Say the Right Words When It Matters Most 10 phrases to avoid with grieving families, and what to say instead
You're with families on the hardest day of their lives. This free guide gives you grief-informed language that comforts instead of wounds, so you always know what to say, and what to gently avoid.
Free Guide · Healing Hearts Community
Say the Right Words
10 Phrases to Avoid, and What to Say Instead
If you serve grieving families
You care deeply. Sometimes the words still fail you.
You meet people in their rawest moments, and you want every word to land as comfort. But even the kindest, most well-meant phrases can accidentally sting. No one hands funeral professionals a script for grief. This guide helps fill that gap.
"The right words don't fix grief. They let a hurting family feel seen, safe, and gently held, and that changes everything."
— Terri Chaplin-
You reach for comfort, and freeze Wanting to say something meaningful, unsure what won't make it worse
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A kind phrase lands the wrong way Watching a family flinch at words you meant as comfort
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You were never trained in grief language Learning as you go, in the highest-stakes conversations there are
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You want families to feel truly cared for Longing to offer presence that comforts and earns their trust
What the guide gives you
Grief-informed language, ready when you need it
Simple, practical guidance you can use in your very next conversation with a grieving family, no jargon, no guesswork.
Benefit 01
Communicate with Confidence
Learn exactly what to say, and what to avoid, during sensitive conversations with grieving families.
Benefit 02
Avoid Unintended Harm
Recognize common phrases that may deepen grief, and discover the compassionate alternatives to use instead.
Benefit 03
Build Deeper Trust
Use grief-informed language that comforts, supports, and strengthens your professional presence with every family.
Meet your educator
Meet Terri Chaplin
Terri is a grief companion and educator with over five years of experience holding space for those navigating profound loss. She honors grief without trying to fix it, offering presence, deep listening, and compassionate support rooted in the companioning model.
As the creator and lead educator of two certification programs in grief and life coaching, she equips others to support the grieving with empathy and integrity, helping professionals carry both love and loss with grace in a safe, heart-centered way.
- Grief Companion & Educator
- Founder of Healing Hearts Community
- Creator of two grief & coaching certifications
- Lived experience at the heart of her work
Whenever you're ready
Grow into grief-informed care
This guide is a strong first step. When you're ready to deepen your skills, there's a supported path to becoming the calm, trusted presence every grieving family needs.
You are here
Start with the guide
Download the free guide and put grief-informed language to work in your very next family conversation.
When you want more
Deepen your skills
Explore Terri's training for funeral professionals on resilience, self-care, and confident, compassionate support.
When you're ready
Earn recognition
Step into ethical grief support training and stand out as a professional families trust with their hardest moments.
Your next family conversation
Ready to communicate with compassion?
Download the free guide and elevate your care with grief-informed communication skills every funeral professional should know, so the families you serve always feel truly held.