Mod 7 Psychological And Physical Effects Of Grief
Discuss the psychological and physical effects of loss and grief: How might an ethical therapist incorporate this knowledge into his/her work? Base your answer on the theories and models presented in Module 7.
Name: Zoe Foster
Date: 13th February 2015
Course: SOUTH2S14
Module #: 7
Tutor Name: Anni Richardson
Expected Word Count: 2500
Actual Word Count: 2702
Introduction
In this essay I will discuss what grief is and the kind of grief a client could experience. We will move onto attachment theory and its link as to why we grieve. I will then look at what tools are available for counsellors to support their clients through a normal or abnormal grieving process.
Grief, Loss and Change
A grief process can be kicked off by anything that signals an ending or change in someone’s life. We tend to think of this as the death or loss of someone loved. However, it can also be an ending of other sorts. Below is a mind map I created to consider some of these things. The list is not exhaustive, but instead gives an understanding of the extensive subjects to which the grieving process may apply:
Diagram 1: Types of Loss that may lead to grief (via Coggle Tool)
An example may be a teenager who has extreme acne and as a result their skin or face has changed permanently. This may lead to a grieving process for how they looked or expected to look
Timelines may also not necessarily fit within a ‘social’ expectation. For example, whilst the grief may indeed be related to the death of a partner, it may be that if the death was expected due to a terminal illness that part of the grieving process has been processed. This may lead to surprise by others when a partner finds they are move on to a new relationship earlier that others expect. Of course, this grieving process also applies to the person who is ill – grieving for the part of their life that they will not live. Grief comes in many forms.
Attachment Theory
The loss of an ‘attachment’ suggests a connection in
Name: Zoe Foster
Date: 13th February 2015
Course: SOUTH2S14
Module #: 7
Tutor Name: Anni Richardson
Expected Word Count: 2500
Actual Word Count: 2702
Introduction
In this essay I will discuss what grief is and the kind of grief a client could experience. We will move onto attachment theory and its link as to why we grieve. I will then look at what tools are available for counsellors to support their clients through a normal or abnormal grieving process.
Grief, Loss and Change
A grief process can be kicked off by anything that signals an ending or change in someone’s life. We tend to think of this as the death or loss of someone loved. However, it can also be an ending of other sorts. Below is a mind map I created to consider some of these things. The list is not exhaustive, but instead gives an understanding of the extensive subjects to which the grieving process may apply:
Diagram 1: Types of Loss that may lead to grief (via Coggle Tool)
An example may be a teenager who has extreme acne and as a result their skin or face has changed permanently. This may lead to a grieving process for how they looked or expected to look
Timelines may also not necessarily fit within a ‘social’ expectation. For example, whilst the grief may indeed be related to the death of a partner, it may be that if the death was expected due to a terminal illness that part of the grieving process has been processed. This may lead to surprise by others when a partner finds they are move on to a new relationship earlier that others expect. Of course, this grieving process also applies to the person who is ill – grieving for the part of their life that they will not live. Grief comes in many forms.
Attachment Theory
The loss of an ‘attachment’ suggests a connection in
Bibliography: Maslow, A.H . (1943) Hierarchy of Needs [Online] Available from: http://figur8.net/baby/2014/11/06/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-and-how-it-relates-to-your-childs-education/ [Accessed: 13th February 2015] NHS Choices: Dealing with Loss [Online] Prosser-Dodds, L. (2013) THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GRIEF AND PERSONALITY – A QUANTITATIVE STUDY [Online] Worden, W. J. (1991) Grief Counselling and Grief Therapy: A handbook for the mental health practitioner. London: Routledge