Grief and Bereavement Counseling Flashcards

A funeral arranger notices that a bereaved client is minimizing emotions, staying very busy with logistics, and denying any sadness. According to the Dual Process Model, this client is primarily using:

Answer: Restoration orientation coping

Focusing on practical tasks and secondary stressors while minimizing emotional processing reflects restoration orientation, which is a normal and adaptive oscillation in the Dual Process Model.

Which statement best describes the difference between grief, mourning, and bereavement?

Answer: Bereavement is the state of loss; grief is the internal response; mourning is the outward expression

Bereavement refers to the objective state of having lost someone; grief is the internal emotional and psychological response; mourning is the outward, social expression of grief shaped by culture.

When should a funeral professional make a referral to a licensed mental health professional for a bereaved client?

Answer: When the client expresses suicidal ideation or inability to function

Suicidal ideation or severe functional impairment (inability to care for oneself or dependents) are clear indicators for immediate mental health referral beyond the funeral professional's scope.

A Hispanic family requests that their deceased mother remain at home for a one-night 'velorio' (wake) before going to the funeral home. The funeral director should:

Answer: Work with the family and health department to accommodate this cultural practice when legally permissible

Culturally competent funeral practice involves working within legal frameworks to accommodate culturally meaningful death rituals rather than automatically denying such requests.

The term 'anticipatory grief' refers to grief that is experienced:

Answer: Before an expected death, during a terminal illness

Anticipatory grief occurs during the terminal illness phase as family members begin grieving the impending loss before the actual death occurs.

A bereaved parent states, 'I know everyone grieves differently, but it's been a year and my husband is already back to normal—I feel like something is wrong with me.' The most appropriate response is:

Answer: 'There is no timeline for grief, and your experience is valid—people grieve differently.'

Validating the bereaved person's experience and correcting the misconception that grief should follow a universal timeline is a foundational grief support skill.

Which of the following is an example of an 'instrumental griever' as described in grief research?

Answer: A bereaved son who channels his grief into building a memorial garden

Instrumental grievers (Martin & Doka) tend to experience grief cognitively and behaviorally, preferring problem-solving and activity over emotional expression.