Dual Process Model and Coping with Grief

This article discusses the dual process model and its effectiveness in coping with grief. It explores the two main types of stressors associated with grief, loss-orientation and restoration-orientation, and the importance of oscillation between these coping mechanisms. The article also highlights the implications of the dual process model in grief counseling and recovery.

Running head: DUAL PROCESS MODEL AND COPING WITH GRIEF.
Dual Process Model and Coping with Grief
Student’s Name
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Dual Process Model and Coping with Grief
Most of the traditional theories that attempt to explain effective ways of coping with
grief have shortcomings. Grief is mainly associated with the loss of a loved one. The most
popular traditional theory for dealing with grief is the grief work hypothesis (Doka, 2018).
However, this theory has some shortcomings. One of the weaknesses is that it lacks a precise
definition of terms. For instance, there is no precise definition of the term grief. The second
main disadvantage of the theory is that it cannot be applied across cultures. The third
disadvantage is the theory has a very shallow focus when it comes to the personal factors that
influence recovery from grief. It is due to the shortcoming of the grief work hypothesis that
the dual process model is proposed.
According to Stroebe and Schut (2015), the dual process model has been shown to the
most effective model in grief counseling and in coping with grief. This model identifies two
main types of stressors that are involved in grief. One of the stressors is related to the loss
while the other is related to restoration. The dual process theory also proposes some efficient
ways of coping with grief. According to the theory, a person who is grieving may react
through confrontation or reacting. This paper will focus on reviewing the literature that is
available on the dual process model of coping with grief. There are different levels of grief.
Some of these are referred to as simple while others are considered complex.
Extensive evidence reveals that grieving is not only necessary but also vital if
successful adaptation is to occur. Contemporary researchers have different ideas when it
comes to the efficacy of different models in dealing with grief. Although this is the case,
(Burman, 2016) agrees that the dual process model is the model most suited to grief
counseling. Being the best-suited means that the model is the best fit when it comes to
helping individuals cope with grief. A growing body of research suggests that it is essential

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for counselors to have an understanding of what it takes to effectively support a grieving
person cope (Neimeyer, 2015). The reason for this is that grieving people will usually need
customized ways of overcoming. There is one main reason for this. The reason is that there
are physical, mental and emotional factors that are implicated in the grief process. There
exists evidence to show that some of the methods that people apply lead to an improvement
in their health status while others may have detrimental effects on health (Volkan and Zintl,
2015). Therefore, counselors should adopt a counseling model that has been found to work.
The dual process model proves to be the most important in this regard (Volkan and Zintl,
2015). It proves essential because it helps the counselor and the client appreciate the effective
practices and the detrimental ones. With this understanding, it possible to ensure that the
grief-coping process is headed in the right direction.
There is a need for more research to be carried out to make the dual process even
better. The most current research in this area shows that although the model has significant
advantages and is the best suited in grief counseling, it has one main limitation. The
limitation is the failure to consider situations of severe repercussions of grief. A growing
body of research suggests that there are cases in which the grieving person may experience
excessive amounts of stress due to the loss of a loved one and the factors surrounding the loss
(Burman, 2016). For the dual process model to remain the best-suited grief management
model, the aspect of stress overload should be included in the model’s framework.
Inculcating this aspect will go a long way in ensuring that the theory is broader and covers
almost all fundamental aspects of grief counseling.
Description of the Dual Process Model
According to Walter and McCoyd, (2015), the dual-process theory is a theory that
describes how people comes to term with the loss of a person who is close to them. This

