand how they are feeling and determine the root cause of their behavior.
Need more help? Check out this helpful resource from Sesame Street.
Learn about each and every way you can support others.
Supporting your friends and family does not have to be complicated. Here are just a few powerful ways you can show grief support to your loved ones during this difficult time:
Share stories and memories. Reflecting on memories and expressing how you feel can provide great psychological relief during trying times.
Simply be there to offer your love and support whether your friend or family member needs help preparing for their loved one’s celebration of life service or they simply need a shoulder to cry on.
Listen. It may sound simple, but sometimes all our loved one needs is someone to talk to.
Give a gift. Even the smallest gift can give an immense amount of joy to your friend or family member in grief. Let your friend or family member know you are thinking them with flowers, their favorite food, or another small gift that you know will bring them happiness.
Get additional resources about grief support.
You shouldn’t have to experience grief alone. If you’re having a hard time, don’t hesitate to reach out to friends and family and let them know that you need them there. There’s no shame in asking for help.
If you want to help support a loved one in need, just let them know that you’re there for them, at any hour, for anything. If you need additional help, check out our grief support resources.
Get daily grief support to help you through each day.
Are you in need of daily inspiration and encouragement? We’ve all been there! There are simply some days when you need a little extra light in your life. Sign up for daily emails to get motivation and hope sent right to your inbox every morning. Visit our sign up page for 365 days of support.
Know you are never alone. Our staff at Bohlender Funeral Chapel in Fort Collins is here for you. Don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions about our grief support resources or how to support yourself or your loved ones during your time of grief.
