Working With the Bereaved

Simon Shimshon Rubin is professor of clinical psychology and director of the International Center for the Study of Loss, Bereavement and Human Resilience at the University of Haifa in Israel. Chairman of the Postgraduate Program in Psychotherapy, he has lectured and published extensively on bereavement, ethics, and psychotherapy. Ruth Malkinson is adjunct senior lecturer at the Bob Shapell School of Social Work at Tel Aviv University. She is the director of the Israeli Center of REBT. She is internationally recognized for her expertise in cognitive grief therapy and is the author of Cognitive Grief Therapy: Constructing a Rational Meaning to Life Following Loss (2007). Eliezer Witztum is professor in the Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He is director of Psychotherapy Supervision at the Mental Health Center, Beer Sheva, and senior psychiatrist at the Community Mental Health Center of Ezrat Nashim Hospital in Jerusalem. A prolific writer, he has written more than 200 scientific publications and 10 books. The authors have been writing together for many years and have published Loss and Bereavement in Israel and Traumatic and Nontraumatic Loss and Bereavement as well as numerous articles.

"The authors of this book have many years of experience of dealing successfully with the aftermath of challenging loss situations including sudden, traumatic and violent death. They present a structured and coherent framework for approaching work with clients who are bereaved based on their Two Track Model of Bereavement (TTMoB). This is a comprehensive and practical book, which although at times can be very detailed, will nevertheless be a valuable addition to anyone working in the field of bereavement." -Breffni McGuinness, Training and Development Irish Hospice Foundation Bereavement Services"This book is written by clinicians for clinicians and is rich with suggestions for interventions and how to assist clients. The authors provide many case presentations to illustrate the themes and interventions. Although the focus is on bereaved adults, their model can be applied to grieving children." –American Psychological Association "This is an astounding work. It should be required reading for anyone treating mourners, regardless of their theoretical persuasion or mental health profession. I guarantee that you won’t find another book that speaks to therapists better than this one. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to any clinician—whether novice or old pro. It is, without question, the best book of its kind."—Therese A. Rando, PhD, author of Coping With the Sudden Death of Your Loved One: Self-Help for Traumatic Bereavement"This extraordinary book is bound to become a classic resource for grief therapists. Sensitively blending contemporary theory with insightful analysis of a range of both contemporary and historical cases, the authors offer critical knowledge and sensitive tools to the counselor. Simply put: one should not work with the bereaved and traumatized without reading Working With the Bereaved!"—Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, professor at the College of New Rochelle and coauthor of Grieving Beyond Gender: Understanding the Ways Men and Women Mourn"Rubin, Malkinson, and Witztum, each international authorities on complicated grief, have distilled and combined their vast, multifaceted theoretical and clinical wisdom into a highly readable and practical volume. Through detailed case presentations that are both highly engaging and enlightening, we share in the restorative, ‘working’ collaboration of therapist and patient. Reading this book will enrich the understanding of grief work for every reader—student, seasoned clinician, or researcher."—Edward K. Rynearson, MD, clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Washington and author of Violent Death: Resilience and Intervention Beyond the Crisis "This is a very special, unusual book. The authors engage the reader in an ongoing dialogue focused on understanding and helping grieving adults. Their attention to the relationship that is lost and found when dealing with grief is truly refreshing."—Phyllis R. Silverman, PhD, author of Widow to Widow: How the Bereaved Help One Another, 2nd ed.

• Part I: Choosing Life After Loss. Love – and Loss – and Life. Current Perspectives on Bereavement. Part II: The Two-Track Model of Bereavement: Continuing Bonds andContinuing With Life. Introduction to the Theory and Clinical Applications of the Two-Track Model of Bereavement. Clinical Theory and Practice at the Interface of Trauma andBereavement. The Relational Traumas of Bereavement. Therapeutic Work With the Relationship to the Deceased. Part III: Integrating Various Therapeutic Approaches With Insights From the Two-Track Model of Bereavement. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Traditional and Relational Aspects of the Encounter. A Cognitive Behavior Approach: Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. Cognitive Therapy: Applying Imagery and Mindfulness. Strategic Integrative Interventions: Applying Letter Writing, Leave-taking Rituals, and Metaphor. Systemic Family Grief Therapy. Part IV: Expanding Horizons: Culture, Clinical Challenges, and Facilitating Resilience. The Social-cultural Contexts of Loss: Considerations for Culturally Sensitive Interventions. Emergencies in Complications Following Loss. Growth and Resilience: Considerations for Clients and Therapists. Appendix: The Two-Track Bereavement Questionnaire (TTBQ2-70) 227.