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theory was initially developed to describe the different ways through which people come to
terms with the loss of a marriage partner (Walter and McCoyd, 2015). Later, the theory was
considered viable to fit in other situations of loss. There exists insufficient evidence to show
whether the approach can be applied to other traumatic events that do not involve the loss of
a loved one (Worden, 2018). The following section is going to focus on a description of the
components of the model and how they apply to cope with grief. Some of the elements are
the stressors that are associated with the loss of a loved one. Others revolve around the
cognitive strategies that are used to recover from the loss. In addition to these, there is a
dynamic process that is referred to as oscillation. Oscillation is the component of this model
that makes it stand out from the previous theories.
Loss Versus Restoration – Orientation
When using the dual process model, it is imperative to ensure that the stressors
associated with the grief/ bereavement are identified. Stressors mainly refer to the factors that
have changed negatively in the life of the affected person. Blandin and Pepin (2017) propose
some changes that should be introduced into the life of the affected person to help them cope.
Extensive evidence reveals that different people will react differently to the loss of a loved
one (Worden, 2018). Various factors will influence the kind of reaction. These factors include
but are not limited to cultural and personality differences. Two main aspects require to be
addressed when helping a person cope with the loss. These are associated with the two main
factors identified above. Besides, these two main aspects also refer to the two main categories
of stressors. These are loss orientation and restoration-oriented coping (Blandin and Pepin,
2017). Therefore, these two apply to the two main types of stressors both of which require
coping mechanisms. When focusing on these two stressors, counselors should appreciate that
they do not occupy the grieving person at every time during the bereavement process
(Worden, 2018). Coping with grief should be integrated into the daily activities of the

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affected person. Integration usually happens through ensuring that the affected person
engages in some other activities that take them off the grief. Some examples of such activities
include watching a TV program that the affected person finds entertaining, talking to friends,
reading or even sleeping.
Loss-orientation refers to dealing with some aspect of the loss experience. This aspect
usually relates to the deceased person. Loss-orientation has been the main focus of traditional
theories. The main focus of this approach is to think deeply about some experience revolving
around the person who has died (Doka, 2018). One of the things that one may deeply think
about is the bond that existed between a person and the deceased. A person may also think
about the relationship that existed between the person and the dead or even the circumstances
surrounding the death of the loved one. It also involves yearning for the deceased person and
imagining how things would be if they were still alive. This mechanism may also include
reacting or crying due to the loss. All these activities are geared towards helping the grieving
person come to terms with the loss that they have undergone. There is no doubt that this
approach involves various emotional reactions. These emotions are very diverse; that is, they
vary from remembering the good moments to the despair that comes with the idea that the
loved person is gone forever.
The second kind of stressor associated with grief is the restoration-orientation. This
aspect of coping with loss is not as common as the loss orientation. Most research that has
been carried out so far has focused on loss-orientation. The term restoration is used to refer to
secondary means of coping with the loss. In other words, this mechanism focuses on what the
person who is grieving should deal with. An example of a factor that a person who is grieving
may need to deal with is social loneliness. When such aspects are dealt with, the person can
cope with the situation and recover from their loss. When an individual loses a loved one,
there are other factors that the person affected has to deal with besides the loss itself. These

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factors are referred to as secondary consequences of the loss. Therefore, counselors should
ensure that the person is helped to deal with secondary implications of the loss.
In most cases of bereavements, these secondary consequences of the loss are the ones
associated with the most considerable anxiety and upset (Blandin and Pepin, 2017). The
reason for this is that the person has to learn to lead their lives without the loved one. In some
cases, there is also a change of status from a spouse to a widow or a child with a parent to an
orphan. The change of state may also be from a parent with a child to a parent of a deceased
child.
Therefore, different disruptive changes occur as a result of the loss of the loved one in
restoration orientation. Extensive research has revealed that there are different types of
adjustments that are necessary depending on the various circumstances surrounding the grief
(Walter and McCoyd, 2015). In the case where one loses a spouse, the significant changes
that they have to make revolves around the household roles. The remaining spouse has to
handle the responsibilities that they were handling together with the deceased spouse.
Therefore, the remaining spouse could be said to have a double burden. It is not always easy
to assume these responsibilities especially when one remembers that their spouse is gone
forever. The loss of a child, on the other hand, may not affect the household roles. Most of
these roles are carried out by the parents of the child. The loss of a child would instead affect
the communication patterns that exist in a household. According to Worden (2018), men and
women react very differently to the loss of a child. In most cases, there is a high likelihood of
redirection of the negative feelings towards the spouse.
Oscillation
As noted previously, oscillation is the aspect of the dual process model that makes it
distinct from the others. It refers to the integration of both the loss and the restoration-

