ABSTRACT
Participants in grief workshops, bereavement support groups and classes in the psychology of loss can benefit from this relatively “safe” way to explore their own grieving styles while comparing and contrasting them with those of others. The grieving styles grid invites participants to explore their position on two axes, each of which ranges along a continuum of expressive vs. stoic or of continuing bonds vs. letting go. The former captures preferences for the social expression versus the private experience of grief, noted in connection with discussions of gender roles and ethnic variations in bereavement. In the more academic or professional contexts, assigning a brief, five-minute “free write” following the exercise can help deepen and personalize the learning, encouraging the learners to capture in words what most struck them about the diverse grieving styles encountered, including their own. In all cases, the grieving styles grid tends to promote bonding within subgroups, understanding of differences and respect for the diverse ways.
