Unfinished Conversation Book

Unfinished Conversation
Healing from Suicide and Loss-A Guided Journey

Robert E. Lesoine
With Marilynne Chöphel, MFT

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“Unfinished Conversation chronicles a path of transformation from anger and despair to compassion and liberation.”
—Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace

“Beautifully written, this book is pure medicine for the grieving heart.”
—Tara Brach, PhD, Radical Acceptance and True Refuge

“This eloquent book is a personal companion for those left behind, a friend nudging us forward with compassion and wisdom.”
—Christopher Germer, PhD, Clinical Instructor, Harvard Medical School, author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion

“Expertly woven into the raw feelings expressed in the journaling of Lesoine’s loss are the tools and techniques that will help to understand, heighten, experience and refine these emotions. The authors claim this journey will help anyone left after a suicide find greater perspective, meaning, and wellbeing in their lives. I agree without reservation… Unfinished Conversation is a book that I will use in my own clinical practice and one that I will recommend to friends and family. The book helps to create some understanding out of an experience that is largely devoid of it. Most importantly, the book helps to believe that there really is hope that it gets better.”
—American Association of Suicidology

More Endorsements

Book Reviews

Authors’ Acknowledgments

Unfinished Conversation: Healing from Suicide and Loss

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A Guided Journey

By Robert E. Lesoine and Marilynne Chöphel MFT

Readings to Support Your Journey to Healing
Readings to Support Your Journey to Healing:
For Survivors and for Professionals Who Support Them

Grieving and Healing from Suicide

Blair, Pamela and Brook Noel. 2008. I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye: A Companion Workbook. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks.

Cobain, Beverly and Jean Larch. 2006. Dying to Be Free: A Healing Guide for Families after a Suicide. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Heckler, Richard A. 1994. Waking Up Alive: The Descent, the Suicide Attempt, and the Return to Life. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.

Jamison, Kay Redfield. 1999. Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide. New York, NY: Random House.

Joiner, Thomas. 2010. Myths About Suicide. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Joiner, Thomas. 2005. Why People Die by Suicide. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Lesoine, Robert E. and Marilynne Chöphel, 2013. Unfinished Conversation: Grieving After Suicide and Loss – A Guided Journey. Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press.

Lukas, Christopher and Henry M. Seiden. 2007. Silent Grief: Living in the Wake of Suicide. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Myers, Michael F. and Carla Fine. 2006. Touched by Suicide: Hope and Healing after Loss. New York, NY: Gotham Books.

Ostaseski, Frank. 2003. Being a Compassionate Companion. 3-CD audio set. San Francisco, CA: Zen Hospice Project.

Rando, Therese A. 1988. How To Go On Living When Someone You Love Dies. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.

Schwiebert, Pat and Chuck DeKlyen. 2006. Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing after Loss. Portland, OR: Grief Watch.

Smolin, Ann and John Guinan. 1993. Healing after the Suicide of a Loved One. New York, NY: Simon & Shuster, Inc.

Sogyal Rinpoche. 1994. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. San Fran- cisco, CA: HarperCollins.

Stillwater, Michael and Gary Remal Malkin. 2003. Graceful Passages: A Companion for Living and Dying. Book and 2-CD set. Novato, CA: New World Library.

Tatelbaum, Judy. 1980. The Courage to Grieve: Creative Living, Recovery, and Growth through Grief. New York, NY: Lippincott & Crowell, Publishers, Inc.

 

Helping Children and Teens

Dougy Center Collection. 2001. After a Suicide: A Workbook for Grieving Kids. Portland, OR: Dougy Center.

Requarth, Margo. 2006. After A Parent’s Suicide: Helping Children Heal. Sebastopol, CA: Healing Hearts Press.

Rubel, Barbara. But I Didn’t Say Goodbye: Helping Children and Families After a Suicide. 2009. Kendall Park, NJ: Griefwork Center, Inc.

 

Creating Wellbeing

Arrien, Angeles. 2007. The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom. Boulder, CO: Sounds True.

Baraz, James and Shoshana Alexander. 2010. Awakening Joy: 10 Steps That Will Put You on the Road to Real Happiness. New York, NY: Bantam Books.

Beckwith, Michael Bernard. 2008. Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul’s Potential. New York, NY: Atria Books.

Brach, Tara. 2004. Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha. New York: Bantam.

Brach, Tara. 2012. True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart. New York: Random House Publishing Group.

