Thursday, October 20, 2005
A book and an article on bereaved parents
Tedeschi Richard G and Calhoun, Lawrence G
Helping bereaved parents. A clinician’s guide
Brunner-Routledge, NY, 2004
This book provides a comprehensive overview of working with bereaved parents. The chapters are a)the experience of grieving parents b)grief perspectives models and myths c)a general framework for intervention d)bereaved parents and their families e)circumstances of the loss f)spirituality and religion g)issues for the clinician h)bereaved resources for bereaved parents and their expert companions. This last phrase “expert companions” is one which describes their work with parents and this seems a fitting way of thinking about working with bereaved people in other situations, also. Their use of recorded interviews within the text is also a useful way of illuminating interactions in work with bereaved people.
The profound importance of groupwork for many bereaved parents is also emphasised.
Clinton, J
“I can’t cope with life, I’m too different”
Medical Humanities (an edition of J Medical Ethics) 2004 v30 no1 p 50-51
This an account of the life of the author’s son, Robbie. He went both to special and mainstream schools as he was slightly brain damaged – throughout his life, he was often “on the edge” of groups and was, at times, subject to bullying. In his late teens, when his peers were happily becoming more independent, he started drinking heavily. His parents could not cope – in fact their marriage partly failed on the basis that they could not agree on how to manage him – and eventually he committed suicide dramatically. He died in 2001 and his mother wrote the article as a cathartic experience and after redrafting it, she considered it made her feel more “whole”. There must be many people who have children who live, or who have died outside “mainstream” society, and for whom there is constantly great anguish. This article may be helpful to parents or health professionals working with them.
In the library at St Christopher’s Hospice, we can assist with literature searching and book or articles suggestions for particular needs. Please contact me for details. d.brady@stchristophers.org.uk
Helping bereaved parents. A clinician’s guide
Brunner-Routledge, NY, 2004
This book provides a comprehensive overview of working with bereaved parents. The chapters are a)the experience of grieving parents b)grief perspectives models and myths c)a general framework for intervention d)bereaved parents and their families e)circumstances of the loss f)spirituality and religion g)issues for the clinician h)bereaved resources for bereaved parents and their expert companions. This last phrase “expert companions” is one which describes their work with parents and this seems a fitting way of thinking about working with bereaved people in other situations, also. Their use of recorded interviews within the text is also a useful way of illuminating interactions in work with bereaved people.
The profound importance of groupwork for many bereaved parents is also emphasised.
Clinton, J
“I can’t cope with life, I’m too different”
Medical Humanities (an edition of J Medical Ethics) 2004 v30 no1 p 50-51
This an account of the life of the author’s son, Robbie. He went both to special and mainstream schools as he was slightly brain damaged – throughout his life, he was often “on the edge” of groups and was, at times, subject to bullying. In his late teens, when his peers were happily becoming more independent, he started drinking heavily. His parents could not cope – in fact their marriage partly failed on the basis that they could not agree on how to manage him – and eventually he committed suicide dramatically. He died in 2001 and his mother wrote the article as a cathartic experience and after redrafting it, she considered it made her feel more “whole”. There must be many people who have children who live, or who have died outside “mainstream” society, and for whom there is constantly great anguish. This article may be helpful to parents or health professionals working with them.
In the library at St Christopher’s Hospice, we can assist with literature searching and book or articles suggestions for particular needs. Please contact me for details. d.brady@stchristophers.org.uk