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oriented coping methods. As the word oscillation suggests, the client who is suffering grief
alternates between these two stressors so that they can effectively cope and recover from their
loss. At times, the grieving person will focus on the circumstances surrounding the loss. At
other times, this person will avoid the memories of the deceased person through engaging in
activities that distract them. As noted in the previous section, these activities may involve
watching a favorite TV show or talking with friends. Therefore, the unique aspect of
oscillation is switching between the two coping mechanisms (Walter and McCoyd, 2015).
There exists some relationship between oscillation and mental /physical health outcomes.
Most research reveals that oscillation is necessary so that a person may fully recover from
their loss. Several reasons are provided for the justification of oscillation.
Extensive evidence reveals that it is rarely possible to successfully overcome grief
without taking some time to relax and not think about the loss. According to Volkan and Zintl
(2015), attempting to overcome grief without taking such time may have detrimental
consequences to the physical and mental health of the affected person. It follows that
oscillation is not only necessary but vital. Attempting to suppress negative emotions requires
effort. Due to this effort, physiological reactivity is continued. What follows is severe adverse
health consequences such as trauma. After some time of oscillating back and forth through
the two aspects of coping with the loss, a person finds that they no longer think about the
loss. Failure to remember is due to repeated exposure and confrontation. It is said that the
person has formed a habit (habituation). When habituation has taken place, there are high
chances that negative emotions will soon dwindle and the person will lead a healthy life again
(Roos, 2017).
In addition to this, oscillation has been found to weaken negative thoughts over time.
Therefore, numerous advantages are associated with oscillation. It is important to note that
the dual process model is very useful in grief counseling. In contemporary society, the dual

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process model is widely accepted as the best in grief counseling. It has been shown to help
clients cope well with the loss and recover. After recovering, there are fewer chances for
relapse where the dual process model was used. In a nutshell, the dual process model is very
useful when it comes to coping with grief.
As we have noted above, oscillation is the attribute that makes the dual process model
different from other theories. This dual process model is effective in most populations.
However, there are situations where oscillations may not help in overcoming grief.
Oscillations are unhelpful mainly in cases where the client is engaged too much with one side
of the oscillation. For instance, an individual may concentrate too much on the loss that they
are unable to switch to the restoration orientation. It may also happen that a person focuses
too much on restoration and is unable to change to the loss-orientation. Oscillation will not
work in such cases. Individuals who are affected this way may have a hard time coping with
grief. There is a need for more research to be carried out so that ways of dealing with these
aspects are identified.
Implications of the Dual Process Model
The principles discussed in the section above are crucial in the understanding of the
process of grieving. This section will borrow from scientific evidence to explain the main
implications of the dual process model. The section will mainly focus on three key issues.
These are complicated grief, the aspect of differences in gender and an analysis of the cultural
and interpersonal context of the grieving process.
Complicated Grief
In complicated grief, the grieving person lacks that ability to detach themselves from
the grieving person. It could be referred to as chronic grief. The person who is undergoing
this kind of grief is experiencing extreme psychological implications. Extensive evidence

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reveals that this chronic grief may lead to conditions such as depression and trauma (Volkan
and Zintl, 2015). The grieving person also experiences what is referred to as a confrontation.
Confrontation refers to a situation where a person tries to act or behave as if nothing is
happening. Due to this confrontation, an individual may endeavor to ensure that they lead
healthy lives at work, talk generally to a friend, etc. This usually a mechanism of convincing
oneself that nothing happened. Researchers typically consider this to be a problem of
oscillation. In such a case, the individual cannot switch in between confrontation and
avoidance which makes it very hard for the appropriate adjustment to occur.
There are some cases where the person may experience extreme avoidance of reality.
At this stage, overcoming grief is not an easy process. The dual process model has been
found to significantly help such people overcome their grief (Volkan and Zintl, 2015).
Research reveals that the traditional theories were limiting for they could not provide
practical ways of dealing with such situations. Traditional theories are limited because the
circumstances of grief are different for each person. Besides, the factors that are involved in
the grieving process would be described as multifaceted. Employing the dual process model
has been shown to help the affected person to slowly but surely recover from complicated
grief. The counselor using the dual process model endeavors to ensure that the client is
supported to use the process of oscillation effectively. Once, the client has been able to
become stable and use the procedure of oscillation appropriately, then the healing process has
already started.
There are some standard features of complicated grief. One of the most important is
that the people who undergo it usually have experienced a traumatic loss. Therefore, post-
traumatic stress is typically apparent in most cases of complicated grief. If we were to use the
dual process model to explain what brings about the traumatic loss, we would conclude that it
is merely the disturbance of the process of oscillation. In this kind of grief, a person

