Week 7: Grief and Loss

Question 1

dual process in experiencing grief?

Answer 1

regular shifts between emotional expression and practical coping.

Question 2

what is the term: continuing bonds?

Answer 2

• recognising that many bereaved don’t sever ties with deceased but go on to live satisfying lives. (people maintain connection without retreating from life).

Question 3

define ambiguous loss

Answer 3

• person you care about is physically absent though psychologically present “missing person”
• OR person may be physically present but psychologically absent (many grieving Gary dementia)

Question 4

define chronic sorrow:

Answer 4

• long term sadness
• e.g. parent of child w/ debilitating disability
• person w/ chronic illness (loss of identity/self)
• carers*

Question 5

social understanding of grieving: your social environment dictates?

Answer 5

degree of support offered during bereavement

Question 6

personal construct of grief

Answer 6

• no absolutes
• understand world of the person
• all unique
• what is the meaning of the loss to the person?

Question 7

in dealing with grief, what do SW need to consider?

Answer 7

1. meaning of the loss
2. circumstances of the loss (expected, sudden, able to say goodbye etc.)
3. social context (poverty experience more loss and trauma)
4. family context
5. other stresses
6. social support

Question 8

practice principles: to support grief, SW should?

Answer 8

• facilitate client’s expressions of emotional, cognitive and spiritual state
• address practical questions/concerns.
• *giving people control, attending to emotions and grief, giving people what they want.

Question 9

practice principles: what to do to show you are supporting grief?

Answer 9

• combine open and closed questions
• direct answers, honest, facts
• focus on emotional content
• encourage construction of narrative

Question 10

important SW skills for grief:

Answer 10

• listening
• empathy (facial reactions important)
• slow, calm tone, respectful
• silence
• honesty
• avoid assumptions
• kindness
• using deceased person’s name.

Question 11

in case examples for grief, what questions to consider?

Answer 11

• my assumptions (draw from theories like lifecourse, systems, understanding of grief)
• my aims
• opening statements
• first questions
• closing statements.