Ann J. Clark - Healing from Great Loss: Facing Pain and Grief to Recover Your Authentic Self

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

Healing from Great Loss: Facing Pain and Grief to Recover Your Authentic Self 2021 by Ann J. Clark, PhD, RN.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications, except in the form of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

As the purchaser of this e-book, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. The text may not be otherwise reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, or recorded on any other storage device in any form or by any means.

Any unauthorized usage of the text without express written permission of the publisher is a violation of the authors copyright and is illegal and punishable by law.

First e-book edition 2021

E-book ISBN: 9780738767086

Cover design by Shannon McKuhen

Photo on page Ann J. Clark

Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Clark, Ann J., author.

Title: Healing from great loss : facing pain and grief to recover your

authentic self / by Ann J Clark, PhD, RN.

Description: First edition. | Woodbury, Minnesota : Llewellyn Worldwide,

2021. | Includes bibliographical references. | Summary: This book

chronicles the authors journey back to herself and provides a road map

for understanding and healing from a great loss, in which we have lost

our sense of identity and/or life direction. It is envisioned as the

souls invitation to return to the purpose we have set for this life,

after we have lost our way Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021036009 (print) | LCCN 2021036010 (ebook) | ISBN

9780738766898 (paperback) | ISBN 9780738767086 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Loss (Psychology) | Grief. | Motivation (Psychology)

Classification: LCC BF575.D35 C53 2021 (print) | LCC BF575.D35 (ebook) |

DDC 155.9/3dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021036009

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021036010

Llewellyn Publications does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business arrangements between our authors and the public.

Any Internet references contained in this work are current at publication time, but the publisher cannot guarantee that a specific reference will continue or be maintained. Please refer to the publishers website for links to current author websites.

Llewellyn Publications

Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

2143 Wooddale Drive

Woodbury, MN 55125

www.llewellyn.com

Manufactured in the United States of America

Dedication

This book is a tribute to the soul who was my precious daughter Stefani. She returned home to the spirit realm on November 13, 2016. As I write this, so many wonderful memories are flooding my mind. I remember that first moment our eyes met in the delivery room right after her birth. A fierce, tender motherly love struck me like a thunderbolt. I remember all the poignant moments throughout her childhood and the pride I felt as I watched her grow into a beautiful young woman, and how honored I was to be her mother. A strong friendship blossomed between us as she reached adulthood. When she offered me her sage advice, she would look at me lovingly and say, I have to tell you about yourself, because no one else will! After her departure, I wondered, Who is going to tell me about myself now? That is, until one day, when I was sitting out in the sun feeling sorry for myself, and a distinct voice broke into my musings: I am going to have to tell you about yourself.

Stefani

Contents

List of

by Peter Smith

: My Great Loss

: The Souls View of Life on Earth

: What is Great Loss?

: Great Loss from the Souls Perspective

: Defining Moments

Coping with the Physical Aftermath of Great Loss

: Coping with the Psychological Aftermath of Great Loss

: The Spiritual Opportunities of Great Loss

: Healing Our Wounds

: Harvesting the Lessons of Great Loss

: Learning the Lessons of Loss

: Life Beyond Great Loss

Exercises

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Acknowledgments

Writing this book has been very healing for me and I am grateful to those who assisted me with this project. I want to thank Angela Wix, the staff from Llewellyn, and the patients and workshop participants who allowed me to use their stories. I am grateful to Dr. Patricia Fares-OMalley and Maureen Perkins, who joined me in offering the first Great Loss workshop and for their thoughtful reviews. I would also like to thank Dr. Juanzetta Flowers and Dr. Victoria Moore for their helpful comments.

Disclaimer

The information in this book is designed to provide helpful information about healing from significant loss. It is not intended to be, nor should it be used as, a substitute for the advice and care of professional healthcare providers or licensed professional counselors. The reader is advised to consult these professionals for matters related to their physical or mental health, particularly those signs and symptoms that may require diagnosis and treatment.

Foreword

I remember well the moment I met Dr. Ann Clark. We were preparing the training room at the San Damiano Retreat Center outside of San Francisco, ready to undertake an incredible week of training for the Michael Newton Institute. Ann came through with her bag, looking for her room down the corridor. I sense now that in that moment our souls smiled at each other, knowing what was to come in our work together.