Part 1 Recognizing the Role of Interpersonal Skills; Chapter 1 Why this Book?; Chapter 2 Acknowledging the Need for Interpersonal Skills in the Funeral Home; Chapter 3 Characteristics of the Helping Funeral Director; Chapter 4 Understanding the Helping Process; Part 2 Developing Interpersonal Skills; Chapter 5 Developing Essential Helping Skills for Successful Funeral Service Practice; Chapter 6 Skill One; Chapter 7 Skill Two; Chapter 8 Skill Three; Chapter 9 Skill Four; Chapter 10 Skill Five; Chapter 11 Skill Six; Chapter 12 Skill Seven; Chapter 13 Skill Eight; Chapter 14 Skill Nine; Part 3 Overcoming Barriers to Implementation; Chapter 15 Barriers to Effective Communication; Chapter 16 The Integration and Implementation of Funeral Director Helping Skills; Part 4 Grief and Mourning; Chapter 17 Understanding Grief and Mourning; Chapter 18 Uniqueness of Grief Response; Chapter 19 Overview of Normal Experience of Grief; Chapter 20 Understanding Common Patterns of Avoiding Grief; Chapter 21 Children and Grief; Part 5 Caring for the Caregiver; Chapter 22 Funeral Service and Stress; Chapter 23 A Final Word;