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experiences extreme intrusion when it comes to the components that are associated with loss
orientation.
An example is that the affected person may experience nightmares about death. These
components come when least expected. In addition to this, there is a possibility for a person
experiencing complicated grief to experience extreme repercussions of the restoration-
oriented coping.
Gender Differences
The dual process model seems to describe the different ways of grieving according to
gender. Let us take an example. Extensive evidence reveals that there exists a significant
difference between how mother and fathers grieve over the loss of a child (Capuzzi and
Stauffer, 2016). Mothers tend to be more loss oriented than fathers. Men and women have
different ways of expressing their emotions. Therefore, it is not surprising that mothers would
tend to have a more loss-oriented approach when compared to fathers.
Further research suggests that such differences may arise from differential outcomes.
There exists evidence to show that there are poor health consequences that are associated
with men and women (Roos, 2017). For women, these are referred to as unmitigated
communion while for men it is referred to as unmitigated agency. There exists a relationship
between these two forms of poor health consequences and the loss versus restoration
orientations. It is these two forms of poor health consequences that cause the differences that
exist between men and women.
There exists evidence that due to their gender differences, men may require different
ways of coping than women (Capuzzi and Stauffer, 2016). Applying the same method of
coping may be detrimental to one party. Several studies have been carried out to determine
what men and women would want from the grieving process. Most women say that the first

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thing they would want is a platform to share how they feel. This aspect ranks tenth when it
comes to male respondents. The first on the list of male respondents is that they would like to
know how people who have been in such a situation deal with it. Extensive evidence shows
that when interventions are customized according to gender, the chances of coping with grief
are higher (Capuzzi and Stauffer, 2016). Let us look at an example.
There have been several studies that have been done to determine the effectiveness of
the dual process model in helping their clients cope. These studies ensured that gender
difference was considered. Therefore, the focus was to help the women overcome their grief
with the consideration that they are feminine. There are also other studies that have been
carried out with widowers. Like with the widows, these studies have been concerned with
appreciating the different needs of men while helping them cope with grief. The results have
shown that putting gender differences into consideration will yield better results (Capuzzi and
Stauffer, 2016). Therefore, gender differences should be considered when helping a person to
cope with grief. Doing this will be a great way of ensuring that the recovery process is faster
and more effective. In light of this, the dual process model is the best suited when it comes to
helping a person overcome grief. It had both emotional oriented coping (for women) and
problem-solving orientation (for men). These two aspects make the model better and more
effective when compared with traditional theories. In a nutshell, the dual process model puts
into consideration gender differences.
Social and Cultural context of Grieving
As we have observed in the previous sections, there are many ways in which the dual
process model is better compared to the traditional theories of coping with grief. In addition
to the strengths of the dual process model that have already been identified, the model is also
better suited when it comes to dealing with the intrapersonal factors that are involved in the

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grieving process (Blandin and Pepin, 2017). The model is useful in taking into consideration
the intercultural factors of grieving that may affect the coping process (Thompson and Lund,
2017). Due to this consideration, the model could effectively be applied across different
cultures. The model also puts into consideration how the grieving of one person may affect
another. The gender differences example provided in the previous section is a good
illustration of this.
There are so many factors that surround the issue of bereavement/ grieving.
Therefore, an approach that takes care of all the appropriate aspects is considered when
helping a person overcome grief. Effective counseling mechanisms will ensure effective
results. Extensive evidence reveals that the best suited theoretical model when it comes to
this is the dual process model (Thompson and Lund, 2017). Let us take an example. As we
have seen above, the mother is likely to employ a loss-oriented approach when grieving for
the loss of a child. The father, on the other hand, is more likely to use the restoration
orientation. With this information, it is possible for a counselor to customize the oscillations
so that they take into account the gender differences. If the clients are made to understand
their differences, it is unlikely that one party will see the other as grieving less or more than
them. For instance, it is common for women to claim that men grieve less than them when it
comes to the loss of a child. With this understanding, the women would appreciate the
different grieving processes based on gender (Thompson and Lund, 2017). This way, the dual
process model becomes essential in explaining what is making the other party behave the way
that they do.
In addition to addressing the question of interpersonal differences, the dual process
model is also important in accounting for the cultural differences of grieving. Grief is
essentially the expression that comes as a result of losing a loved one. Despite the
universality of the term grief, appreciating that cultural factors may influence how a person

