Grief Expressed: When a Mate Dies

I know, as a grief therapist, that not everyone can express themselves easily in a group, or even in a one-to-one setting with a therapist like myself. That's why I love this book! It can probably do a better job with the healing process than myself or other therapists (well, at least it is a great help to what we do!). As an expressive-arts therapist, I also know that giving people exercises that make the 'invisible' 'visible', such as the ones Felber uses in her book, allow a person to see what is going on inside oneself. You can't fix what you don't know is there. For example, she has a wagon-wheel drawing on pages 38-39 that allow the reader to take a look at the worries that go round-and-round in our heads. This is a brilliant exercise because it not only puts those worries out where you can see them, but she also provides a place in the rim of the wheel to show the outcome of these worries. It is a great way to put our concerns in perspective. She also understands the vital concept of "choice." It is so important what we say as we grieve, especially to ourselves. She gives a great listing of defeating attitudes and the transforming statements that foster release and flow in the process of grieving (page 46). If there's one thing I have had to continually work on myself, it is what I say to myself about my ability to handle things, and how I see the world. The author gives plenty of attention to this important concept. If we only knew how powerful our thoughts and statements are! Some grief books are very one-dimensional. Not this one. It expands in every direction and blesses spirit, mind, body and heart! As a therapist seeing many people in pain over their losses, and as a woman who has had her share of siginificant losses over the years, I recommend this book to other therapists and anyone in mourning. Marcia Breitenbach, founder of [...]

When I saw a write-up of this book in the newspaper I told my therapist about it and she ordered it for me. It was absolutely the best thing that we could have done. I lost my husband, the love of my life, very suddenly. Ms Felber's book spoke to me like nothing else. Her thoughts were mine; her feelings were mine. I can truthfully say that almost every word in this book relates to what I went through. It was as if the thoughts she expressed were coming from my mind. I can't begin to say how much it meant to have someone know exactly what I was going through and that I was not alone in my grief. I would heartily, heartily recommend this book to anyone who has lost their loved one. It's the best.

Ever since I became aware of Grief Expressed by Marta Felber I have given it to numerous friends who have recently lost their spouses. The response from them has been so positive that I recommended the book to a friend who does grief counseling. She, also, has attested to the excellence of this publication. The topics reach to the very inner core of a person who flounders in his/her loss, not knowing how to cope in the face of the unthinkable, the loss of a spouse. Ms. Felber addresses thoughts many would fear to mention, from acknowledging the imperfections of their loved one, to how to use happy memories to proceed with the grieving process. I want to thank the author for exposing her vulnerable self, thereby helping others to acknowledge and accept their feelings on their own road forward.

As a grief therapist and conference speaker, I am always on the alert for good and practical material on the topic of loss, grief and mourning. Marta Felber's book is among the best. She writes as both a mourner and mentor to those who have lost their spouses through death. She draws the reader in with her vulnerable and personal journal, and then invites them to do their own grief work right in the book. When my father died several months ago, I searched for a resource to give my widowed mother. I'm so glad I found Grief Expresed. It has helped her tremendously, and I also recommend it to clients and grief group members. Whenever I speak on the topic of loss, I take this book along to share as an excellent resource. I'm grateful to Ms. Felber for writing such a practical help for hurting people.

I am a Grief Counselor who leads Grief Recovery groups at a hospital in my hometown. I have used Marta Felber's wonderful resource, Grief Expressed, When a Mate Dies, with great success in my groups and also individually. Marta writes from her heart and from personal experience, which means so much to the bereaved. They learn to journal, do the exercises, talk about their pain, and grow through their journey of grief. I am tremendously indebted to Marta Felber for providing us with this excellent, practical, down-to-earth counseling book. As a counselor, I appreciate the effort and the quality of the gift she has given to all of us.