How we grieve.

G. A. Bonanno and S. Kaltman's (1999) concentration on the grief work hypothesis in their review of perspectives on bereavement is only 1 aspect required for a comprehensive theory of grief, which should cover the following: the origin and adaptive significance of grief; the mechanism that initiates the grief response; the mechanism that leads to the resolution of grief; and sources of individual variation. Bonanno and Kaltman's replacement for grief work also emphasized cognitive restructuring, which can be contrasted with 2 alternative mechanisms, forgetting and engaging in new activities and relationships. M. S. Stroebe and H. A. W. Schut's (1994) dual process model, which involves cognitive restructuring and engaging in new activities, provides a broader alternative to grief work than that advocated by Bonanno and Kaltman.

Grief↗

PubMed2001

Mapping grief: an active approach to grief resolution.

This article describes a clinical tool, the Grief Map, that is designed to assist those who are grieving death and non-death losses. The map provides a constructive multidimensional framework for dealing with the phenomena of the grieving process and for rebuilding life following major loss. The method of developing the map and its various uses as an assessment, educational, and therapeutic tool are detailed with illustrative case examples. The underlying precepts on which the map is based and its correlates with current theory and research are discussed. The limitations of the map and issues for further research are discussed.

Grief↗