Grief and its Challenges

PART I: MAKING SENSE OF GRIEF.- Introduction.- Loss and Grief.- Crisis and Trauma.- The Social Context.- PART II: GRIEF AND HEALING.- Introduction.- Experiencing Grief.- Responding to Grief 1: The Personal Response.- Responding to Grief 2: The Professional Response.- PART III: GRIEF WITHOUT HEALING.- Introduction.- Complicationsin Grieving.- Grief and Psychological Problems.- Grief and Social Problems.- Conclusion.- Guide to Further Reading.- References.- Index

NEIL THOMPSON is a highly respected writer, teacher and adviser, with over 33 years ofexperience in the people professions. He has held full or honorary professorships at four UK universities, and is now a sought after trainer, consultant and conference speaker. He is the editor-in-chief of two online communities: Well-being Zone (www.wellbeingzone.com) and Social Work Focus (www.socialworkfocus.com). His personal website is at www.neilthompson.info.

'The book, Grief and its Challenges, by Neil Thompson is a timely, groundbreaking accomplishment by an eminent scholar with a style of writing that is accessible to any reader. We are all touched by death and grief. This book is compassionately and conceptually sophisticated, and yet it is able to offer the reader a clear, useful approach to managing grief and loss. It is destined to become a classic for those concerned about grief and its management, which should include all of us.' - Gerry R. Cox, Professor Emeritus, Center for Death Education & Bioethics, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, USA'Neil Thompson is a gifted author, counselor, teacher and advocate. As I read Grief and its Challenges, I found a mirror, reflecting the words back to me as my story. This book is a fine resource with the traditional basics and also refreshing adaptations to today's losses. The book, which includes exercises and simple assignments, will be a great teaching and counseling tool.' - Richard B. Gilbert, PhD, CT, Mercy College, New York,USA,and The World Pastoral Care Center'Understanding the challenging and complex issues of grief and loss requires sensitivity, sophistication and skill. Neil Thompson has achieved all of these in this latest book Grief and its Challenges. Theoretically rich and emotionally compassionate, this book offers insights for theory and practice for social and health care professionals, students, and all those with interested in grief and loss.' -Dr Jan Pascal, La Trobe University, La Trobe Rural Health School, Victoria, Australia 'An excellent book which presents a range of complex issues in an accessible way. It is an erudite, scholarly but practice focussed work. A welcome addition to the literature, it clearly informs readers, while deeply enhancing their learning and understanding.' - Bernard Moss, Emeritus Professor of Social Work Education and Spirituality, Staffordshire University, UK. 'A highly readable text that offers a new perspective on the