Bridges, William. 2004. Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes. New York, NY: Da Capo Press.

Chödrön, Pema. 2007. How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind. CD audio set. Boulder, CO: Sounds True, Inc.

Chödrön, Pema. 2010. The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times. Boston, MA: Shambala.

Chödrön, Pema. 2006. Practicing Peace in Times of War. Boston, MA:Shambhala.

Chödrön, Pema. 1997. When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications.

Dalai Lama, His Holiness the. 1998. The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

Foster, Rick, and Greg Hicks. 1999. How We Choose to Be Happy: The 9 Choices of Extremely Happy People— Their Secrets, Their Stories. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Germer, Christopher K. 2009. The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

Graham, Linda. 2013. Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being. Novato, CA: New World Library.

Hanson, Rick. 2009. Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

Johnson, Stephen J. 2013. The Sacred Path—The Way of the Spiritual Warrior: Journey to Mindful Manhood. Woodland Hills, CA: Sacred Path Press.

Kabat-Zinn, Jon. 2009. Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. New York, NY: Delta Trade Paperbacks.

Kabat-Zinn, Jon. 2012. Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment—and Your Life. Boulder, CO: Sounds True, Inc.

Kabat-Zinn, Jon. 1994. Wherever You Go, There You Are. New York, NY: Hyperion Books.

Kornfield, Jack. 2011. A Lamp in the Darkness: Illuminating the Path Through Difficult Times. Boulder, CO: Sounds True.

Luskin, Fred. 2002. Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Luskin, Fred. 2009. Forgive for Love: The Missing Ingredient for a Healthy and Lasting Relationship. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Meade, Michael. 2010. Fate and Destiny: The Two Agreements of the Soul. Seattle, WA: GreenFire Press.

Nhat Hanh, Thich. 1987. The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.

Nhat Hanh, Thich. 2011. Reconciliation: Healing the Inner Child. Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press.

Nhat Hanh, Thich. 2010. Understanding Our Mind. Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press.

Richmond, Lewis. 2012. Aging as a Spiritual Practice: A Contemplative Guide to Growing Older and Wiser. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

Siegel, Daniel J. 2007. The Mindful Brain: Reflection and Attunement in the Cultivation of Well-Being. New York, NY: Norton & Company, Inc.

Somé, Malidoma Patrice. 1999. The Healing Wisdom of Africa: Finding Life Purpose through Nature, Ritual, and Community. New York, NY: The Penguin Putnam, Inc.

 

Healing from Trauma

Collins, Judy. 2007. The Seven T’s: Finding Hope and Healing in the Wake of Tragedy. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

Cori, Jasmin Lee. 2007. Healing from Trauma: A Survivor’s Guide to Understanding Your Symptoms and Reclaiming Your Life. Cambridge, MA: Marlowe & Company.

Johnson, Susan. 2002. Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy with Trauma Survivors: Strengthening Attachment Bonds. New York, NY: Guilford Publications, Inc.

Levine, Peter. 2005. Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body. Book and CD set. Boulder, CO: Sounds True, Inc.

Levine, Peter A. and Gabor Mate. 2010. In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.

Ogden, Pat, Kekuni Minton, and Clare Pain. 2006. Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy. New York, NY: W. W. Nor- ton & Company.

Parnell, Laurel. 1997. Transforming Trauma: EMDR—The Revolutionary New Therapy for Freeing the Mind, Clearing the Body, and Opening the Heart. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.

Schupp, Linda. 2004. Assessing and Treating Trauma and PTSD. Eau Claire, WI: Pesi Healthcare, LLC.

Shapiro, Francine. 2012. Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Books.

Siegel, Daniel J. and Marion Solomon. 2003. Healing Trauma: Attachment, Mind, Body and Brain. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Thomas, Claude Anshin. 2006. At Hell’s Gate: A Soldier’s Journey from War to Peace. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications.

Williams, Mary Beth and Soili Poijula. 2002. The PTSD Workbook: Simple, Effective Techniques for Overcoming Traumatic Stress Symptoms. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

 

An extensive list of books for healing from suicide loss is available through the following organizations that screen, review, and summarize the books listed:

American Association of Suicidology:
www.suicidology.org
Book List: http://www.suicidology.org/web/guest/books-surviving

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
www.afsp.org
Book List: http://www.afsp.org/coping-with-suicide/where-do-i-begin/books-for-survivors