A New Way of Looking at Grief

The Dual Process Model

A new way of looking at grief is the Dual Process Model. It was first introduced to scientific literature in 1999 by researchers Stroebe and Schut in response to what they saw as shortcomings in the existing theory of how people should cope with grief. Previous grief treatment focused on linear improvements while acknowledging that setbacks are normal. The Dual Process Model is meant to more accurately represent the dynamic processing of real grieving. It also acknowledges that bereavement and moving on are both stressful in their own way, and moving between a loss orientation and what they call restoration orientation helps us cope with the various stressors of both sides.

Grief is an ongoing process

As you can see in the above image, the every day life experience of a grieving person under this model is expected to go back and forth. These oscillations can happen in the same day or over longer periods of time. You might spend a day or a week on one side before going to the next. In contrast to previous models, you’re not expected to just move on and stay there, and it’s not a sign that you’re not getting better if you keep going back to grief work even months or years after the loss.

How this helps you

So what does this mean for you if you’re grieving a loss? It’s totally normal to feel like you’re going back and forth between looking ahead at what’s next and feeling like you’re being sucked back into grief. You can expect moving forward that both sides will be part of your future life. You can learn how to navigate each part of your experience so you are able to recognize your emotions and needs in either state and give yourself what you need. This model also shows that we can expect stress on both sides. Grief has its own pain, and life changes bring new roles and new issues. Neither side is inherently better or healthier than the other.

The Dual Process Model in grief therapy

How does this change grief therapy? In light of the new diagnosis of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), the Dual Process Model shows how normal grief can look over time. It normalizes going back and forth, showing that it’s not a problem to still feel the loss even after a long time. This is why it is important for grievers to find a therapist who is trained in grief therapy as a specialty. Many therapists are not taught about grief in school, or they have outdated training using a linear model. With the PGD diagnosis added to the DSM, therapists who don’t read the diagnostic criteria closely might only see that PGD requires continued grief after 12 months and think that it’s not normal for you to still experience the loss orientation side after that time. In reality, PGD requires severe, sustained intense grief. The Dual Process Model shows normal grief, which includes both sides. If you are experiencing grief but also going through times where you are doing new things and exploring your new life on the other side of loss, this model would say that you aren’t in PGD.

Grief therapy can help you

Whether you feel like your grief is normal or might be a sign of Prolonged Grief Disorder, therapy can help. As we see from the Dual Process Model, grieving is stressful. Therapy can give you tools to navigate both sides of the grieving process in a healthy way.

Want to know how therapy with a grief counseling specialist can help you after your loss? Reach out today to schedule a free 15 minute consultation.