ABSTRACT
Although the loss of a family member can be profoundly painful, the majority of families find ways over time to heal and reorganize, incorporating the legacy of their lost loved one into their folklore. For some families, however, the adjustment process is hindered by pre-existing dysfunction, challenges with an individual member’s reaction, or the absence of adequate family coping skills. The response to the loss can therefore become prolonged and dysfunctional; in short, it can become complicated.
