What People Are Saying About the Award Winning Book
Finding Your Own Way to Grieve:
“Many people on the autism spectrum have a
difficult time when an important person in their life dies. This book will help children on the spectrum handle grieving. They can learn that grieving and
death are normal parts of life.”
—Dr. Temple Grandin,
award-winning speaker and author of Thinking in Pictures, The Autistic Brain, The Way I See It, Different, Not Less,
Animals Make Us Human, Emergence: Labeled Autistic
“At some stage in their lives, children and adolescents who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder will experience grief but there is remarkably little literature on this emotion for parents, professionals and those with ASD. Now we have a practical, informative and sensitive workbook that will encourage the constructive expression of grief.
I know this book will be greatly valued by families and those who support them through the grief process.”
—Tony Attwood, Clinical Psychologist, Minds & Hearts Clinic,
Brisbane, Australia, and author of The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome, Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, Asperger's and Girls
“Karla Helbert’s Finding Your Own Way to Grieve fills a gaping need. Her sensitive book will be a godsend to parents, teachers, and therapists supporting a child on the autism spectrum, offering both valuable information and useful exercises that will help that child cope with grief and loss.”
—Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, Professor, The College
of New Rochelle, and Senior Consultant, The Hospice Foundation of
America and author of Disenfranchised Grief, Living with Life Threatening Illness
Editor of Hospice Foundation of America's Newsletter Journeys
“Very few books dare to enter or approach human suffering and grief the way that Ms. Helbert’s does. With open-hearted compassion and tenderness, she provides much needed guidance to help children with autism who are enduring grief and loss. The book is infused with wisdom and explores grief through discussion topics, exercises, and practical aid which will surely last many children a lifetime. I would recommend it highly for adults and children, professionals and families, and across cultures.”
— Joanne Cacciatore, PhD, Assistant
Professor, Arizona State University and Founder, MISS
Foundation, author of Dear Cheyenne
“Talking about the uncertainties of death is tough for anyone and it is especially so for those of us on the spectrum. Helbert recognizes that our minds crave certainty and absolutism, and that the muddy, murky journey of losing someone close is more than just sad, for us it’s an utter betrayal of a promised future. This book offers family members and practitioners concrete, logical methods for walking a young person with Asperger’s or autism through the grieving process, and reiterates faithfully that ALL feelings and reactions - no matter how ‘different’ they are from neurotypical expectations--are alright. In living through a death, as making it through this life, there is no place for the word ‘normal’.”
— Jennifer Cook O’Toole, author of Asperkids: An Insider’s Guide to Loving, Understanding and Teaching Children
with Asperger Syndrome and The Asperkid’s (Secret) Book of Social Rules: The Handbook of Not-So-Obvious Social
Guidelines for Tweens and Teens with Asperger Syndrome
“Karla Helbert’s book is a gem! Her style of writing is simple yet expressive, and will enable individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder to finally have a resource to lead them through their grief. As professionals, we need this book to help enrich our support of all individuals grieving the death of a loved one. She gives us the language to explain death through a beautiful story, shares with us journal prompts and checklists to help individuals understand their feelings, and provides unique and meaningful art activities for our clients to remember their loved one. This resource will be a true gift to families, individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, and clinicians everywhere!”
— Allyson England Drake, Founder and
Executive Director, Full Circle Grief
Center
“All of us have to come to grips with loss in our lives. Finally there is a book that will help those with ASD understand one of the greatest mysteries of living. This book is tender, compassionate, and an incredible resource for anyone who cares about and for persons with ASD. It should be on everyone’s bookshelf.”
—Carol M. Schall, PhD, Assistant Professor, Director of Training and Technical Assistance and the Autism Center of
Excellence, and Director of Virginia Autism Resource Center, Virginia Commonwealth University
“Helbert’s book is saturated with information and activities for helping children understand death and the process of
grieving. It is an invaluable resource whether you work with children on the autism spectrum or not. Packed full of creative and expressive projects, I will be using this book over and over in my practice. Thank you, Karla, for creating this much needed resource!”
— Bonnie Thomas, LCSW, author of Creative Expression Activities for Teens: Exploring Identity Through Art, Craft and Journaling and
Creative Coping Skills for Children: Emotional Support Through Arts and Crafts Activities
Available everywhere for purchase on Amazon,
Barnes & Noble
and from Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Finding Your Own Way To Grieve is the 2013 recipient of the Living Now
Gold Medal for books in the category of Grief/Death & Dying
from Independent Publishers
