What happens when an expert on grief is faced with the slow 
decline of her beloved mother? Like A Grief Observed by C. S. 
Lewis, Singing Mother Home offers an inside look at the struggles 
of an "expert" in coping with loss. Donna S. Davenport was forced 
to rethink the traditional academic approach to the process, which 
implied that the goal of grief resolution was to end the attachment 
to the loved one. Instead, she embarked on a personal exploration 
of her own anticipatory grief.
 
    This intimate narrative forms the core of her book. It is 
emotionally wrenching, but it also provides hope for those going 
through similar experiences. Just as Davenport used her family’s 
tradition of singing to comfort her mother, readers will be 
encouraged to find their own sources of comfort in family and 
legacy. The book concludes by describing psychological 
approaches to grief and recommending further reading.

_________________________________________________________

DONNA S. DAVENPORT is an associate professor of counseling 
psychology at Texas A&M University and has a private practice. 
She is the author of a widely used textbook, An Introduction to 
Psychotherapy: Common Clinical Wisdom. She lives in Bryan, 
Texas. JOAN MATTHEWS is a psychologist in private practice in 
San Marcos, Texas. 



What people are saying about this book

"This is a unique book by a professional who understands the field 
of loss and grief. . . . Poignantly heartbreaking."—Melba Vasquez, 
President, American Psychology Association’s Division on 
Counseling Psychology