Living Through Loss: Interventions Across the Life Span

by Nancy R. Hooyman, Betty Kramer, Sara Sanders

Living Through Loss provides a foundational identification of the many ways in which people experience loss over the life course, from childhood to old age. It examines the interventions most effective at each phase of life, combining theory, sound clinical practice, and empirical research with insights emerging from powerful accounts of personal experience.

The authors emphasize that loss and grief are universal yet highly individualized. Loss comes in many forms and can include not only a loved one’s death but also divorce, adoption, living with chronic illness, caregiving, retirement and relocation, or being abused, assaulted, or otherwise traumatized. They approach the topic from the perspective of the resilience model, which acknowledges people’s capacity to find meaning in their losses and integrate grief into their lives. The book explores the varying roles of age, race, culture, sexual orientation, gender, and spirituality in responses to loss. Presenting a variety of models, approaches, and resources, Living Through Loss offers invaluable lessons that can be applied in any practice setting by a wide range of human service and health care professionals.

This second edition features new and expanded content on diversity and trauma, including discussions of gun violence, police brutality, suicide, and an added focus on systemic racism.

Genres: Social Work, Textbooks, Psychology, Nonfiction, Counselling

608 pages, Paperback

First published January 11, 2006

Reviews

[Katie Halpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great & thorough book detailing grief at different stages of life plus excellent interventions for those who work with grieving individuals

[Lindsay Allyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dense, but very informative. It was helpful having the grief reactions broken down by age groups.

[Rhina M. Finley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Social Worker working as a crisis counselor I found this book to be exceptional!!!

[Greer Rutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read surrounding the different life stages and grief, especially for caregivers and professionals. Some of the language, especially that surrounding suicide and mental illness was a little dated, and it sometimes covered too much ground in not enough depth, but overall solid and helpful read!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for my grief and loss class. I really enjoyed this text. It’s one I will keep on my shelves and refer back to for years to come.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive and sensitive to the developmental needs of all ages. I think it could definitely be a bit dense if you are not a social worker or closely adjacent profession, but this is a great foundation for new or existing social workers. The authors of this book recognized the unique needs of various losses and took the time to properly explain them from the client's perspective.

This was a required reading as part of my MSW coursework ("Bereavement, Grief, & Loss") and I feel as though it benefitted me.

[suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I've read a lot of books about grief, and this is one of the most progressive and impressive out there. The authors are very sensitive to LGBT issues involved with grief as well as cross-cultural variances. I really like that write in lay language, as well, so that either a clinician or any reader could use the material.