Death 101

Human beings experience many losses in a lifetime, but the death of a loved one is among the most traumatic. While grieving is a natural part of life, it still challenges our daily existence. The purpose of Death 101: A Workbook for Educating and Healing, 2nd edition is to provide an understanding of dying, death, and bereavement that will assist individuals to cope better with and understand their own death and the death of others. It enables us to examine cultural attitudes and assumptions about dying and death. Death 101, 2nd edition introduces the dying process, grief work, and ethical and legal issues while providing personal insight and sensitivity. The workbook is meant as a supplement to textbooks on dying and death, to accompany the academic material necessary to increase our knowledge about death education. At the same time, it is intended to be an independent method of working through loss, a personal guide for the journey through grief. Death 101, 2nd edition includes activities that may be used in part or in whole, sequentially or at random, by individuals or a group. Different professionals, including counselors, teachers, clergy, medical personnel, and caregivers, may utilize these activities. The therapeutic exercises in Death 101, 2nd edition will help the lay reader cope effectively with loss and death and allow a more effective life when faced with grief. Scattered throughout the workbook are stories, poems, and comments from others who have traveled through the grieving process. INTENDED AUDIENCE: Oncology healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, and social workers; oncology residents and fellows; communication, anthropology, sociology students, and researchers; the general public.

Dr. Sandra Helene Straub graduated from St. Joseph’s College in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in Community Mental Health Counseling. After graduation, she pursued a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at Long Island University’s C.W. Post Campus. She then began a private practice in grief therapy. In 1997, she graduated from the University of Sarasota with a doctoral degree in Human Services Administration. Dr. Straub is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and of Hospice of Martin and St. Lucie Inc. She is a Certified Death Educator and Grief Counselor with the Association of Death Education and Counseling, and grief counselor for the Humane Society of Martin County. Dr. Straub is an adjunct professor at Barry University and Webster University. Previous works include Death Without Notice (2000) and Death 101 (2001), Pet Death (2004) all published by Baywood Publishing Company.