ABSTRACT
Barbara M. is a 56-year-old insurance claims processor. She was married for 30 years, and has two grown children. Her husband William died of cancer eleven months ago. Although his death was not unexpected, the impact of his declining health over several years took an emotional and physical toll and had a severe impact on Barbara's productivity at work. She took three weeks off immediately after William died, but found it hard to return and be as energetic and efficient as she was previously. Her su pervisor was initially concerned, and later began to lose patience with Bar bara, insisting that she talk with someone at the firm's Employee Assis tance Program (EAP) . With a referral from the EAP staff, and at the urging of her children, Barbara made an appointment to see a psychologist.
