With benevolence, I intuitively and compassionately mentor and guide clients through all forms of grief including ecological and environmental grief, and those facing the end of life, by integrating the lessons that Nature teaches us about grief, dying, and death.
~ Dr. Kriss Kevorkian
While ecology represented a major paradigm shift in understanding nature, very few were able to apply its insights to understanding the afflictions of the mind. The ecologist, Phyllis Windle, in her essay “The Ecology of Grief”, pioneered a bridge between professional ecology and psychological grief (Windle 1995), and her opening of this transdisciplinary space was followed later by the thanatologist Kriss Kevorkian, who explained that desolation in terms she named ‘environmental grief’ and/or ‘ecological grief’ (Kevorkian 2004, 2019). These terms, and the grief theory that underpins them, have recently re-appeared in the literature as a response to the climate crisis. ~ Dr. Glenn Albrecht, Environmental Philosopher and author of a recent book called Earth Emotions, coined the term solastalgia.
I mentor/companion people and help them learn to navigate through grief and loss by creating a safe space for them to share their concerns. If clients are interested, I will incorporate energy work into the Mourning Meetings to help connect more with spiritual lessons that may need to be addressed at that time.
I offer emotional support and consulting to individuals and families dealing with terminal illness, grief and bereavement. I can help you during this time with grace and dignity, and prepare you for what may come.
In addition to services for individuals and families, I am an inspiring speaker available for keynote conferences, workshops, retreats and community educational events.
Combining my love for whales and the environment with my reverence for grief, death and dying
Grief can be a very lonely place especially when grieving over the loss of the environment. Most people don’t understand why someone would grieve the loss of a forest or a species. In 2001, I coined the terms environmental grief and ecological grief. Today, people seem to be struggling with these forms of grief, but let’s please not lose sight of the fact that Nature, too, grieves.
In 2018, many of us were completely gutted when Tahlequah, a Southern Resident Orca, was seen pushing her dead calf, trying to get her baby girl to breathe, for 17 days until she finally let go. It was horrifying to watch as she shared her grief and despair over losing her baby. For many of us, it was another sign that we might lose this unique species of orcas. They are declining, and are in all likelihood going extinct on our watch while others don’t seem to care or even know about the grief we experienced then, and continue to experience as a collective. It’s for this reason that I encourage people to harness their grief and take action! I did just that by creating a community organization, Legal Rights for the Salish Sea. I will support you compassionately through environmental grief and/or ecological grief.
Dr. Kriss Kevorkian has been interviewed and published in the following
Kriss Kevorkian, PhD, MSW, is a Thanatologist, specializing in Biocentric Thanatology. She holds a doctoral degree in thanatology, the study/science of death, dying and grief. She is the leading authority on environmental grief and ecological grief.
The beautiful photos used throughout the website were kindly offered for use by Michelle Bender. All photos are copyright protected.
Please note that our previous name, A Grieving World, was changed to A Dying World to reflect the fact that death/dying may feel like a transition while the word “grief” may feel like a lower vibration for those who are sensitive to energies.
Email agrievingworld(at)gmail.com
