Rev. Shea Darian’s new book, Doing Grief in Real Life: A Soulful Guide to Navigate Loss, Death & Change reveals a breakthrough approach to healing grief. Researchers discovered decades ago that stages of grief–made popular by death and dying pioneer Elizabeth Kubler-Ross–do not exist. Despite research to the contrary, many grief practitioners and care providers, including clergy, continue to use stages and phases to outline the grieving process.

In her work as a family and grief educator, Darian became aware of the scarcity of universally-relevant, practical tools for grievers and healers. She set out to write a book filled with practical resources and developed a new theoretical model of the grieving process that was published in the journal, Illness, Crises & Loss, Vol. 22(3). Psychology professor Dr. David Boninger described Darian’s new approach as “life-changing.”

“Shea Darian has done something remarkable–created a well-written, practical, soulful book designed for those who are actively grieving and those who want to know about the process of grief intellectually for themselves and others,” said Jim Miller, D.Min., author of When Mourning Dawns. “A welcome and timely addition to the field of grief,” Miller noted.

Shea was recently ordained in the SWC, is a member of Church of the Palms, and has a new job as staff chaplain at Banner Del Webb Medical Center.

Doing Grief in Real Life is available on Rev. Darian’s website at DoingGrief.com. Paperback. $19.95.