Fundamentals of Grief and Loss

 

The Table of Contents

The textbook is divided into eight chapters. Each chapter covers a different topic in Grief and Loss. The chapters are as follows:

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**Section 1: Understanding Grief and Loss

• Learning Resources for Section 1
• **Section 1.1: The Nature of Grief     [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 1.2: Types of Loss     [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 1.3: Models and Theories     [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 1.4: Factors Influencing Grief     [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 1.5: Complicated Grief     [Learning Resources]*

**Section 2: Cultural Perspectives

• Learning Resources for Section 2
• **Section 2.1: Grief in Historical Contexts     [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 2.2: Cultural Variations     [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 2.3: Rituals and Ceremonies     [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 2.4: The Role of Religion     [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 2.5: Modern Shifts in Grieving     [Learning Resources]*

**Section 3: Psychological Aspects of Grief

• Learning Resources for Section 3
• **Section 3.1: Emotional Responses to Loss      [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 3.2: Cognitive and Behavioral Effects     [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 3.3: The Impact on Mental Health     [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 3.4: Attachment Theory and Loss     [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 3.5: Resilience     [Learning Resources]*

**Section 4: Physical and Social Effects of Grief

• Learning Resources for Section 4
• **Section 4.1: Physical Health Consequences     [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 4.2: Grief and Social Withdrawal     [Learning Resources]*
• **Section 4.3: The Impact on Family Dynamics     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 4.4: Grief in the Workplace     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 4.5: Support Systems     [Learning Resources]

**Section 5: Grief Across the Lifespan

• Learning Resources for Section 5
• **Section 5.1: Childhood and Adolescent Grief     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 5.2: Grief in Adulthood     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 5.3: Elderly and Grief     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 5.4: Grieving a Child     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 5.5: Lifespan Approach     [Learning Resources]

**Section 6: Special Topics in Grief and Loss

• Learning Resources for Section 6
• **Section 6.1: Suicide and Grief     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 6.2: Disenfranchised Grief     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 6.3: Loss of Pets     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 6.4: Traumatic Loss     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 6.5: Grief and Substance Use     [Learning Resources]

**Section 7: Therapeutic Approaches to Grieving

• Learning Resources for Section 7
• **Section 7.1: Counseling and Therapy     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 7.2: Group Therapy     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 7.3: Creative and Expressive Therapies     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 7.4: Mindfulness and Meditation     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 7.5: Integrating Technology     [Learning Resources]

**Section 8: Professional Practice and Self-Care

• Learning Resources for Section 8
• **Section 8.1: The Role of Social Workers     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 8.2: Ethics in Grief Counseling     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 8.3: Building Resilience in Clients     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 8.4: Self-Care for Professionals     [Learning Resources]
• **Section 8.5: Professional Development     [Learning Resources]

Statement of Purpose

Welcome to Fundamentals of Grief and Loss, an open educational resource (OER) textbook designed to provide a thorough and engaging learning experience for students. This freely available online textbook embodies modern thinking and best practices in educational pedagogy, offering the unique advantage of immediate reader feedback to continually enhance the content.

Our purpose is to offer a clear and accessible resource that equips students with a solid foundation in understanding grief and loss. By making this textbook freely available online, we ensure that learners from diverse backgrounds can access high-quality educational materials without financial barriers. This OER version also enables readers to actively participate in the improvement of the textbook by providing immediate feedback to the authors regarding the content, fostering a collaborative and iterative learning experience.

Through the integration of real-life examples, diverse perspectives, and current research, we strive to make the study of grief and loss relevant and meaningful to students’ lives. This open textbook encourages active learning, featuring numerous opportunities for students to engage with the material through thought-provoking exercises, reflective activities, and application-based scenarios.

The benefits of the free online OER version are numerous. Firstly, it eliminates financial barriers, making quality education accessible to all students. Secondly, the digital format enables readers to access the textbook anytime, anywhere, fostering flexibility and convenience.

As authors, we are committed to continuous improvement, actively seeking and incorporating reader feedback to enhance the textbook’s content and pedagogical effectiveness. By providing an open platform for engagement and dialogue, we foster a community of learners who actively contribute to the ongoing development of Fundamentals of Grief and Loss.

Modification History

File Created:  06/19/2024

Last Modified:  06/24/2024

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This work is licensed under an Open Educational Resource-Quality Master Source (OER-QMS) License.