Four-Stage Model

William Worden wrote a book in 1982, Grief Counselling and Grief Therapy: A Handbook for the Mental Health Practitioner, that details his interpretation of the grieving process. In his book, he lays out the four tasks of mourning which involve coming to terms with the loss and processing it. 1. Accept reality of loss Accept the death. Not to deny or minimize 2. Work through pain of grief We express grief emotionally, cognitively, physically, and spiritually. 3. Adjust to the

This theory was first developed by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in 1969. It’s first name was ‘The five stages of death’. Since then it has been known by various names and the details of this theory have also changed. Kubler-Ross believed that individuals go through the following five stages of death as a way to come to terms with their own death. Later on it was changed to apply to anyone that is going through grief. First Stage: Denial and Isolation In this stage, the individual be