Life, Death, Grief, Unscripted | Unfiltered Discussions on Living and Dying Hosted by Christina Holohan, Certified Death Doula & Thanatologist

What happens when grief has nowhere to go? In this episode, death doula and thanatologist Christina explores the science and soul behind grief rituals, and why they are far more than a funeral tradition. Whether you’re navigating fresh loss, supporting a grieving loved one, or simply want to understand why rituals matter so deeply, this episode will change the way you think about honoring the people you’ve lost.

• Why grief rituals are a psychological necessity, not just a cultural tradition
• What COVID-19 research revealed about prolonged grief when ceremonies were taken away
• How alternative mourning rituals (candles, digital tributes, keepsakes) can genuinely ease grief symptoms
• The three types of therapeutic rituals used by grief counselors and therapists
• Simple, powerful micro-rituals you can start this week to honor your loved one
• The key differences between a traditional funeral and a celebration of life, and why it matters
• Why the meaning behind a ritual always matters more than the mechanics

• [3:00], Pandemic grief research and what happened when families couldn’t gather
• [9:00], Alternative rituals: why intention heals more than tradition
• [15:00], How grief therapists use ritual in clinical settings (scoping review of 22 studies)
• [22:00], Micro-rituals for everyday grief: nature, scent, keepsakes, and more
• [26:00], Funerals vs. Celebrations of Life: understanding your options
• [30:00], Your weekly challenge: one small, meaningful act of remembrance

Cherblanc, J., Côté, I., Mercure, C., Boever, C., & Zech, E. (2025). Rituals in grief: Why meaning matters more than numbers. Journal of Loss and Trauma. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2025.2471816

Manquinho, S., Albuquerque, S., Delalibera, M., Coelho, A., & Salvador, Á. (2023). “I could not give him the funeral he deserved”: The role of alternative mourning rituals during the pandemic. Current Psychology, 43, 13668–13678. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05305-6

Mitima-Verloop, H. B., Mooren, T. T. M., Kritikou, M. E., & Boelen, P. A. (2022). Restricted mourning: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on funeral services, grief rituals, and prolonged grief symptoms. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, Article 878818. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.878818

Wojtkowiak, J., Lind, J., & Smid, G. E. (2021). Ritual in therapy for prolonged grief: A scoping review of ritual elements in evidence-informed grief interventions. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, Article 623835. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.623835

Center for Grief Therapy. (n.d.). Grief rituals and how they help. https://www.centerforgrieftherapy.com/grief-rituals-and-how-they-help/

Create one small, intentional micro-ritual for someone you miss. It doesn’t have to be public. It doesn’t have to be grand. It just must be meaningful to you.

Are you ready to plan a celebration of life that truly honors your loved one’s legacy, on your timeline, in your own way?

🌸 Celebration of Life, Colorado

📍 Serving the Denver metro area and beyond

🌐 celebrationoflife-colorado.com

📞 720-792-7774

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