Marty Tousley

I am a nationally certified grief counselor, offering information, comfort and support to the bereaved and those who care for them. I was a member of the Bereavement Team at Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix, AZ for nearly 17 years, and for ten of those years served as moderator of its innovative online grief support forums. In October 2013, I obtained sole ownership of the online Grief Healing Discussion Groups, where I continue to serve as moderator. Over the years I've developed and maintained a collection of sites on the Internet carrying the Grief Healing label (now including my website, blog, Facebook and Google+ pages, Pinterest boards and Twitter stream). With my special interest in grief and the human-animal bond, I facilitated a pet loss support group for bereaved animal lovers in Phoenix for 15 years, and now serve as consultant to the Pet Loss Support Group at Hospice of the Valley and to the Ontario Pet Loss Support Group in Canada. I also work with veterinary clinics and other organizations to foster greater understanding of pet loss among staff members, thereby building better helping relationships with grieving clients. Having experienced and worked through many personal losses myself, including the deaths of several beloved companion animals, I have a deep understanding of the special attachment that occurs between people and their pets, and a genuine appreciation of the painful effects of pet loss through disappearance, relinquishment, illness or death. I am a frequent contributor to healthcare journals, newsletters and magazines for the lay public, and have written several articles and book chapters in the professional nursing and medical literature. My online articles appear regularly on the Open to Hope Foundation and The Grief Toolbox websites and in the Holistic Expressions Newsletter. Published works include Children and Pet Loss: A Guide for Helping (1996), The Final Farewell: Preparing for and Mourning the Loss of Your Pet (1997), Explaining the Funeral or Memorial Service to Your Children (2005), Helping Another in Grief (2007), and Finding Your Way through Grief: A Guide for the First Year, Second Edition (2008). I've authored three online e-courses for Self-Healing Expressions, including The First Year of Grief: Help for the Journey, A Different Grief: Coping with Pet Loss, and Helping You and Your Children with Pet Loss, along with a number of Healing E-books addressing various topics such as How to Write a Eulogy, How to Write an Obituary, How to Write Heartfelt Condolence Letters, and How to Write Sympathy Thank-You Notes.