Book Review: The Wilderness of Grief, Finding Your Way

Author, educator, and grief counselor Alan Wolfelt likens grief and mourning to a journey through nature’s hospitable and inhospitable terrains. Using metaphors that are tangible and visual, he discusses intense, difficult emotions and uses parallels with nature to normalize distressing and frightening grief experiences.

His discussion of mourning as a process that occurs in stages demystifies an experience that is often difficult to describe. This book is a good choice for those who feel lost or overwhelmed by their grief and may be particularly helpful to those who gravitate toward nature. His words underscore the message that, despite its sometimes painful path, grief provides us with an opportunity for growth and rebirth.