Continuing Education for Psychologists

BEARING THE UNBEARABLE
Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief

When a loved one dies, the pain of loss can feel unbearable–especially in the case of a traumatizing death that leaves us shouting, "NO!" with every fiber of our body. The process of grieving can feel wild and nonlinear–and often lasts for much longer than other people, the nonbereaved, tell us it should.

Organized into fifty-two short chapters, Bearing the Unbearable is a companion for life's most difficult times, revealing how grief can open our hearts to connection, compassion, and the very essence of our shared humanity. Dr. Joanne Cacciatore–bereavement educator, researcher, Zen priest, and leading counselor in the field–accompanies us along the heartbreaking path of love, loss, and grief. Through moving stories of her encounters with grief over decades of supporting individuals, families, and communities–as well as her own experience with loss–Cacciatore opens a space to process, integrate, and deeply honor our grief.

Not just for the bereaved, Bearing the Unbearable will be required reading for grief counselors, therapists and social workers, clergy of all varieties, educators, academics, and medical professionals. Organized into fifty-two accessible and stand-alone chapters, this book is also perfect for being read aloud in support groups.

Dr. Joanne Cacciatore, herself a bereaved mother, is an associate professor at Arizona State University and director of the Graduate Certificate in trauma and Bereavement program. She is also the founder of MISS Foundation, dedicated to providing multiple forms of support to families experiencing the death of a child at any age and from any cause.