Catherine Greenleaf

Catherine Greenleaf is a non-denominational spiritual director and longtime member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling. She is a three-time survivor of suicide loss. Greenleaf travels all over the United States to speak with suicide loss survivors about how to heal from suicide loss. She is the author of the book, "Healing The Hurt Spirit: Daily Affirmations For People Who Have Lost a Loved One to Suicide." She has also produced a spoken word/healing music CD: "Today, I Am Healing: Affirmations for Rebuilding Self-Esteem After a Suicide Loss." Greenleaf has documented 12 stages of healing involved in the suicide grief process. She believes that becoming involved with one's community is essential to healing from suicide loss. Greenleaf most recently has been researching the prevalence of suicide within alcoholic homes.

Articles:

The Holidays for Suicide Loss Survivors

As suicide loss survivors, we can often dread the holiday season. Christmas music tells us to be jolly, but sometimes our grief is too heavy and we just can’t work up the enthusiasm. However, by giving ourselves permission to take care of ourselves, we take control and feel self-empowered – regardless of what the relatives may say. Here are some tips to help you along: Tip #1 – The most important thing you can do this holiday season, or at any time, is to put yourself with safe people who validate your loss. Tip #2 – Don’t feel you have […]

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Set Boundaries During the Holidays

The holiday times roll in, and suddenly it’s so easy for me to overextend myself. Parties with co-workers, lunches with friends, get-togethers with relatives — it all seems like so much fun in the beginning. Then I look at the calendar in bewilderment, noting that I don’t have an evening to myself for two solid weeks! It happens to all of us, but for suicide-loss survivors, there may be a tendency to overload to avoid the pain of spending the holidays without a loved one. Know that you can always cancel. You don’t have to be Superwoman or Superman during […]

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Entering the Realm of Suicide Loss Survivor

Confused, bewildered, hurt and ashamed, we enter the realm of the suicide loss survivor. We never intended to be here. We never asked to be here. Not in a million years did we ever dream things could turn out this way. But they have. Our faith may be shattered. Our hopes may have hit the rocky shoals. We may feel numb, split off, and like we are hovering over our own bodies. People are coming up to us and saying the most loving and comforting words. We may hear them. We may not remember anything they said. Some people are […]

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