The SelfWork Podcast
The SelfWork Podcast
Margaret Robinson Rutherford PhD
481 SelfWork: What's Anticipatory Grieving and How Does It Help?
22 minutes Posted Jan 16, 2026 at 6:00 am.
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Show notes
Today we're exploring what's termed "anticipatory grieving."
When you know something is going to happen that will bring its own kind of grief… whether it’s a loved one being diagnosed with a terminal illness, an unwanted divorce being filed, learning that a child will struggle with a learning difference – it can bring a slew of emotions, many of them moving in and out of your awareness quickly. Anticipatory grieving is a way to imagine, visualize, and begin to emotionally prepare for the loss that is to come.
We’ll focus today on the five steps of anticipatory grieving – the how, when, what, where, and why it’s important. But before I do that, for any of you who are thinking, “Why in the hell would I want to do that?” I’ll answer that very good and reasonable question.
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