ABSTRACT
Chapter 13 is about the variety of losses a client can experience and the grieving process. Some clients believe that there are stages and feelings common in grieving, while others believe that most everything about their experience is unique. Specious standards and expectations can cause distress and even do harm. Grief from the death of a person can be challenging and complicated to address. No single rule or tendency universally applies; each client will have to find a personal way to process grief, make sense of things, and transition. Only when a client is emotionally receptive, questions such as, “How are you honoring [your loved one]?” and “When are things a little better?” are appropriate. Some clients find a way to honor their loved one through a memorial or continuing to support a project or a charity, or even tending to their garden. Interventions for loss and grief are not routine or clear-cut, so it is urgent to notice what works and what might be interfering with healing and moving on.
