Learn how our beliefs can become an obstacle to healing and growth during times of trauma and grief.
My guest Terri Daniel is an interfaith clinical chaplain, certified trauma specialist, end-of-life educator, and the founder of the Afterlife Awareness Conference. She recently published a new book titled Grief and God, which explores the ways in which religion and “toxic theology” can interfere with the healing process after a profound loss. She’ll share some key takeaways and stories from her extensive research on this important subject. Learn more at Terri’s website:
This interview includes:
- The elements of “toxic theology”
- How religious beliefs based on toxic theology can increase guilt, fear of death, and complicated grief
- Types of complicated grief
- Why platitudes like “thoughts and prayers” no longer suffice after sudden trauma
- Non-directed vs. directed prayer
- A “healing prayer” for times of difficulty and trauma
- Tools for dealing with complicated grief
- ceremony and ritual
- art therapy
- narrative therapy
- Why talking about grief doesn’t help without ceremony or ritual
Links mentioned in this interview:
- Get Terri’s book: Grief and God
- Spindrift Research on non-directed vs. directed prayer
- Terri’s Workshop:Grief as a Mystical Journey
- Get the book: Stages of Faith by James Fowler
- Afterlife Awareness Conference 2020
- Spirituality and Chronic Illness Course
- Art of Dying Author Series with Karen Wyatt MD – September 6, 2019 – Open Center, NYC
- Workshop: Earth Lessons for the Soul – September 7, 2019 – Open Center, NYC
- Join the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it)
If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes! Thanks again to all supporters on Patreon.com/eolu, especially my new patron, Susan Glogovac–your contribution means everything to me!