Grief Models
This model describes grief as staying the same size while life grows around it.
What is the Jar Model of Grief?
The micro-skill most central to grief counseling.
What is empathic presence?
Grief that resurfaces unexpectedly during major life transitions.
What is recurring grief / non-linear grief?
Activity involving drawing or visualizing grief and life expanding around it.
What is the Jar of Grief activity?
“Grief should follow predictable stages.”
What is a myth?
This model says healthy grieving involves oscillating between loss-focused and restoration-focused coping.
What is the Dual Process Model?
A meso-level intervention that helps clients express grief through creativity.
What is expressive arts journaling or grief-letter writing?
Grief experienced before an actual loss occurs.
What is anticipatory grief?
An intervention supporting continuing bonds.
What is a memory ritual?
“Moving on means forgetting.”
What is false – continuing bonds are healthy?
This theory focuses on maintaining a healthy ongoing bond with the deceased. This theory focuses on maintaining a healthy ongoing bond with the deceased.
What is Continuing Bonds Theory?
This macro skill involves selecting which grief model to use for treatment planning.
What is orientation selection or theoretical case conceptualization?
Grief not publicly acknowledged or socially supported.
What is disenfranchised grief?
Narrative work commonly used in Meaning Reconstruction.
What is writing a letter to the loss?
“If grief returns years later, something is wrong.”
What is false – grief is cyclical and normal?
This model outlines four active tasks of mourning.
What is Worden’s Task Model?
A micro-skill that helps reduce client shame around recurring grief waves.
What is normalizing/validation?
A prolonged, impairing, and intense grief reaction.
What is complicated grief?
Intervention used in Dual Process Model to balance coping.
What is scheduling grief time vs. restoration time?
“Resilience means someone didn’t love deeply.”
What is false – resilience is common and healthy?
This model focuses on rebuilding meaning, identity, and coherence after a loss.
What is Meaning Reconstruction?
A meso-skill involving the structuring of session flow around grief themes.
What is session scaffolding or guided exploration?
Grief where loss is unclear or unresolved (e.g., dementia).
What is ambiguous loss?
A group activity that allows clients to name multiple losses across their life.
What is a losses timeline or grief inventory?
“Crying is the only healthy way to show grief.”
What is a myth – grief is expressed uniquely?