Grief Communication

Although death is a natural part of the human lifespan, people in Western cultures have become increasingly sheltered from the process of death.  Particularly difficult is knowing how to effectively communicate with someone who has lost someone close to them and are grieving the loss.  In 2016, Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook, suddenly and unexpectedly lost her husband due to a heart attack while on vacation.  Based on her personal experience, Sandberg wrote a book about what she found to be effective and ineffective when people around her were trying to console her through her loss.  Fundamentally, most people want to be a positive presence for the person who is grieving.  For this week’s assignment, research five specific ideas that can be helpful in communicating effectively with a grieving person.  List these five concrete ideas and indicate why this would be effective.  The ideas may include examples from your own personal experience as well as those researched from other sources. Use this template to complete the assignment.