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will carry out the grieving process is an integral part of effective counseling (Capuzzi and
Stauffer, 2016). The dual process attempts to explain the cultural differences that exist in the
process of grief. These differences are described through the loss-orientation phenomena. An
example with the Muslim community on Bali Island would significantly illustrate this
phenomenon. For this Muslim community, there is a minimal expression of grief (Blandin
and Pepin, 2017). Besides, crying is not very common during the grieving process. Despite
this, the feeling of loss is much felt. If this community were to be compared with the Muslim
population of Egypt, there would be notable differences. Egyptian Muslim community
expresses their grief in a very open manner. There are also several meetings held to share and
anguish over the loss. The illustration above shows that different communities have different
ways of grieving. All the methods, despite the cultural background, may be explained through
the dual process model of loss versus restoration orientations.
Overload
There exists sufficient evidence to reveal that the dual process model has a missing
link (Blandin and Pepin, 2017). The best term to offer to this missing link is overload. This
section is going to focus on this overload. The term overload may be defined as a situation
where the grieving persons feel like they are presented with more than they can handle
(Stroebe and Schut, 2016). A situation of overload may include too many activities or events.
The term is, therefore, broader than bereavement overload. Bereavement overload refers to a
condition where a person loses their loved one in quick succession. As observed in the
previous section, the term dual process model mainly deals with two orientations. The two
orientations are the loss orientation and the restoration orientation. Although the theory
primarily focuses on these two orientations, there exists a gap. The gap exists because the
model fails to look at what could happen in the event a person over-interacts with either of
the orientations. Such an over interaction may leave the client having a feeling that they are

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experiencing much more than they can handle. The dual process model also fails to look at
what may happen in case an individual is unable to move between the two orientations in the
process orientations comfortably. There are particular situations where the client feels like
they cannot cope despite all the measures that are put in place (DeDiego, Wheat and Fletcher,
2017). The experience explained above is what is referred to as overload. There are several
implications that one may have as a result of overload. These may include extreme feelings of
pressure and distress. In addition, the grieving person may become very anxious.
Stressor Overload
Stress overload refers to a situation where the client is experiencing an overload with
the feelings that are associated with the loss orientation of the dual process model (Roos,
2017). If a person loses more than one close person at the same time, it becomes challenging
for the person to cope with the losses simultaneously. Overload does not only arise from loss-
oriented stressors. It could also be brought about by an increasingly high amount of
restoration stressors. It is also important to note that if a person who is grieving experiences
difficulties in their interpersonal relationships, then the person may experience an overload
(DeDiego, Wheat and Fletcher, 2017). In addition to this, an overload may be brought about
by factors that have nothing to do with the mourning or the grieving process.
An example is the amount of time that would be demanded by the grieving process.
Another example would be having too many tasks in the workplace. Extensive evidence has
revealed that there is another common factor that stimulates an overload. This factor is where
a person close to the grieving person falls ill and needs attention. The divided attention
reduces the amount of time available for grieving and may lead to overload. Some other
possible occurrences may lead to stress overload. These occurrences usually involve a
positive aspect that comes along with the loss of a loved one. This aspect means that both the

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positive and the negative elements co-occur. Research in psychology has shown that the
overload that results from such an occurrence is very complicated and may require very
specialized care for the affected person to cope (Roos, 2017). Here is an example of such an
incident. Suppose a mother gives birth to twins. Such a mother may experience stress
overload if one of the twins dies while the other lives. In this case, a positive aspect and a
negative one co-occurs. The positive one is that of delivering. In most societies having a baby
is considered a positive thing. The negative aspect of the situation is the loss of one of the
twin babies. It would be very hard on the part of the mother to build a bond and break another
at the same time. As discussed previously, women tend to be more loss-oriented. Therefore,
such a mother is likely to experience stress overload.
Coping with Overload
Research has been carried out to ensure that people who are grieving can effectively
cope with overload (Roos, 2017). As noted in the previous sections, the dual process model
mainly deals with a shift between the two kinds of orientations to help a person cope with
grief. This shift is what is referred to as oscillation. We have also seen that oscillation may
not be effective in dealing with overload. It may not take a long time for a person to adapt if
they are switching from one form of orientation to another. One of the ways to cope with
overload is through letting the grieving person dictate how they want to cope ((DeDiego,
Wheat and Fletcher, 2017). The role of the counselor, in this case, would be educating the
client on the different coping methods. After they have been equipped with the knowledge,
they should be allowed to selects the one that they feel will be the most appropriate in their
situation. The aspect of equipping an individual is referred to as empowerment and is very
useful in helping a grieving person overcome an overload ((DeDiego, Wheat and Fletcher,
2017).

