Recent Stories

A Bereavement Counselor’s dilemma: the widow is ready: nobody else is.

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | October 16, 2017 | 2 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I am a bereavement counselor at a hospice.  I have a client who has done amazing work after the death of her husband.  She is in her mid 60’s and very healthy.  She and her husband had counseling before his death and she continued after his death.  She has written, and written, […]

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My husband’s sudden death

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | October 8, 2017 | 2 Comments

Hi Dr. Neimeyer, My husband’s sudden death happened unexpectedly five years ago at the age of 54. We were together for 33 years. He dropped dead in front of me with no warning. They said that he was gone before he hit the floor. We had a very good marriage and I am thankful for […]

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“…my husband’s daughter accused him of molesting her…”

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | October 2, 2017 | 1 Comment

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, My husband passed away suddenly and unexpectedly over two years ago. I am in a lot of emotional pain, but that’s not why I am writing. Three decades ago my husband’s daughter accused him of molesting her; this recollection had come to her, she said, during a course of psychotherapy. He said […]

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Mother died in car accident while son was driving

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | September 25, 2017 | 0 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, Thirteen years ago I experienced a seizure while driving.  My mother was killed in the accident.  I had an extremely close relationship with my mother.  I continue to feel guilty and struggle to make sense of this tragedy. Phil Dear Phil, Your tragic story, summarized vividly in so few words, conveys the catastrophic […]

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Infant Death, Munchausen’s and Grief Counseling

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | September 18, 2017 | 0 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, Thanks for considering my question.  I am a grief counselor working providing support to a local community.  I am currently working with a woman grieving the loss of her infant son, due to premature birth.  She also concurrently has a medical diagnosis of Munchausen’s syndrome.  In trying to navigate grief and re-establish […]

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Daughter lost her husband in an accident

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | September 11, 2017 | 0 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, My 23 year old daughter lost her husband two years ago. He was a soldier and her high school sweetheart. He was killed in a car accident on a military base. She is so lost and devastated. She feels like she has lost her identity and has questioned everything in life now. […]

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“My Wife Passed Away…I have not felt her Presence since.” x

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | September 5, 2017 | 1 Comment

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, As a former student of yours many years ago I have a deceptively simple question. My wife passed away less than 3 months ago.  I have not felt her presence since I watched her pass away. The analytical side of me says that death may in fact be final but the spiritual […]

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“My Husband Died Unexpectedly…”

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | August 28, 2017 | 5 Comments

Hi Dr. Neimeyer, My husband died unexpectedly five years ago at the age of 54. We were together for 33 years. He dropped dead in front of me with no warning. They said that he was gone before he hit the floor. We had a very good marriage and I am thankful for the time […]

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Doctor depressed by Patient Suicide x

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | August 21, 2017 | 1 Comment

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, I have a friend who is a retired Obstetrician/Gynecologist from a world renowned medical group. He ruminates and is depressed about a patient he had many years ago. She suffered from postpartum depression after giving birth, and then died by suicide. He tells the story that she came to him, and he […]

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Blaming Myself for My Mother’s Death

By Dr. Robert Neimeyer | August 14, 2017 | 10 Comments

Dear Dr. Neimeyer, How do I stop blaming myself for my mother’s death?  She was 85 and 18 hours away from heart valve replacement, doing well, ready for it.  She was told to walk some before surgery, and her last walk was fatal.  I think I could have stopped her from overdoing it, but I […]

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