The period following the death of a friend or loved one can be tumultuous for anyone, but can be especially difficult for children, with lasting effects if the loss is not acknowledged or supported. This book emphasises the importance of listening to children and helping them to create positive bonds that can sustain them as they go through their lives. It provides practical, creative approaches to support children in their time of bereavement and to those whose loved one is dying. By recognising feelings of pain, anger, and confusion through open and positive discussions, a child is able to build emotional resilience and create enduring memories of the person they have lost. The author explains the importance of developing continuing bonds between children and loved ones in times of bereavement and offers practical ways in which these bonds may be nurtured through creative activities, memory making, and personal storytelling.

Our dreams tell us about our lives - past, present and future. Through dreams our unconscious brings new insights and clarity to help us grow and develop, release blocked-off energy and urge us to greater creativity. For women everywhere, the symbol of Venus is a powerful key that helps to unlock these insights. She represents the female psyche in its purest, most uncensored forms - wise woman, devoted mother, protector, innocent victim, stalked prey, devouring vampire, erotic lover - and she is found at some level in all women. 'Venus Dreaming' is an engrossing study of women's dream life, packed with archetypes, dream examples and information on what women's dreams mean. It explains how to use the unique imagery of women's dreams to develop both emotional and spiritual awareness. It also provides women with a powerful awareness of how to understand and direct their personal relationships, sexuality, life cycles, emotional and physical health, their intuitive talents and innate creativity. This is essential and fascinating reading for women interested in their own self-development, and for those with a professional focus on women's health and well being. Other books by Brenda Mallon Dreams, Counselling and Healing.

Dreams are a constant source of self-knowledge, wisdom and understanding, but they cannot always be interpreted literally. This book aims to provide readers with a complete understanding of their dreams, explaining how they can work with their dreams in the pursuit of self-understanding.

Working with Bereaved Children and Young People offers a fresh insight into working practices with children and young people who are experiencing the death of a family member, friend, school peer or in their social network. Bridging the gap between theory and practice, the book's practical skills focus is informed by the latest research findings on children and young people's experience of grief. The wide-ranging content includes:

a comprehensive review of theoretical approaches to bereavementthe impact of different types of grief on childrenworking with children who have been bereaved in traumatic circumstances, such as through criminal behaviorskills development

The list of resources, case studies and exercises encourage critical engagement with the counselling theory and promote reflexive practice. Trainees in counselling, psychotherapy and social work, as well as teachers and mental health workers, will find this an invaluable resource for working with this vulnerable client group.

Working with Bereaved Children and Young People offers a fresh insight into working practices with children and young people who are experiencing the death of a family member, friend, school peer or in their social network. Bridging the gap between theory and practice, the book's practical skills focus is informed by the latest research findings on children and young people's experience of grief. The wide-ranging content includes:

a comprehensive review of theoretical approaches to bereavementthe impact of different types of grief on childrenworking with children who have been bereaved in traumatic circumstances, such as through criminal behaviorskills development

The list of resources, case studies and exercises encourage critical engagement with the counselling theory and promote reflexive practice. Trainees in counselling, psychotherapy and social work, as well as teachers and mental health workers, will find this an invaluable resource for working with this vulnerable client group.

"This book's strengths are [Brenda Mallon's] clinical wisdom, experience and insights, and the practical, constructive, down-to-earth way in which she conveys these to her readers. This will appeal to many who are searching for guidance in the difficult task of providing support for the bereaved" - Bereavement Care, Spring 2010 'This is a well written book that makes a very useful addition to the field" - Therapy Today, February 2009 'A refreshing, down-to-earth text that examines theory and research without becoming an academic tome. It is comprehensive, focused on practice and contains important insights for developing the essential skills required to provide effective bereavement care' - Dr John Costello, Head of Primary Care, University of Manchester 'Brenda Mallon gives the term "grief counselling" definition in a way no one has done before. If you are new to counselling the bereaved, this book is the best introduction I have seen. If you are an experienced grief counsellor, this should be the next book you read' - Professor Dennis Klass, Webster University, Dying, Death and Grief is written for anyone who provides support to adults following bereavement. Whether in a professional or voluntary capacity, bereavement care requires empathy, judgement and skill to ensure your response matches the needs of the person you are helping. Recognizing that we all experience bereavement differently, this book introduces theory and skills which can be used in any context to address a wide range of needs. The author explains the theoretical background to attachment and loss and the core skills needed to support people who have been bereaved. Case studies and personal accounts illustrate key points and exercises help you examine your own experiences and attitudes in relation to loss. The book also takes into account topics frequently overlooked in other texts, such as sexuality, spiritual responses to loss, cultural influences and diversity, as well as the nature of chronic and disenfranchised grief. Dying, Death and Grief is designed for use on a wide range of training and academic courses that prepare practitioners to work with the bereaved. Professionals in a range of settings including hospitals and in the community as well as volunteers and be-frienders in hospices and nursing homes will find this a useful source of guidance. Brenda Mallon is a counsellor, trainer and author who specialises in bereavement care. She is vice chair of The Grief Centre, Manchester Area Bereavement Forum.