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Extensive evidence in social research has found out that support systems would be
beneficial in the case of a person who is suffering from stress overload (McDougall, 2015).
These social support systems could either be formal or informal. The issue of stress overload
is substantially similar to that of extreme distress. There exists evidence to show that such
suffering may affect the mind negatively and lead to such psychological conditions as
depression. Being in a social support system involves being in a group of people who have
gone through a similar issue and overcame. A widow could be used to illustrate how social
support systems work. Upon losing her husband, a widow may become so distressed. There
are certain things that may cause distress. She may lack the emotional support that the
husband was providing. In addition, the phenomenon of death comes with great sadness and
grief. A person who is affected this way may feel like they did not do enough to take care of
the person who has died while they were still alive. In addition, there may be an increased
financial burden on the widow. When all these thoughts come to the mind of the grieving
person, there is a high likelihood of stress overload. Social support would involve persons
who have gone through such an experience and overcame. Since the members of the social
support system have undergone through similar issues and overcame, they are likely to teach
the grieving person some tips on how to overcome effectively (Pervin, 2015). These members
are also likely to be empathetic since they understand how it is like to be in the situation of
the grieving person.
Overload and Health
There are several implications that grief may have on health. One of the most
common causes of negative health consequences is complicated grief (Roos, 2017).
Complicated grief will be explained in more details in a later section. Due to the concept of
overload, it is very important to expand the model of the dual process so that we look at the
physical and mental health implications that may be brought about by overload. There are

DUAL PROCESS MODEL AND COPING WITH GRIEF 17
some negative consequences that are associated with bereavement (DeDiego, Wheat and
Fletcher, 2017). These include anxiety disorders and depression. In addition, the condition
may also impair the physical wellbeing of an individual. Therefore, the concept of overload
should be incorporated into the dual process model with the aim of making it an all-around
model. This would help ensure that any complications that are brought about by an overload
are appropriately addressed.
The World Health Organization defines health as a state of physical, emotional and
mental wellbeing. There is a traditional assumption that health only involves physical
wellbeing (Walter and McCoyd, 2015). In addition, it is the right of every person on earth to
have access to the highest attainable level of care and wellbeing. In modern societies, the
primary role of health care provision belongs to the government (McDougall, 2015). In light
of this, governments and other players in the health sector should ensure that there are special
health care facilities that specialize in helping people who are experiencing great distress. An
example would be those people who are experiencing stress overload. There exists evidence
to show that such care facilities are rare. Most governments focus on ensuring that physical
health is taken care of (Pervin, 2015). In the process, mental health care is forgotten. It is also
important to ensure that there are adequate experts who are trained in the areas of the dual
process model. As we have seen in our discussion, the model has been considered to be very
efficient in helping people who are grieving to cope. It is also important for more research to
be carried out in the area of overload. It would be important to integrate this aspect of care
into the dual process model. According to McDougall, (2015), this would hopefully lead to
even better care of people experiencing stress overload.

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Strengths and Limitations of the Dual Process Model
The dual process theory of grief was developed in the year 1999 (Walter and
McCoyd, 2015). The main reason for its development was to introduce a theory that would
help counselors support people who are grieving and help them cope with their loss. The
main aim of the theory was to overcome the limitations of the previous theories. Due to this,
the theory aimed at capitalizing on earlier theories. A grieving person needs to cope with the
loss of the loved one and any other implications that may come with the loss. Due to this,
there are two orientations that must be considered when coping. These are the loss orientation
and restoration orientation. These have been discussed in the previous sections. This section
will mainly focus on the strengths of the dual process model. One main strength of the model
is that it considers the gender differences that exist when it comes to the loss of a close person
(Thompson and Lund, 2017). When it comes to the aspect of gender, the dual process model
suggests that women are more likely to be loss oriented whereas men are likely to be
restoration-oriented. The model also observes that culture may influence how people come to
terms with the loss of a loved one.
The dual process models have been considered very important to people who practice
social care (Walter and McCoyd, 2015). The reason for this is because the model addresses
the issues of culture and gender. No other theory of grief has addressed these aspects. Since
social care practitioners work with people at the community level, it is crucial for them to
appreciate the different factors that may be brought about by differences in gender
(Thompson and Lund, 2017). In addition to addressing gender and cultural differences, the
model also helps in predicting the changes that might occur during the care process. The
ability to predict what will happen is critical to a social caregiver.

