Widow to Widow: How the Bereaved Help One Another (The Series in Death, Dying, and Bereavement)

Widow to Widow shares the experiences of widows who have found comfort and continuity in mutual-help and community support programs. In the second edition of her pioneering text, Phyllis Silverman brings the success of the original widow-to-widow program into the 21st century, preparing a new generation of community leaders, clergy, counselors, hospice staff, social workers, and the widowed themselves to organize and implement mutual-help programs. Following the death of a spouse or partner, the strength, support, and friendship found among one's peers can be crucial to the meaning making and transformative processes of grief. This book shares the experiences of widows who have found comfort and continuity in mutual-help and community support programs. In the second edition of her pioneering text, Phyllis Silverman brings the success of the original widow-to-widow program into the 21st century, preparing a new generation of community leaders, clergy, counselors, hospice staff, social workers, and the widowed themselves to organize and implement mutual-help programs. "Widow to Widow" combines practical information and sensitive insight, with moving firsthand accounts of widows and widowers threaded throughout the text. The mutual-help approach offers a fundamental paradigm shift from the treatment of grief to a focus on growth and development through an intimate sharing of wisdom, tears, laughter, and experience. Through a deeper understanding of widowhood and how the bereaved can help one another, this book can empower you to help others, and perhaps yourself, to move through the grieving process with the support of your peers. Widow To Widow Combines Practical Information And Sensitive Insight, With Moving Firsthand Accounts Of Widows And Widowers Threaded Throughout The Text. The Mutual-help Approach Offers A Fundamental Paradigm Shift From The Treatment Of Grief To A Focus On Growth And Development Through An Intimate Sharing Of Wisdom, Tears, Laughter, And Experience. Through A Deeper Understanding Of Widowhood And How The Bereaved Can Help One Another, This Book Can Empower You To Help Others, And Perhaps Yourself, To Move Through The Grieving Process With The Support Of Peers.--jacket. Theoretical Perspectives On Grief And Helping -- Widows And Widowers : Gender Differences -- Grief As A Time Of Loss And Change : The Nature Of Transition -- Help In A Mutual Help Context -- On Helping -- Could This Really Be Happening To Me? -- Uncertainty : What Will Happen Next? -- Looking To The Future : The Fruits Of Help -- Parenting Alone : Widowed With Dependent Children -- The Older Widowed. Phyllis R. Silverman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 239-249) And Index. This revised and updated second edition emphasizes the social and psychological transitions that accompany widowhood, facilitating the process of change from wife to widow to woman.