Techniques of Grief Therapy: Creative Practices for Counseling the Bereaved

Description

Techniques of Grief Therapy is an indispensable guidebook to the most inventive and inspirational interventions in grief and bereavement counseling and therapy. Individually, each technique emphasizes creativity and practicality. As a whole, they capture the richness of practices in the field and the innovative approaches that clinicians in diverse settings have developed, in some cases over decades, to effectively address the needs of the bereaved. New professionals and seasoned clinicians will find dozens of ideas that are ready to implement and are packed with useful features, including: Careful discussion of the therapeutic relationship that provides a "container" for specific procedures An intuitive, thematic organization that makes it easy to find the right technique for a particular situation Detailed explanations of when to use (and when not to use) particular techniques Expert guidance on implementing each technique and tips on avoiding common pitfalls Sample worksheets and activities for use in session and as homework assignments Illustrative case studies and transcripts Recommended readings to learn more about theory, research and practice associated with each technique Cover Techniques of Grief Therapy Creative Practices for Counseling the Bereaved Copyright Contents List of Figures and Tables Prologue Acknowledgments Part I : Framing the Work 1. Presence, Process, and Procedure: A Relational Frame for Technical Profi ciency in Grief Therapy 2. The Empathic Spirit in Grief Therapy 3. Selah: A Mindfulness Guide through Grief 4. Tracking through Bereavement: A Framework for Intervention Part II : Modulating Emotion 5. Grief Monitoring Diary 6. Mapping the Terrain of Loss: Grief and Not Grief 7. Experiencing the Pain of Grief 8. Psychotropic Medication for Grieving Adults 9. Mindfulness Training 10. Multiple Losses and the Circle of Signifi cance 11. Reconstructing Nightmares 12. Visualization for Anticipatory Grief 13. Intuitive Humor Part III : Working with the Body 14. Analogical Listening 15. Clapping Qigong 16. Hands in the Sand 17. Moving and Breathing Through Grief 18. Body Imagery for Sustaining Connections 19. Written on the Body 20. The Body of Trust Part IV : Transforming Trauma 21. Complicated Grief and Trauma: What to Treat First? 22. Retelling the Narrative of the Death 23. Invoking an Alliance with the Deceased after Violent Death 24. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) 25. Making Meaning of Flashbacks 26. Trauma Dialogues 27. Treating Traumatic Bereavement in Conflicted and Inter-Generational Families Part V : Changing Behavior 28. Behavioral Activation 29. Working with Difficult Times 30. Assertiveness Training 31. A Finding Balance Writing Intervention Part VI : Restructuring Cognition 32. Changing Catastrophic Misinterpretations with Behavioral Experiments 33. The ABC of Rational Response to Loss 34. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) 35. Rational Emotive Body Imagery (REBI) 36. Schema Therapy for the Lost Relationship 37. Cognitive Restructuring for Childhood Prolonged Grief Part VII : Encountering Resistance 38. “Is It Okay for You to Be Okay?” 39. Overt Statements for Deep Work in Grief Therapy 40. Controlled Avoidance in the Management of Grief Part VIII : Finding Meaning 41. Finding Meaning through the Attitude One Takes 42. Directed Journaling to Facilitate Meaning-Making 43. Using the Loss Characterization with Bereaved Parents 44. Metaphorical Reframing 45. Spiritual Devotionals Part IX : Rewriting Life Narratives 46. Life Review 47. Loss Timelines 48. Virtual Dream Stories 49. Find Your Voice: Creating Healing Dialogues 50. Documenting Children’s Life Stories 51. The Story Mountain Part X : Integrating the Arts 52. Intermodal Expressive Arts 53. Prescriptive Photomontage 54. Playing with Playlists 55. Figurative Sand Tray Therapy 56. What’s in a Name? 57. Secrets of the Heart 58. The Art Studio Process Part XI : Consolidating Memories 59. Opening the Family Photo Album 60. The Commemorative Flag 61. En-Training Memoir Slices 62. Memory Work with Children 63. Memory Boxes 64. Natural Reminders Part XII Renewing the Bond 65. Introducing the Deceased 66. Envisioning Connection through Guided Imagery 67. Correspondence with the Deceased 68. Guided Imaginal Conversations with the Deceased 69. Chair Work 70. The Life Imprint 71. Reaching through Sorrow to Legacy 72. “Moments Held” Documentary Part XIII : Revising Goals 73. Goal Setting for Self-Care during the Grieving Process 74. Defi ning and Envisioning Self 75. Mind Map for Coping through the Holidays 76. Worden’s Paradigm in Wartime Bereavement Part XIV : Accessing Resources 77. Poetry and Bibliotherapy 78. Bibliotherapy with Children 79. Grief and Loss Support on the Web Part XV : Grieving with Others 80. Orchestrating Social Support 81. Addressing Therapeutic Ruptures in Bereavement Support Groups 82. Talking about Talking with Couples and Families 83. The Workplace Study Circle 84. The Kindness Project 85. All the Stars Above 86. Group Treatment of Anticipatory Grief in Senior Pseudo-Psychosis Part XVI : Ritualizing Transition 87. Therapeutic Ritual 88. The “Barefoot Walkabout” 89. The Grief Spiral 90. Memory Boats 91. Supporting the “Lost Ritual” after a Suicide Death Part XVII : Healing the Healer 92. Wisdom Circles for when Helping Hurts 93. Stand in These Shoes 94 Degriefing Caregiver Burden Epilogue Contributors Index