Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society: Bridging Research and Practice

by Robert A. Neimeyer (Editor), Darcy L. Harris (Editor), Howard R. Winokuer (Editor), Gordon Thornton (Editor)

Overview

Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society is the authoritative guide to the study of and work with major themes in bereavement. The classic edition includes a new preface from the lead editors discussing advances in the field since the book’s initial publication.

The book’s chapters synthesize the best of research-based conceptualization and clinical wisdom across 30 of the most important topics in the field. The volume’s contributors come from around the world, and their work reflects a level of cultural awareness of the diversity and universality of bereavement and its challenges that has rarely been approximated by other volumes. This is a readable, engaging, and comprehensive book that shares the most important scientific and applied work on the contemporary scene with a broad international audience. It’s an essential addition to anyone with a serious interest in death, dying, and bereavement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032058917
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/09/2021
Series:	Routledge Mental Health Classic Editions
Pages:	478
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

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

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Ileana Ungureanu, MD, PhD, LMFT, CFTP (Adler School of Professional Psychology)
Description: This comprehensive book is meant to bring together research and its application in the real world of clinical practice when helping those who suffer loss of different kinds. This unique undertaking covers different types of loss, from death of a loved one including pets to environmental disasters and loss due to social injustice, while also addressing important cultural differences.
Purpose: The editors' main objective is to bridge research and practice, a very meaningful undertaking given that often these two important aspects are treated separately and there is no organic link to one another. They also wanted to expand the understanding of loss and grief beyond death and, furthermore, to look into how culture and diversity play a vital role in how loss is experienced and how grief is processed.
Audience: This book is written for any mental health practitioners working with grief and loss as well as researchers in the field. Students in graduate programs interested in the thanatology field will greatly benefit. The editors and authors of specific chapters have assembled an impressive team of researchers, scholars, and practitioners from all over the world who have contributed to the development of the field of loss, grief, and bereavement to where it stands today.
Features: The book covers a variety of aspects of addressing loss, grief, and bereavement, from describing main conceptualizations of the grief response to contextual aspects; complicated bereavement due to violent death, terrorism, ambiguous loss, or the ongoing loss of Alzheimer's disease; or grief in specific populations such as LGBTQA+ or military. Every chapter and topic is authored by both scholars and practitioners, which makes this book unique and valuable to a large audience.
Assessment: This book is a great addition to the literature on loss, grief, and bereavement. It is a wonderful reference on all factors related to loss, from theory to research to practice. The breadth of knowledge its authors bring and the various aspects of the human experience of loss that are addressed make it impressive and very valuable. What makes the book stand out even more is the fact that it is written in a humanistic voice — it is very readable and rigorous at the same time.

Doody's Review Service

"This book is a marvelous, intelligent response to the call for bridging the gap separating bereavement researchers and practitioners. Each chapter’s collaborative team synthesizes important scholarship, provides challenging case studies, and persuasively addresses the nagging practitioner question of "So what?" The writing crackles, insights abound, and we are offered wide-ranging critical and experiential wisdom about a legion of bereavement realities that bedevil human beings."

David E. Balk, author of Dealing with Dying, Death, and Grief during Adolescence

"This landmark book has achieved a stunning integration of research and clinical practice. The structure is bold and innovative, and the book provides readers with an unparalleled opportunity to appreciate the common threads linking research and applied work on bereavement."

Camille Wortman, coauthor of Traumatic Bereavement: Treatment for Survivors of Sudden Death

"The editors of this very readable and stimulating volume have taken the unique step of bringing together practitioners and researchers to write joint chapters on a wide range of topical issues in the bereavement field. No longer can it be said that those working in one of these capacities fail to take the wisdom, knowledge, expertise and experience of the other seriously. This is a highly significant contribution to our field."

Margaret S. Stroebe, coeditor of the Handbook of Bereavement Research and Practice: Advances in Theory and Intervention

"The tone of this book is thoughtful, questioning, and respectful which is evident in the way researchers and practitioners have come together and shared their perspectives and knowledge. The authors and editors of the book enable the reader to personalize their experience, just as we do in life with different forms of loss. I thoroughly recommend this book to those with experience in death, dying, and bereavement."

Susan Meyerink, Grief Matters: The Australian Journal of Grief and Bereavement

"This innovative and rich text makes an important contribution to the literature and highlights the benefits of research/practice dialogue in the field of grief and bereavement."

Liz Rolls, Mortality, 18:3

From the Publisher