Principles and Practice of Grief Counseling, Second Edition by Darcy L. Harris PhD FT

by Howard R. Winokuer

The book is well-written, interesting, informative, thorough, and useful! As an educator for 43 years, this is the sort of text that I would be pleased to use in my classroom!....I would highly recommend this book! It is an important contribution to the field!--Gerry R. Cox, PhD, in Illness, Crisis and LossThis core, introductory textbook for undergraduate and graduate level courses is the first volume to combine the knowledge and skills of counseling psychology with current theory and research in grief and bereavement. It is grounded in the belief that grief counseling is distinct from other therapeutic issues because grief is an adaptive response rather than a form of pathology. The book describes the unique aspects of grief as a normal response to loss, and views the goal of counseling bereaved individuals as one of facilitating the unfolding of the healthy and adaptive aspects of the process as it manifests itself within each client. Grief is considered a response to losses that are both death- and non-death-related; and psychological, physical, social, economical and practical experiences of grief are addressed.The text introduces various theories of bereavement and examines different therapeutic modalities that can be used in the context of grief and loss. Specific counseling practices that facilitate successful interventions are discussed, particularly that of presence, considered by the authors to be the primary therapeutic stance when working with bereaved individuals. The text also addresses grief counseling with special populations, ethical issues, and self-care concerns for counselors. Case studies, discussion and reflection questions, and suggested additional resources are included in each chapter.Key Regards grief therapy as a unique form of counseling based on grief as an adaptive response rather than as a form of pathologyCombines the knowledge and skills of counseling psychology with current research in grief and bereavementWritten by a prominent clinician and an educator with over 60 years of combined experience in grief counselingFocuses on the importance of presence as the most important therapeutic foundation for working with bereaved individuals

Genres: Textbooks, Psychology, Nonfiction, Counselling

Paperback

First published February 14, 2012

Reviews

[Dave McCarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great easy read and macro view of grief and loss counselling. Great place to start and discover other brilliant books referenced here. Great overview.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the text books for my grief counseling class and it was very accessible and interesting to read. There were a lot of practical applications for the theories discussed, as well as suggestions of creative approaches to grief, methods of self-care, ethical issues, and challenging case studies. I found reading text helpful for me in processing and understanding my own grief over certain losses in my life, with the discussion of the assumptive world and its disruption by a loss being particularly meaningful. This will remain in my library for consultation in the future.