ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the relationship between continuing bonds and the process of posttraumatic growth (PTG) in bereaved persons. In a systematic review of PTG and bereavement, C. Michael and M. Cooper found that one of the key themes to emerge was positive personal growth as evidenced by a greater sense of personal strength. Through deliberate rumination that involves dialectical thinking and acceptance of paradox, bereaved persons assimilate the experience of loss into their lives, and their narrative of their lives. In addition, religion and spirituality can serve as a framework for promoting growth through a deepening of faith and conviction, which can then result in spiritual change that leads to an increased sense of meaning and purpose. Facilitating PTG is a delicate process when working with many bereaved persons, especially those who have experienced losses that are traumatic or seem "unnatural".
