Comparative Analysis of Stage and Task Models of Grieving Process

This paper provides a comparative analysis of stage-based and task-based models of the grieving process. It explores the different theories and approaches to understanding and coping with grief and loss.

A comparative analysis of stage and task models of the grieving process
The feeling of loss is present among humans universally. What is different is the way this sense of
loss of expressed, adopted and coped. Expression of this loss is known as grief and mourning, which
vary from individual to individual, community to community, country to country. Despite a wide
range of studies, there is no generally agreed definition of grieving. Many terms are used to describe
aspects of grieving. Bereavement is having the experience of loss; grief is the cognitive, emotional,
psychological and behavioural reaction to the loss and finally mourning is the practice based in
culture through which the bereavement and grief are expressed (Howarth, 2011). To examine the
process of bereavement and grief scientists have developed models of which some are stage based,
and some are task-based. This paper will draw a comparative analysis of these two types of theories.
Stage-based models
Among the theorists who believe that people go through various stages while dealing with loss,
Kuber-Ross is most famous for her influential book On Death and Dying published in 1969. She
developed the model to explain how a dying person reacts to the impending death. Kuber-Ross
identified five stages that a dying person encounters namely denial, anger, bargaining, depression,
and acceptance (Gregory, 2019). Initially, it was believed that these stages occur in a stepwise and
linear fashion, but later Kuber-Ross stated that these stages are like descriptions rather than
prescriptions to follow. An individual can navigate from one to another readily (Haslam, 2018). This
theory gained maximum popularity and drew academic acclaiming, but these stages were never
empirically tested to prove the real bereavement of a dying person.
Other prominent stage-based theories are by Bowlby (1982) which describes “processes of
mourning” where he identified yearning and searching, disorganization and despair and last
recognition as primary stages. Parkes (1966) expanded the model and added a phase of numbness at
the beginning of grief (Terranova, 2018).
Rando (1993) talked about “six Rs” of bereavement that included “recognize the loss”, “react to what
has happened”, “recollect and renew memories associated with the loss” “relinquish the world as it
once was”, “readjust the life after the loss” and “reinvest and reenter the world” (Particelli, 2019).
Sander (1999) developed her five stages of grief process as a shock, awareness of loss, withdrawal,
healing, and renewal (Hangu, 2015).
These theories make one thing clear that there are different ways of describing the grief process
which can be approached from varied perspectives.
Task-based models
A few scientists developed a task-based model of grief where the grief process is compared with the
developmental task that individuals must learn to move forward in life. Worden (1991, 2001)
identified these tasks as the following:
 Acknowledge the truth of the loss
 Process the pain associated with grief
 Adjust to the circumstances where the person who is dead is missed
 Find a permanent connection with the departed person while advancing with the new life
(Everly, 2019).

Worden believed that not completing this task is synonymous with not living. One needs to
remember that life goes on even when someone dies. It is important for people not to lose hope and
continue to lead their lives with some sense of purpose and worth (Smit, 2015). These tasks
constitute different goals that one should strive for even when faced with grief and sadness. The
relationship that the person had with those who he or she has lost continues to evolve and change as
the person does. There are times that that person may feel closer to his or her loved ones, and times
when that person needs to remind himself or herself to go on with life despite the feeling the absence.
People can take help from therapists or a member of their religious or spiritual community who can
help them find a way of coping with the grief and at the same time carry on with life. People can find
a more cosmic bond with the lost dear one in the course of their lives (Drenth, Herbst, and Strydom,
2010).
The comparison
Both the stage based model and the task-based models indicate important aspects of the grieving
process. While the stage-based models offer an explanation of the inward process of being bereaved,
the task-based model views the process with an outward perspective.
Another point of departure between the two types of model is that stage-based models tend to think
these stages as following steps which occurs one after the another in a linear manner. But the task-
based model has no such underlying assumption. According to the task-based model, a person can
start from any step and navigate to any other step in any order that is suitable for him or her.
The stage-based models do not act as a guiding map for a bereaved person on how to overcome the
pain and find a new way to life. They merely state what the phases people usually face when grief-
stricken are. The task-based model sets a few goals before the person going through bereavement
which gradually help him or her to come of out of the state and see a life beyond the loss despite
staying connected deeply with the person who they have lost. The task-based models take care of the
emotions of the persons in the state of grief better compared to the stage-based models.
Conclusion
The grieving process is unique for every person. They are like fingerprints which never have any
duplicates. Therefore, theorizing grieving process into models is rather a futile exercise. However,
these models provide a very board idea of what the grieving process generally can be. These models
also help people rationalize their feelings when faced with a loss. They act as supports to their
tormented souls.
For social scientists and therapists, these models allow them to understand people better in order to
help them overcome the phase. Despite knowing that each individual responds to grief in their ways,
these group of people can formulate support customised for individuals based on the guidelines
offered by the task-based models so that the bereaved persons can move in life overcoming the grief
and finds a purpose of life.
An evaluation of two different counselling approaches for loss and grief
Facilitating the recovery from loss has been a primary objective of counselling since long. Elizabeth
Kubler-Ross was of the view that counsellors must care for the bereaved people and counsel them to
come out of grief. They should allow the persons in grief to take the counsellors through the journey

