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CROSSING THE BRIDGE OF DESOLATION by Harrison   Grey

CROSSING THE BRIDGE OF DESOLATION

The Bereavement Journey

by Harrison Grey

Pub Date: April 9th, 2021
ISBN: 979-8734695197
Publisher: Independently Published

Grey draws on more than 20 years of working with grieving families in a book that aims to help readers learn how to cope with the death of a loved one.

The author, a bereavement coordinator and hospice chaplain, notes early on in this book that grief comes in all shapes and sizes; its causes and effects can vary, depending on different factors, such as the age at which one experiences death, or the length of the relationship that one had with the deceased. This book aims to create a complete approach to healing by helping readers define and identify their grief, and then offering them different steps to succeed at crossing that “bridge of desolation [that] is shrouded in mists of uncertainty.” The inclusion of relevant, relatable stories of Grey’s clients’ grief journeys is a highlight; for example, he presents the story of Juanita, whose mother died when Juanita was relatively young, and of Joan, who lost her life partner after 50 years of being together. The book reveals how the two women’s different experiences shaped their reactions; because of her early loss, Juanita was unable to allow herself to emotionally invest in other relationships because she feared further loss, whereas Joan, despite her emotional struggles, saw fewer social effects. Interestingly, Juanita found it difficult to show up to grief group counseling, while Joan attended two different counseling groups in attempt to maintain her emotional health. By showing grief through the lives of real people, Grey makes it easy for readers to relate to and identify with specific concepts and apply them to their own lives. Similarly, when he adds excerpts from well-known novels (the works of Leo Tolstoy; Charlotte’s Web; the Winnie-the-Pooh stories) to explain grief-related topics, such as fragmentation anxiety, and other psychological obstacles, it makes the ideas more digestible and the lessons easier to grasp.

An approachable and informative book about the grief process.