The Transformation Handbook

The Transformation Handbook provides healing and growth through seven simple and effective methods:

* Grief work
* SOAM Model: Self Ownership, Self Assessment, Self Management
* Family of Origin to Family of Choice
* 12 Steps
* Action
* Service
* Relationship Transformation

This book is written as an interactive resource book for individuals desiring transformation. Any adult can use it and the ideas presented can apply throughout the entire life cycle.

Author: Jan S. Maizler, MSW, LCSW, Psychotherapist for individuals, marriages, and families.

1444 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 208-4, (THE 1400 BUILDING) Miami, FL 33132  (see map below for directions)

Phone: 305-940-1564
 

The Transformation Handbook is available at Barnes & Noble at Bn.com, and Amazon.com, or your local bookstore.

Excerpt from The Transformation Handbook:

GRIEF WORK TRANSFORMATION - By Jan Maizler


Loss is an experience that affects us all at various times during
our lives. Our society tends to deal with loss the same way it
deals with death and dying - as a painful event to get over
rather than as a natural process that can cause growth and
transformation.

Every loss leaves us with an emptiness - an opening inside.
This opening provides a doorway through which we can
move forward and begin the journey to the rest of our lives.
That journey, and the effort we make to step through that
doorway, are called grief work.

What is loss?

Loss is the process of suffering we go through when we
lose something that we value in our lives.

Loss is inevitable and universal - no matter how hard we
try to avoid it, we will all experience loss at some time.
Nothing is permanent.

Loss is subjective - each person experiences loss in his or
her unique way. We all experience certain kinds of loss,
but the way in which we process it differs tremendously.

What is grief?

The normal human emotional reaction to a significant
loss is grief. It is also known as mourning or bereavement.
Although sadness is the most common symptom, there
are many others such as crying, anger, anxiety,
hopelessness, and emptiness to name a few.

All types of loss carry a certain amount of grief. The
way we grieve is often different for different types of
losses. In order to fully understand grief, it is
important to be aware of the different types of loss
we experience which can help the healing process.

One type of loss, abnormal (unexpected) losses
give us little time for emotional preparation, re-
arrangement or integration. They challenge us to
adjust quickly. Abnormal losses may be acute or chronic. A
diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease is unexpected, yet is a
chronic loss that may provide years of gradual decline for
the patient and loved ones to adjust to. The sudden death
of a previously healthy loved one is an acute unexpected
loss.

What is grief work?

Grief work is the mental, emotional, and spiritual work of the
grieving process. How you do your grief work determines
whether growth and healing can occur. Grief work trans-
formation is the process that transforms us from the suffering
victim of loss to the more complete person we can eventua-
ly become.

Grief work will proceed on its own accord and momentum
and will only require time, provided nothing interferes with
the process.

The Four Steps of Grief Work Transformation:

Recollection - the first step is the active remembrance to
that which is being lost or has been lost. This may be
accompanied by longing for the pleasures recollected
before the loss occurs.

Review - The second step is to review the loss from your
current perspective and see the impact and effect it has
had on your current life. Then try to speculate about the
future implications of the loss.

Realization - The third step, realization, is the result of
the experience gained through the recollection and the
array of feelings and ideas derived from the review. The
realization comes from recognizing what parts of the loss
are permanent and can not be negotiated back, and
what parts of the loss have opened new possibilities
for the future.

Resolution - this is the final conscious step of grief work
transformation. It is when we resolve to live life acknow-
ledging the loss. We accept the loss and try to learn from
it. Resolution is firmer when it permeates our feelings and
ideas and changes our behavior.

The life cycle entails an ongoing series of coming to-
gether and letting go through loss, bereavement, and
reinvolvement. Grief work is the part of that cycle that
allows us to move past the loss and bereavement and
prepare ourselves for reinvolvement. It allows us to step
into the holes in our lives and fill them up with new growth.