Worden,
J.W., Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy
4th ed. New York, New York:
Springer, 2009.
Introduction
Worden’s work addresses the normal and abnormal aspects
of grief and the various means of therapy.
Worden teaches that every loss is different and the symptoms exhibited
by the individual may vary based upon the circumstances. The book begins by
examining the concept of attachment and its importance in everyday life. Worden
then goes on to explain the symptoms of grief in how they resemble that of
depression and anxiety. However, it must be understood that normal grief is
neither depression nor anxiety. In contrast, complicated grief, which extends
beyond a two-year period after the loss, may harbor symptoms of a depressive or
anxiety disorder dependent upon the presenting symptoms.
Benefits
Worden’s work provides numerous
benefits in the explanation of behaviors associated with loss. Each loss is
composed of different variables that effects how the person grieves. Social and
cultural variables help to define the rituals performed by the individual. For
example, popular rituals in the United States include having a wake or a
funeral for those who have passed. Yet, not everyone in the United States
partakes in such practices causing some confusion when it comes to what is
expected. For those people who identify with American culture, this is often what
is needed for true closure, but for others, different rituals or practices may
be needed to help move along the healing process.
How the individual died is another
important variable in grief. People that had a loved one die suddenly or
unexpectedly may exhibit more signs of behavioral changes. However, Worden points
out that no one is ever really prepared to lose someone, even in cases that are
not as unexpected. Moreover, certain types of deaths have more stigmas
associated with them than others. Among these types of deaths include suicide,
sudden infant death syndrome, stillbirth, and AIDS. These types of deaths are
often met with little social support. Many people are not readily able to
handle these types of death and simply do not know how to respond to those
suffering in such circumstance. Yet the death of a loved one or friend is a
difficult process regardless of those particular taboo circumstances. Despite
the situations, preparations, and the warning signs the severing of attachment
through death is serious and must be addressed.
Another benefit of Worden’s work is the
outlining of the different stages of grief that individual’s go through. The
author teaches that individual’s go through various stages that take an
undetermined amount of time to complete. Further, some who suffer loss may go
back to different stages of grief at anytime. This is an important concept as
it addresses the notion that there is no one proper way to behave after the
loss of a relationship.
Gender specific variables also play
a role in the way individuals demonstrate signs of loss. For example, men are
often expected to maintain normal roles and demonstrate less emotion. Further,
men tend to demonstrate more anger geared at the loss of a relationship than
their female counter-parts. In contrast, females are perceived as more
emotional and thus the genders elicit different expectations. Understanding how
gender variables effects societal norms help counselors assist each individual in
dealing with their loss.
Worden further addresses the notion that all
professionals working with grieving people are themselves human. Some people
may have a hard time working with certain types of clients as a result of their
own unresolved conflicts. One of the strengths of this book is the author’s
warning to be aware of one’s own limitations and to be willing to refer the
grieving person to someone else. Preventing burnout for professionals working
with grieving individuals requires self-awareness and humility. This is an
important concept as the ability to take care of oneself affects the ability to
help others.
Limitations
The
notion taught by Worden that complicated grief may expand into another disorder
is not completely without contradiction.
The new DSM-V is set to include a new disorder expanding on complicated
grief as a separate disorder that encompasses both characteristics of
depression and anxiety. Professionals have long debated the notion that the
presence of complicated grief had roots in pre-existing disorders. However,
many professionals are addressing the notion that complicated grief on its own
can become a diagnosable DSM disorder.
In the church profession many grieving individuals are
seeking a relationship with their trusted church professional through the
process of grieving, thus the result of being referred to another better-suited
professional may be met with resistance. The inability to help them may have
detrimental consequences for the individual’s religious beliefs and may impair
their relationship with God or religion as a whole. Worden’s work fails to
provide recommendations how these concepts can be addressed.
Conclusion
This
work helps a counselor to understand how cultural, social and religious factors
affect the grief process. Moreover, it reminds professionals of their need to
understand their own limitations in grief as these limitations may affect the
professional’s ability to help others. It is a good resource for anyone who
seeks to help others dealing with loss and grief.
