WILLITS, Calif., May 24, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Barbara M. Mitchell, Ph.D., brings a unique perspective to her new book, The Gift of Grief: A Journey of Discovery (now available through AuthorHouse). She offers a view of grief firsthand as a woman who lost her beloved husband, Wendell, and her expertise as a psychologist helps readers understand the natural mourning process.
Mitchell willingly shares the intimate experience of working through the profound sadness of loss. In the ages of "quick fixes," she realized grief has a life cycle of its own and varies for each individual. Patience is vital for both those experiencing loss and their relatives, who often urge them to "get out there" again. Mitchell allowed the grief process to unfold uninhibited, and she describes the spiritual healing that this brought her.
Journaling played an important role in her recovery. As she chronicled emotions and memories, writing to Wendell after his death became as natural as the relationship they enjoyed for so many years. She also delved into something her husband adored: his garden. This gave her an outlet for strong feelings and allowed her to sleep through the night.
Mitchell's intensely personal story coupled with her experience as an insightful psychologist makes The Gift of Grief a powerful tool for people enduring the shadow of despair. Grief is a natural cycle, and Mitchell guides readers through their own hurdles on this path and illustrates the gifts that can be found on this highly introspective quest for peace.
The author worked as a volunteer and later as staff trainer at a suicide crisis center before starting graduate school at age 52. After her children were grown, she divorced and later remarried. Upon completion of graduate school, she began a successful private practice while earning her doctorate and was co-founder of South Bay Therapy Center. Now retired, Mitchell lives in Northern California. More information is available at www.giftofgriefbook.com.
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