HELPING SOMEONE THROUGH THE GRIEVING PROCESS

THE GRIEVING PROCESS

Stephen Dane ZoBell, PhD

1.       GRIEF               

                                  - a response to loss

                                      - emotional

                                      - mental

                                      - spiritual

2.       STAGES OF GRIEF

                                  - shock, denial

                                      - guilt

                                      - anger

                                      - depression

                                      - resolution, reorganization

                                      - yearning

3.       TASKS OF GRIEVING

                                  - accept the loss

                                      - experience the pain

                                      - adjust to new environment

                                      - reinvest emotional energy

4.       SUPPORT

                                   - kindness, caring, empathy

                                      - acknowledge thoughts and feelings

                                      - listen reflectively

                                      - identify and express feelings

                                      - be there

                                      - interpret “normal” behavior and feelings

                                      - help the person to let go when appropriate

                                      - identify and help person work through each stage of process

                                      - explore future alternative delicately

                                      - provide time for grieving

                                      - allow for individual differences

5.       AVOID

                                     - one upmanship

                                      - giving advice

                                      - ignoring the pain

                                      - punitive action