Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society

Robert A. Neimeyer, PhD, directs the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, serves as editor of the journal Death Studies, actively practices as a trainer, consultant and coach, and has published extensively on grieving as a meaning-making process. Darcy L. Harris, PhD, RN, RSW, FT, is an associate professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Programs and the coordinator of the Thanatology Program at King’s University College at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. She also maintains a private clinical practice and does consulting and presentation work specializing in issues related to change, loss, transition, and grief. Howard R. Winokuer, PhD, was the founder of the Winokuer Center for Counseling and Healing in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was a well-known author and internationally renowned speaker. Gordon F. Thornton, PhD, is professor emeritus at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and has served as president of the Association for Death Education and Counseling.

Introduction: The Historical Landscape of Loss: Development of Bereavement Studies


Murray Parkes


Part I: Current Conceptualizations of the Grief Response.


1. Meaning Reconstruction in Bereavement: From Principles to Practice


Neimeyer and Sands


2. Attachment and Coping With Bereavement: Implications for Therapeutic Interventions With the Insecurely Attached


Zech and Arnold


3. The Changing Bond in Therapy for Unresolved Loss: An Attachment Theory Perspective


Field and Wogrin


4. The Two-Track Model of Bereavement: The Double Helix of Research and Clinical Practice


Rubin, Malkinson, and Witztum


5. A Task-Based Approach for Counseling the Bereaved


Worden and Winokuer


6. The Influence of Gender and Socialization on Grieving Styles


Martin and Doka


Part II: Contexts of Grieving


7. Spousal Bereavement in Later Life


Carr and Jeffreys


8. Parenting Challenges After the Death of a Child


Buckle and Fleming


9. Bereavement in Children and Adults Following the Death of a Sibling


Marshall and Davies


10. Bridging the Gap: Translating a Research-Based Program Into an Agency-Based Service for Bereaved Children and Families


Ayers, Kondo, and Sandler


Part III: Challenges in Bereavement


11. Treating Complicated Grief: Converging Approaches


Shear, Boelen, and Neimeyer


12. Grief in the Midst of Ambiguity and Uncertainty: An Exploration of Ambiguous Loss and Chronic Sorrow


Boss, Roos, and Harris


13. Restorative Retelling: Revising the Narrative of Violent Death


Rynearson and Salloum


14. Bereavement and Disasters: Research and Clinical Intervention


Kristensen and Franco


15. Grief After Terrorism: Toward a Family-Focused Intervention


Christ, Kane, and Horsley


16. Is Suicide Bereavement Different? Perspectives From Research and Practice


Jordan and McIntosh


17. Giving Voice to Nonfinite Loss and Grief in Bereavement


Schultz and Harris


Part IV: Specific Populations


18. Grief in GLBT Populations: Focus on Gay and Lesbian Youth


Goldman and Livoti


19. Traumatic Death in the United States Military: Initiating the Dialogue on War-Related Loss


Harrington LaMorie and McDevitt-Murphy


20. Pet Loss: The Interface of Continuing Bonds Research and Clinical Practice


Carmack and Packman


Part V: Specialized Therapeutic Modalities


21. Family Therapy for the Bereaved


Kissane and Hooghe


22. Grief and Expressive Arts Therapy


Thompson and Berger


23. Bereavement Rituals and the Creation of Legacy


Lewis and Hoy


24. Bereavement Services Provided Under the Hospice Model of Care Hospice


Connor and Monroe


Part VI: Grief in a Global Perspective


25. Culture and Ethnicity in Experiencing, Policing, and Handling Grief


Klass and Chow


26. Religion and Spirituality in Adjusting to Bereavement: Grief as Burden, Grief as Gift


Park and Halifax


27. Technology and Grief Support in the Twenty-First Century: A Multimedia Platform


Gilbert and Horsley


28. "The Remedy Is Not Working": Seeking Socially Just and Culturally Conscientious Practices in Bereavement


Molaison, Bordere, and Fowler


29. Grief Dimensions Associated with Hastened Death: Clinical and Ethical Implications


Gamino and Moore


Conclusion


Building Bridges in Bereavement Research and Practice: Some Concluding Reflections


Neimeyer and Harris