Partner Loss and Long Term Grief

NFCC's Guide Through the Seasons of Mental Wellness

When we choose a partner to go through life with it's not often that we think about what it would be like to lose them. Or if we do, we don't spend much time considering it because it's so difficult to think about. Any type of loss is hard, but when we lose the one other person we rely on to move through life with, it can be especially painful and isolating.

Who will fill the roles they use to fill? Who do we turn to for support and how can we support other affected family members? There are a lot of 'well meaning' sayings around grief that can be even more problematic around the loss of our partner. Helping us learn different ways to navigate the long term impact of partner loss is NFCC's very own clinician, Janet Crow, MA, LPC.

About Janet:

Janet graduated from Arizona State University and subsequently worked in in the oil industry as an entrepreneur for over three decades. After becoming a widow in 2002, she pursued a Masters in Counseling – graduating from Houston Graduate School of Theology in 2007. Janet’s 12 years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor, includes group and individual therapy sessions with adolescents, adults and couples. She enjoys working with families to find their ‘new norm’ when faced with difficult circumstances as well as parents of teens who are navigating life changes. She is diligent in working with women dealing with depression as well as couples who’s relationship needs a tune-up.

Resources:

Alan Wolfelt’s Organization: Center for Loss and Life Transition

A Grief Organization: Grief Recovery Method

Living in the Shadows of the Ghosts of Grief: Step into the Light By Alan Wolfelt

When Your Friend is Grieving By Paula D’Arcy

The Grief Recovery Handbook By John W. James and Russell Friedman

When Children Grieve: For Adults to Help Children Deal with Death, Divorce, Pet Loss, Moving, and Other Losses By John W. James, Russell Friedman, and Leslie Matthews

A special thanks to our team:

Tracy Lehman, Host & Executive Producer

Os Galindo, Senior Producer & Engineer

Yue Nakayama, Audio Engineer

Jacel Dickson, Editor & Graphic Designer

Administrators: Mary Elizabeth Hand and Audrey Omenson

with music by Jim Roman

Thanks for listening!