THE TALKER
This expression of sorrow involves talking, sharing memories, or saying a name out loud.
What is verbal expression?
Journaling, letters, and poems are examples of this grief language.
What is written expression?
Crying, emotional waves, or feeling deeply are signs of this expression of sorrow.
What is emotional expression?
Body movement is a form of this expression of sorrow.
What is physical expression?
Ritual, prayer, meditation, and ceremonies are examples of this grief expression.
What is spiritual expression?
Painting, weaving, sculpting, cooking, and gardening are examples of this expression of grief.
What is artistic expression?
Keeping busy, distractions, or postponing grief are examples of this expression of grief.
What is avoidant expression?
Repeating the same grief story aloud often helps with this process.
What is integration or processing?
This form of writing is often used to communicate to someone who has died.
What is letter writing?
Allowing emotions to move through prevents this.
What is suppression or numbing?
Walking, stretching, or rest can help grief move when words are unavailable because they engage this.
What is the body or somatic awareness?
Spiritual expression in grief does not require this.
What is religion?
Artistic expression allows grief to move without this.
What are words?
Avoidant expression becomes problematic when it prevents this.
What is processing or integration?
Verbal expression may come in waves because grief is this.
What is non-linear?
This is one written practice that could support someone in grief.
What are letters, poetry, lyrics, prose, lists, texts, or emails?
Emotional expression is often discouraged by this cultural message.
What is “Don’t cry”, “Be strong”, or “Don’t be so emotional”?
Physical grief symptoms are often misunderstood as this.
What is illness?
This is one spiritual practice that may support someone in grief.
What is ritual, prayer, meditation, ceremonies, or nature connection?
The value of grief art lies in this, not the final product.
What is the process, expression, or integration?
A compassionate response to avoidance focuses on this instead of confrontation.
What is safety?
A supportive listener practices this instead of giving advice.
What is active listening?
Writing can feel safer than speaking because it allows this.
What is privacy or control?
This is one way to create safety for emotional expression in a group.
What is non-judgement, permission, or normalization?
This is one body-based practice that can support grief.
What is breathwork, walking, stretching, exercise, dance, sports, or rest?
The Seeker is less focused on answers and more on this.
What is meaning making?
This type of artistic expression of grief involves seeds, plants, and soil.
What is gardening?
The Filer is often misunderstood as not grieving, when it is actually doing this.
What is self-protection?
This is one verbal response that supports verbal expression without trying to fix grief.
What is “I’m listening”, “Tell me more”, or “I’m here”
This form of writing is often paired with music.
What are lyrics?
This form of emotional expression is often paired with lyrics or making noises.
What is music or drumming?
This type of physical expression of grief is often paired with music or sounds.
What is dance?
This type of spiritual expression of grief can involve being silent, still, and present.
What is meditation?
This type of artistic expression of grief involves food.
What is cooking or baking?
Avoidant expression can coexist with healing when it is this.
What is temporary or conscious?