ABSTRACT
The authors had the idea that they could develop a general map that would direct then in their work with bereaved and dying children and families. Looking for connections and links between the experiences with clients and what seemed like disconnected theories about death and bereavement, the authors were working towards identifying patterns that might give meaning to specific instances. At that time, therefore, the authors were seeing each contact with a bereaved or dying child or family as another opportunity to create arid refine of their "working-with-death-and-dying" map. It was at this point that the authors decided to elaborate the existing repertoire of beliefs about death. Interest in learning different ideas about dying and bereavement re-awakened authors' curiosity, and ventured away from the security of their familiar map towards new territory, as together with clients they explored possible death stories that might enable them to go on.
