Grief and Loss

Anne Lamott writes, “You will lose someone you can’t live without,and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.”  The Office of Religious and Spiritual life serves as a resource for campus community members coping with grief and loss in a variety of ways.

Campus Resources

RSL Grief Resource Sheet : This list contains pastoral care resources specifically for faculty and staff who have limited access to campus resources.

Grief Support Group: For anyone who is struggling with the death of a loved one please join us on Fridays at 3:00pm in Jarvis Hall conference room 104.

Pastoral Care: Pastoral care can be a helpful way to incorporate loss into your spirituality.  To meet with a chaplain for pastoral care, contact our office.  In addition, if you have questions on how to support a friend or colleague as they grieve, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

TCU Counseling Center: The TCU Counseling center can offer short-term counseling to students in need.  They also have helpful information regarding the grieving process on their website.

Local Resources

The WARM Place: The Warm Place provides grief support for children ages 3.5 to 18 and their families as well as young adults 19-25 who have experienced the death of a loved one.

GriefShare Grief Recovery Groups: GriefShare Groups meet weekly, often at local churches.  Groups are for people grieving the death of a family member or friend.

Online Resources

Center for Loss and Transition: This organization provides information about grief, books, and training for those working with the bereaved.

The WARM Place: This local agency offers online articles specifically related to talking to children and young adults about grief. Their site also includes a helpful recommended reading list.

General Grief Support: This article offers basic information about what to say and what not to say to a grieving friend or family member.