Working with Loss and Grief: A Theoretical and Practical Approach

This updated second edition of Working with Loss and Grief provides a model for practitioners working with those who are grieving a significant life loss. Making clear connections between theory and practice, the ′Range of Response to Loss′ model provides a theoretical ′compass′ for recognising the wide variability in reaction to loss and the ′Adult Attitude to Grief′ scale is a tool for ′mapping′ individual grief and its change over time, providing an individual grief profile. Together these offer a framework for practitioners to:

-listen to stories of grief told by clients

-identify common patterns in grief

-recognize individual difference in grief response

-make assessments

-prompt therapeutic dialogue

-guide therapeutic focus and

-evaluate outcomes.

This edition includes: a new chapter on ′The RRL Model and a Pluralistic Approach to Counselling′ ; two new case studies; additional content on vulnerability; new grief assessment tools and systems, and the latest research.

Dr Linda Machin is Honorary Research Fellow at Keele University, having been a Lecturer in Social Work and Counselling at Keele. She established a counselling service for the bereaved in North Staffordshire and continues to work as a researcher and freelance trainer.