of their experience before they start creating several sets of goals and expectations that the bereaved
person is expected to meet and achieve.
Person-centered therapy
Carl Rogers developed Person-centered therapy in the 1940s, which is based on his belief that people
have vast potential for understanding their selves and for changing their self-concepts, underlying
attitudes, and self-directed behaviour (Kriz, 2013). This approach of counselling focuses on self-
perceptions of individuals that are made consciously instead of counsellor’s interpretation of the
unconscious thoughts and ideas of the client.
This method of counselling recognizes and believes in human potential and offers clients
empathy and unconditional support to facilitate change. Following this approach, a therapist never
directs the course of therapy, rather the therapists help channelize the thoughts of the clients with
support, guidance, and structure so that the individuals themselves can find personalized solutions.
Rogers pointed at six factors that will assist the client in progressing toward a productive realization
of potential. These factors are:
 Therapist-Client Psychological Contact
 Client Incongruence or Vulnerability
 Therapist Congruence or Genuineness
 Therapist Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR)
 Therapist Empathy
 Client Perception (McLeod, 2019)
Assessment of the approach
Person-centered therapy is one of the leading approaches to humanistic psychology. Also known as
Rogerian therapy, it exerted an incredible impact on the practice of psychotherapy and influenced
many other disciplines from medicine to education as well. The main point of digression of this
approach from the traditional model is that the therapist is allowed to adopt a nondirective, empathic
approach that motivates and empowers the client in towards self-actualization in the therapeutic
process. The benefits of this approach are that it is useful in helping people of all ages and a wide
range of personal issues.
The effectiveness of this approach in grief and loss counselling lies in its emphasis on giving the
client space and the freedom to express themselves without being directed or judged. This method
acts as a healing touch for the bereaved person and supports them to develop self-reliance and
connect themselves with their inner self through the process of recovery.
The critics of this approach point out the lack of scientific research in establishing the effectiveness
of this approach. They even challenge the basic premise of the theory that any person can work
towards realizing the potential if the therapist develops the proper conditions with the argument that
the therapist is not in control of all the influences that have a direct bearing on the clients’ ability to
fulfil their objectives.
Cognitive behaviour therapy
The use of Cognitive behaviour therapy in counselling grief and loss quite common. CBT is best
suited for short-term and focused therapy for helping clients deal with a very specific problem.

Through the progression of treatment, the bereaved persons learn methods of identifying the
repetitive and distressing thought patterns that are affecting their healthy life and their behaviour
(Kabir, 2017).
Cognitive behavioural therapy does not tell people how they should feel. It teaches the grief-stricken
person to to accept the loss more calmly. This not only makes the person feel better, but also puts
him or her in a better position to apply their intelligence, knowledge, energy, and resources to move
forward. The objective of cognitive behavioural therapists is to gain a perfect understanding of the
concerns of their clients. For this purpose, they often ask questions. They also inspire their clients to
ask questions. Cognitive behavioural therapists set a specific agenda for each session, which may be
a specific technique or a concept that is to be taught during each session.
CBT concentrates on the client’s goals. The counselors do not decide the goals on behalf of their
client. The client chooses his or her goals. What CBT does is to show how to achieve that goal.
The Assessment of the approach
CBT has been empirically rested to yield proven the positive result in recovering from grief and loss.
Studies have shown that the approach becomes even more effective when clients recognize the
rationale of the treatment and commit themselves to carry out the tasks detailed in their treatment
plan. The counseling techniques make the client self-aware and self-driven who becomes competent
enough to take independent decisions and find a purpose in life despite suffering from great loss.
CBT is most effective in dealing with problems involving rumination where the client continues
thinking repeatedly and recurrently of the causes and consequences of the adverse life events. This
would be a typical case if the bereaved person were markedly dependent on the deceased person.
Then a negative thought related to the bereaved person’s survival without the deceased appears
recurrently on the grief-stricken person leading to self-defeating behaviours. CBT based therapy
helps build the self-confidence of these persons who no longer feel helpless and weak instead of gear
up to take charge of his or her life (Kosminsky, 2016).
Conclusion
Both Person-centered therapy and Cognitive behaviour therapy are milestones in the field of
psychotherapy. They have been widely recognized and exercised in dealing with people who are in
grief and are suffering from a sense of loss and helplessness. While person centred therapy gives the
freedom to the client to express themselves and not feel judged at any stage of their outburst, the
cognitive behaviour therapy teaches the client to stay calm and accept the reality of loss. When
analysed from the therapists’ perspective, it is the CBT that gives more control to the counsellor
compared to PCT. However, both the approaches work towards healing the grief-stricken persons
and make them believe in themselves so that despite the loss and suffering they can regain inner
strength and self-esteem and recover from the state of mourning. These therapies help people see life
beyond the loss and allow them to adjust to the changing environment.
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