Understanding Grief: A Comparative Analysis of Stage and Task Models

This essay provides a comparative analysis of stage-based and task-based models of the grieving process. It begins by defining key terms like bereavement, grief, and mourning, and then explores prominent stage-based theories, including those by Kübler-Ross, Bowlby, Parkes, Rando, and Sander, highlighting their differing perspectives on the stages individuals experience. The essay then examines task-based models, particularly Worden's, which focuses on tasks individuals must accomplish to move forward after a loss. The comparison highlights the differences between the two types of models, with stage-based models offering an inward view and task-based models providing an outward perspective. The essay concludes by emphasizing the uniqueness of the grieving process and the value of these models in providing a broad understanding of grief and aiding social scientists and therapists in supporting individuals through loss. The essay also includes a section evaluating the companioning model and cognitive behavioral therapy as counseling approaches for loss and grief.

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. Initially, it was believed that these stages occur in a stepwise and liner fashion, but
later Kuber-Ross stated that these stages are like descriptions rather than prescriptions to follow. An
individual can navigate form one to another readily. 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 lastly
recognition as primary stages. Parkes (1966) expanded the model and added a phase of numbness at
the beginning of grief.
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”. Sander (1999)
developed her five stages of grief process as shock, awareness of loss, withdrawal, healing and
renewal.
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 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 to grief
 Adjust to the circumstances where the person who is dead is missed
 Find an everlasting connection with the departed person while advancing with the new life.

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. 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 finding
the 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 course of their lives.
The comparison
Both the stage based model and the task based models indicate important aspects of 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 consecutive steps which occurs one after the another in a liner manner. But 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 are the phases people usually face when
grief-stricken. 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 deeply connected 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 own
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.
Reference
Howarth, R.A. (2011). Concepts and controversies in grief and loss. Journal of Mental Health
Counselling, 33 (1), pp.4-11.

An evaluation of two different counselling approaches for loss and grief
Companioning model of bereavement
Facilitating 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.
Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt had devised the Companioning Model of Bereavement caregiving to help people
to integrate losses in life. He emphasised on observing and companioning them; respecting their
spirit rather than their intellect. Wolfelt explains that companioning is about inquisitiveness; it is not
about expertise. Companioning encourages learning from others and refrains from teaching them.
The model wants the counsellor to walk alongside the bereaved and not lead them to any direction.
Companioning inculcates some kind of stillness and keeps people away from hysterical movement
forward. Companioning allows people in grief to find solace in sacred silence rather than in words of
others who are trying to fill up the painful moment with words. Companioning involves listening
with compassion and not be judgemental or analysing with the head (Wheeler-Roy and Amyot,
2004)
With the help of this model of bereavement caregiving, the counsellors can let the client experience
the painful moments but offer him or her the support in a very subtle fashion. The first step towards
this process is listening with a kind body language to the concerns of the individuals. Next, the
counsellor should help the bereaved person realize that the bouts of feelings and emotions that the
person is going through are natural, normal, for any human being in a similar situation. The
counsellors need to make efforts so that the additional stress of the survivors is lowered. This can be
achieved by arranging for day-today tasks that are related to their recovery and prioritizing them.
Another important duty of the counsellor is to create awareness in the survivor about the signs of
trauma and develop the ability to recognize them from the wide range of responses and reactions,
such as confusion, anger, anxiety, sadness, numbness, frustration, and feelings of helplessness. The
objective of the counsellor is to allow the bereaved individuals regain their strengths and get back to
their pre-disaster level of functioning trough a healthy coping mechanism. (Wheeler-Roy and Amyot,
2004)
Assessment of the approach
Companioning gained massive popularity because this method helps bear the struggles in a clam
manner. It acknowledges the temporary disorder and confusion and does not make any effort to
impose order and logic. Its nonchalant method of supporting bereaved people, understanding them
through the period of grief and allowing them to pass through the pain without making them feel
lonely or deserted are some of its most distinctive features. Despite being a widely-used approach
among counselling professionals, the effectiveness of this model has not been methodically
investigated. The companioning model offers a basis for multiple activities and exercises. One such
exercise is story sharing where participants are invited to freely talk about their recollections in a
group of individuals who have been through similar life situations. These session are devoid of
interruption of and feedback from the organizer. Group coordinators are instructed to establish active
association with the story-sharer and to encourage other participants to come up with their stories and
share that among participants (Candace, 2013). This process allows participants to vent out all the
emotions and reminiscence with what has been lost.
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 normal life and affecting their
behaviour (Kabir, 2017).
Cognitive behavioural therapy does not tell people how they should feel. It teaches the grief-stricken
person to more calmly accept the loss. 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 the cognitive behavioural therapists is to gain a very good 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 counsellors do not decide the goals on behalf of their
client. 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 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 counselling 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 the negative life events. This is a
common case if the bereaved person was 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 rather gear up to take charge
of his or her life (Kosminsky, 2016).
Conclusion
Companioning Model of Bereavement and CBT are very commonly used counselling approaches
with their fair share of success stories. However, CBT happens to be an extensively researched
approach compared to Companioning Model of Bereavement.
Reference
Candace, S., (2013). Counselling seniors through grief and loss: an eight-week group therapy
program. University of Lethbridge Research Repository. Retrieved from
https://opus.uleth.ca/bitstream/handle/10133/3317/stretch,%20candace.pdf
Kabir, S. M.S., (2017). Counseling approaches. Essentials of Counseling. Abosar Prokashana
Sangstha, Banglabazar, Dhaka. Pp. 117-204. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325844296_COUNSELING_APPROACHES
Kosminsky, P. (2016). CBT for grief: Clearing cognitive obstacles to healing from loss. Journal of
Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 34(2). Retrieved from

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303380019_CBT_for_Grief_Clearing_Cognitive_Obstacles
_to_Healing_from_Loss
Wheeler-Roy, S.,. Amyot, B.A, (2004). Grief Counseling Resource Guide
A Field Manual. Office of Mental Health, New York State. Retrieved from
https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/grief/