Models of Grieving

The death of a loved one is a significant event that everyone experiences. An individual's social environment, including societal and familial cultural factors, may influence how an individual approaches death or grieves the loss of someone else who dies. You can anticipate addressing grief in your social work practice and, therefore, should develop an understanding of the grieving process.

Two models of grieving-the Kubler-Ross and Westburg models-identify stages through which an individual progresses in response to the death of a loved one. Understanding the various ways individuals cope with grief helps you to anticipate their responses and to assist them in managing their grief. Select one model of grieving-the Kubler-Ross or Westburg model-to address in this assignment.

Addressing the needs of grieving family members can diminish your personal emotional, mental, and physical resources. In addition to developing strategies to assist grieving individuals in crisis, you must develop strategies that support self-care.

In this Assignment, you apply a grieving model to work with families in a hospice environment and suggest strategies for self-care.

Submit a 2- to 4-page paper in which you:

• Explain how you, as a social worker, might apply the grieving model you selected to your work with families in a hospice environment.
• Identify components of the grieving model that you think might be difficult to apply to your social work practice. Explain why you anticipate these challenges.
• Identify strategies you might use for your own self care as a social worker dealing with grief counseling. Explain why these strategies might be effective.