Reconceptualizing Grief

Katherine M. Atkins is a clinical assistant professor at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. She is a licensed counselor, approved clinical supervisor, and licensed professional educator in school counseling. Dr. Atkins holds a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision and a master's degree in counseling from Northern Illinois University. Sonya Lorelle is a clinical associate professor at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. She is a licensed professional counselor and a master trainer of the Mental Health Facilitator (MHF). Dr. Lorelle holds a Ph.D. in counselor education from Old Dominion University and an M.S. in community agency counseling from Missouri State University.

"Grief is an unfortunate, yet common human experience that people have a hard time understanding. Counselors are charged with walking alongside others through their paths to healing but have not had innovative ways of conceptualizing grief. Atkins and Lorelle provide a new and refreshing perspective on grief counseling with the Transcending Model of Grief and Loss (TMGL). TMGL guides counselors through a developmental journey with a wellness lens that all counselors can use to recognize how grief impacts people in different ways. Reconceptualizing Grief: Developmental Considerations for Counseling Clients Experiencing Loss takes grief counseling a step further in its exploration of non-death related loss, cultural considerations, and diagnostic impressions. This text is a must for any counselor who intends to stay at the forefront of helping their clients through the existential experiences of life." Michele Kerulis, Ed.D., LCPC, LMHC, CMPC "This groundbreaking approach to conceptualizing grief and loss moves us into developmental considerations of this profound experience. Adkins and Lorelle have captured a vital framework that provides counselors essential factors impacting grief and loss beyond death. It is crucial that counselors assist clients in understanding and assessing loss within multiple contexts including culture and myriad identities. As individuals grow and develop across the lifespan, so do their experiences with grief and loss. Counselors who understand this are necessary for client's meaning making and healing." Rebekah Byrd, Ph.D., LPC, LCMHC, NCC, ACS, RPT-S "Incredibly well done and will be profoundly impactful to my work. I was reading the Care of the Helper section, and I related so much. It made me view the last few years of my life in a different light." Colleen Abbott, MA Student of Counseling, Northwestern University