What is

‘grief’ and
‘bereavement’?
 “Bereavement refers specifically to the process of
recovering from the death of a loved one.

Grief is a reaction to any form of loss.

Both encompass a range of feelings from deep
sadness to anger, and the process of adapting to a
significant loss can vary dramatically from one person
to another, depending on his or her background,
beliefs, relationship to what was lost, and other
factors” (Good Therapy Online, 2017)

“The loss of a loved one is life's most stressful event and

can cause a major emotional crisis. After the death of
someone you love, you experience bereavement,
which literally means "to be deprived by death” (Mental
Health America, 2017)

“The experience of grief is not something a person ever

recovers from completely, but time typically tempers
its intensity. The term complicated grief refers to a
persistent form of bereavement that dominates a
person’s life, interfering with daily functioning for an
extended period of time” (Good Therapy, 2017)
The 5 types of personalities in
the grieving process: (Susan Berger)

1. Nomads - individuals who haven’t resolved their grief.

They might experience many emotions including
denial and confusion, they would feel uncertain about
what to do with their lives. They do not understand
how the loss of their loved one has affected their life
just yet.

2. Memorialists - these are people who are focused on

preserving memory of the deceased. For example,
they would have many photos of the person who died
in their house, they might write poems or engage into
some other form of art that would be related to the
person whom they’ve lost.

3. Normalisers - individuals who are focused on

‘normalising’ the life of their family as soon as it is
possible, re-creating the lifestyle and activities as they
were before their loved one died.
4. Activists - “create meaning from their loss by
contributing to the quality of life of others through
activities or careers that give them a purpose in life.
Their main focus is on education and on helping other
people who are dealing with the issues that caused
their loved one’s death, such as violence, a terminal
or sudden illness, or social problems” (Psychcentral, 2017)

5. Seekers - individuals who ponder and reflect on

philosophical questions related to human existence,
life and death, and the meaning of life. They tend to
adopt religious or spiritual beliefs which help them to
cope with the grieving process.
Recommended literature:

1) ’Introduction to Counselling Skills: Texts and Activities’ (2012) by

Richard Nelson-Jones

2) ’An Introduction To Counselling’ (2013) by John McLeod

Recommended websites:

‘The Counsellors’ Guide: Counselling Skills’. Access from: http://

www.thecounsellorsguide.co.uk/CounsellingSkillsCategory.html

‘What is Counselling and Psychotherapy: BACP’: https://

www.bacp.co.uk/student/what.php

Copyright © Elmira Strange