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In addition to these strengths, the dual-process theory also builds upon the traditional
theories in an attempt to do away with any of the weaknesses that they may have. For
instance, the theory argues that it is possible for a grieving person to change their emotions
on a daily basis. Change of emotions means that a person who may appear to have recovered
today show different emotions tomorrow. Due to this, the counselor should walk with the
client until they fully cope with their loss. Unlike other traditional theories, the dual process
model does not have stages. It appreciates that every client is unique in nature and may
require a different support system for them to cope with grief (Thompson and Lund, 2017).
There is one main limitation of the dual process model. The limitation arises from the
different grouping that it proposes. For instance, if some people were to be helped to cope
with grief, the model would suggest that men be separated from women. This separation has
been found to be detrimental at times. It has made some people think that the other group is
receiving better care than them (Volkan and Zintl, 2015). The results are that it becomes
difficult for such people to cope with grief. It might be important for more research be carried
out in an attempt to help solve this problem.
Conclusion
The dual process model has been deemed the best theoretical model for helping
grieving persons cope with their loss. The dual process model was developed in the 1990s.
The main aim of developing the theory was to overcome the limitations associated with other
theories. The traditional theories have been found insufficient in helping bereaving/ grieving
people effectively cope with their loss. The model proposes two main orientations that can be
used to help a grieving person cope. One of these is loss orientation. Here a person focuses on
the circumstances surrounding the loss. A person may also imagine what would be the case if
the deceased person was still alive. This orientation is usually saturated with emotions of

DUAL PROCESS MODEL AND COPING WITH GRIEF 20
sadness. A person may also cry. Loss orientation has been the sole focus of some traditional
theories. Although is important in helping a client recover from their loss, it is not efficient to
use it in isolation. It should be used in combination with the restoration orientation. The
second form is the restoration orientation. Here, the grieving person focuses on doing things
that will enable them to lead a normal life. The activities that such a person engages in are
aimed at making them forget about the loss. For instance, a person may watch their favorite
shows on the TV or talk with friends. The restoration orientation is more common in men
than in women. Psychologists argue that any learned behavior can potentially be unlearned
and replaced by a new one. Ability to learn and unlearn behaviors is the aspect that seems to
contribution to coping in restoration orientation. A person slowly but surely unlearns the loss
and leads a normal life.
Oscillation is an aspect of the dual process model that makes it stand out from other
theories. It means switching back and forth through the two orientations. Switching back and
forth (oscillation) has been considered to be the most effective way of coping with the loss.
There are several strengths that the dual process model has over other traditional theories.
The main one is that the dual process theory puts to consider gender and cultural differences
that exist between people. There is a new phenomenon concerning the model that has been
proposed by modern research. This phenomenon is overload. Overload refers to a situation
where a person may suffer immensely from the stressors of one of the orientations. More
research should be carried out so that the concept of overload can be effectively included in
the dual process model. It is not common for grieving persons to experience overload.
However, where an overload happens, it leaves the affected person with great distress and
with the inability to cope. This kind of distress is associated with negative health
repercussions such as depression and anxiety disorders. There exists evidence to show that
this kind of distress may also cause detrimental physical health effects. Due to this, further

DUAL PROCESS MODEL AND COPING WITH GRIEF 21
research should be carried out to identify ways of helping clients cope. Health is defined as
the aspect of being physically, emotionally and mentally well. One of the ways to ensure that
clients suffering from experiencing extreme stress are taken care of is to establish special
health care facilities for them. It is also important to ensure that the aspect of overload is
inculcated into the dual process model.

DUAL PROCESS MODEL AND COPING WITH GRIEF 22
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