Dual Process Model

In Margaret Stroebe and Henk Schut’s book, The Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement: Rationale and Description (1999). They state that grieving isn’t a straight line instead it’s a process of oscillation between confronting and avoiding the pain of loss. This model emphasis that it is natural to move back and forth between loss oriented coping and restoration-oriented coping and everyone has a different grieving experience. In other words, this model is about seeking balance between focusing on your loss (spending time with your grief, feelings, remembering and mourning) and focusing on daily life (taking time away from it, functioning, distracting and even enjoying). They are both important for coping and healing.

Here are the key Components:

Loss-Oriented Coping

• Grief Work: Focusing on the emotional aspects of grief.

• Intrusion of Grief: Involves expressing feelings of sadness, yearning, and reflecting on memories of the deceased.

• Breaking Bones: Essential during the early stages of bereavement, allowing individuals to confront their loss.

• Denial/avoiding restoration changes

Restoration-Oriented Coping

• Attending to life changes: Centres on adapting to life after the loss.

• Doing new things: Involves engaging in daily activities, taking on new roles, and finding distractions.

• Destruction from Grief

• New roles and identities/relationships: Helps individuals rebuild their lives and adjust to changes resulting from the loss.

Oscillation Between Coping Types

• Healthy grieving involves moving back and forth between loss-oriented and restoration-oriented coping.

• This oscillation allows individuals to process their grief while also managing daily life.

• Both coping types are necessary for healing and do not follow a fixed sequence.