The Deceased-focused Approach to Grief (PDF)

Conventional grief models focus on the bereaved, including actions that they need to take to get back to normalcy following the death of a loved one. This book suggests that it might be helpful in the grieving process to focus on the deceased, instead. Research points to the benefits of altruistic acts and thoughts, including improvements in mood. Altruistic acts and thoughts also could be extended to the deceased, who in death have experienced a loss as well. By taking on the perspective of and being empathic toward the deceased, a "response shift" occurs that could result in mood improvement and happiness in the bereaved. The book provides guidelines for this alternative grief model in the death of a child, of a teenager, of a spouse/partner, and of a sibling; and in multiple deaths and persistent grief experience among others. Based on motivational principles, a workbook has also been provided for monitoring progress in coping with bereavement. Each chapter includes a list of comprehension questions and additional readings to help the reader further explore the topic at hand.

This book would be useful in a course on death, dying and bereavement; to healthcare practitioners/bereavement counsellors; and to scholars in death, dying and bereavement across different fields including Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Public Health and Religion.