Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society

"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 "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, GriefMatters, The Australian Journal of Grief and Bereavement "This book is a marvelous, intelligent response to the call for bridging the gap separating bereavement researchers and practitioners. Each chapters 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 Helping the Bereaved College Student "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 "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

Robert A. Neimeyer, PhD, is a professor in the Psychotherapy Research Area of the Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, where he also maintains an active clinical practice. He has published 23 books, including Meaning Reconstruction and the Experience of Loss and Constructivist Psychotherapy: Distinctive Features, is the editor of Death Studies and the Journal of Constructivist Psychology, and has served as President of the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Darcy L. Harris, PhD, is Professor and Coordinator of Thanatology at Kings University College, in London, Ontario, Canada. She is the editor of Counting Our Losses: Reflecting on Change, Loss, and Transition in Everyday Life (Routledge, 2010). Howard R. Winokuer, PhD, is the founder of the Winokuer Center for Counseling and Healing in Charlotte, NC, and has served as President of the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Gordon F. Thornton, PhD, is professor emeritus at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a coeditor of the Handbook of Thanatology (Routledge/ADEC, 2007), and has served as President of the Association for Death Education and Counseling.

Introduction. Murray Parkes, The Historical Landscape of Loss: Development of Bereavement Studies. Part I: Current Conceptualizations of the Grief Response. Neimeyer, Sands, Meaning Reconstruction in Bereavement: From Principles to Practice. Zech, Arnold, Attachment and Coping With Bereavement: Implications for Therapeutic Interventions With the Insecurely Attached. Field, Wogrin, The Changing Bond in Therapy for Unresolved Loss: An Attachment Theory Perspective. Rubin, Malkinson, Witztum, The Two-Track Model of Bereavement: The Double Helix of Research and Clinical Practice. Worden, Winokuer, A Task-Based Approach for Counseling the Bereaved. Martin, Doka, The Influence of Gender and Socialization on Grieving Styles. Part II: Contexts of Grieving. Carr, Jeffreys , Spousal Bereavement in Later Life. Buckle, Fleming, Parenting Challenges After the Death of a Child. Marshall, Davies, Bereavement in Children and Adults Following the Death of a Sibling. Ayers, Kondo, Sandler, Bridging the Gap: Translating a Research-Based Program Into an Agency-Based Service for Bereaved Children and Families. Part III: Challenges in Bereavement. Shear, Boelen, Neimeyer, Treating Complicated Grief: Converging Approaches. Boss, Roos, Harris, Grief in the Midst of Ambiguity and Uncertainty: An Exploration of Ambiguous Loss and Chronic Sorrow. Rynearson, Salloum, Restorative Retelling: Revising the Narrative of Violent Death. Kristensen, Franco, Bereavement and Disasters: Research and Clinical Intervention. Christ, Kane, Horsley, Grief After Terrorism: Toward a Family-Focused Intervention. Jordan, McIntosh, Is Suicide Bereavement Different? Perspectives From Research and Practice. Schultz, Harris, Giving Voice to Nonfinite Loss and Grief in Bereavement. Part IV: Specific Populations. Goldman, Livoti, Grief in GLBT Populations: Focus on Gay and Lesbian Youth. Harrington LaMorie, McDevitt-Murphy, Traumatic Death in the United States Military: Initiating the Dialogue on War-Related Loss. Carmack, Packman, Pet Loss: The Interface of Continuing Bonds Research and Clinical Practice. Part V: Specialized Therapeutic Modalities. Kissane, Hooghe, Family Therapy for the Bereaved. Thompson, Berger, Grief and Expressive Arts Therapy. Lewis, Hoy, Bereavement Rituals and the Creation of Legacy. Connor, Monroe, Bereavement Services Provided Under the Hospice Model of Care Hospice. Part VI: Grief in a Global Perspective. Klass, Chow, Culture and Ethnicity in Experiencing, Policing, and Handling Grief. Park, Halifax, Religion and Spirituality in Adjusting to Bereavement: Grief as Burden, Grief as Gift. Gilbert, Horsley, Technology and Grief Support in the Twenty-First Century: A Multimedia Platform. Molaison, Bordere, Fowler, "The Remedy Is Not Working": Seeking Socially Just and Culturally Conscientious Practices in Bereavement. Gamino, Moore, Grief Dimensions Associated with Hastened Death: Clinical and Ethical Implications. Conclusion. Neimeyer, Harris, Building Bridges in Bereavement Research and Practice: Some Concluding Reflections.