Journal of Social Intervention: Theory and Practice –
2015 – Volume 24, Issue 4, pp. 45–57
http://doi.org/10.18352/jsi.465
ISSN: 1876-8830
URL: http://www.journalsi.org
Publisher: Utrecht University of Applied Sciences,
Faculty of Society and Law, in cooperation with
Utrecht University Library Open Access Journals
Copyright: this work has been published under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No
Derivative Works 3.0 Netherlands License
Marlieke Moors studeerde Maatschappelijk Werk en
Dienstverlening aan de Hogeschool Utrecht. Met haar
afstudeerartikel over rouw won ze de tweede prijs. Na
terugkomst van haar reis door Zuid-Amerika wil ze zich
specialiseren in rouw en verlies. Ze is van plan de post
hbo-opleiding Rouwbegeleidingskunde te gaan volgen
en wil daarnaast professioneel aan de slag binnen deze
sector.
E-mail: marliekemoors@gmail.com
Category: Student’s work
M A R L I E K E M O O R S
R O U W M A G E R Z I J N
A B S T R A C T
Grieving is allowed
Grief is a human experience. Every form of loss shapes you into the human being you are today.
Contrary to what earlier, unproven grief models postulate, grief does not have an end point.
That is, bereavement does not have to be completely processed, but it should be integrated into someone’s life. The outdated grief models were often interpreted and used in a normative way, which led to a normative standard model. This portraits the belief that every mourner would experience similar symptoms and would go through a fixed pattern of phases. However, the updated vision emphasizes the individual and unique process of coping with loss: norms concerning grief should be banned. By means of literature research, interviews with professionals and personal experiences, it became clear that finding an equilibrium between restoration- orientated and loss-orientated coping styles is most beneficial. An important aspect in finding this balance is meaningfulness. Furthermore, the ability to bear a loss and to adapt accordingly are important components. Lastly, attaching significance to a loss is a constructive way of integrating the loss into one’s life. The death of a loved one should therefore not be forgotten or tucked away.
After all, grief is the price we pay for love.