Coping with Memory Clutter

The decluttering process for Jenny, Steve and Lincoln was trying, but Dr. Robin has comforting words for them. "Jake cannot be erased. Love—the bond that you have with him—simply cannot be broken. Not by getting rid of things," she says. "People are not things."

For families coping with the death of a loved one, Dr. Robin says it's important for parents to be aware of their own grieving process because children will mirror their parents' behavior. This makeover is a positive step in the healing process. "What's important is the two of you [have] to really model for him what healthy grief looks like. And at this point, you've been a resilient family, you've survived the unthinkable. And having said that, you need a new image of how one can hold onto someone who is near and dear to them."