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Bereavement and grief

Describe the specific type of crisis:
Bereavement and grief
Military
Categorize the crisis you choose from among the following: developmental, ecosystemic, existential, and situational. For example, if you choose bereavement and grief, you must describe a type of crisis related to bereavement and grief. Then you must categorize the crisis as developmental, ecosystemic, existential, or situational. Support your reasoning with the Learning Resources and resources you found in the Walden Library.
Describe 3 special considerations when working with this specific type of crisis.
Of the possible Human Services Practitioner Professional responses (countertransference, secondary traumatic stress disorder, burnout, or vicarious traumatization), indicate which might be a concern for you if you were the responder to the crisis you chose. Explain how you would try to proactively prevent/manage this concern.

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Sample Answer

Specific Type of Crisis: Bereavement and Grief – Complicated Grief after Sudden, Traumatic Loss

For this exercise, the specific type of crisis within bereavement and grief that I will describe is Complicated Grief following a Sudden, Traumatic Loss.

This differs from typical grief in its intensity, duration, and the significant impairment it causes to the grieving individual’s functioning. Sudden, traumatic losses, such as an accidental death, suicide, or homicide, often introduce additional layers of shock, disbelief, feelings of injustice, and a struggle to make sense of the loss, which can impede the natural grieving process. The unexpected nature of the death, often coupled with horrific circumstances, can lead to symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alongside the profound sadness of grief.

Categorization of the Crisis: Situational

This specific crisis, Complicated Grief following a Sudden, Traumatic Loss, is categorized as Situational.

Reasoning:

Situational crises are defined as “unanticipated and sudden events that occur in a person’s life that lead to a state of disequilibrium” (James & Gilliland, 2017, p. 19). They are often “accidental, uncommon, and unpredictable” (Caplan, 1964, as cited in Roberts, 2005).
The death of a loved one, particularly when sudden and traumatic, perfectly fits this definition. It is an unanticipated and unpredictable event that drastically alters an individual’s life circumstances. The “normal” life trajectory is abruptly interrupted, leading to significant emotional, cognitive, and behavioral disorganization.
While death is a universal human experience and some forms of grief could be seen as having developmental components (e.g., parental death in childhood), the sudden and traumatic nature of this specific loss moves it squarely into the situational crisis category. It’s the circumstances of the death, not merely the fact of death itself, that precipitates the crisis state beyond typical grief. The trauma component adds an acute, overwhelming stressor that an individual may not have the immediate coping resources for.
In contrast:
- Developmental crises are predictable life transitions (e.g., adolescence, marriage, retirement). While grief can occur during these, the sudden, traumatic element is not inherent to a predictable developmental stage.

Full Answer Section

- Ecosystemic crises involve large-scale, systemic events (e.g., natural disasters, war, economic collapse) affecting many people. While a traumatic death could be part of a larger ecosystemic crisis (e.g., a death during a terrorist attack), the focus here is on the individual’s direct experience of that specific, sudden loss.
- Existential crises involve internal struggles with meaning, purpose, or freedom. While traumatic loss can trigger existential questions, the crisis itself is precipitated by the external, sudden event, not primarily an internal philosophical struggle.

Walden Library Resources:

Roberts, A. R. (2005). Crisis intervention handbook: Assessment, treatment, and research (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. This source provides foundational definitions and categorizations of crises, supporting the situational classification of unexpected, traumatic events.
James, R. K., & Gilliland, B. E. (2017). Crisis intervention strategies (8th ed.). Cengage Learning. This textbook offers clear distinctions between crisis types, reinforcing that sudden, unexpected events like traumatic loss are quintessential situational crises. It also details the characteristics of complicated grief as a distinct form of bereavement.

3 Special Considerations When Working with Complicated Grief after Sudden, Traumatic Loss

Trauma-Informed Approach: The loss is not just a death; it’s a traumatic event.
- Consideration: Individuals experiencing complicated grief after traumatic loss often present with symptoms of acute stress or PTSD alongside grief (e.g., intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, avoidance, hyperarousal). They may struggle with intense guilt, shame, anger, or a sense of injustice related to the circumstances of the death. The narrative of the death may be fragmented or avoided.
- Implication for Practice: The Human Services Practitioner must prioritize safety and stabilization, avoid re-traumatization, and build trust carefully. Interventions should acknowledge and address both the grief process and the traumatic impact. This might involve psychoeducation on trauma responses, grounding techniques, and helping the individual process the traumatic aspects of the memory in a controlled and supportive environment before fully engaging in grief work. Understanding the “how” of the death (e.g., violence, accident) is critical to informing interventions.
Assessment and Management of Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions:
- Consideration: Complicated grief significantly increases the risk of developing or exacerbating other mental health conditions, including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders (especially panic disorder and PTSD), substance use disorders, and suicidal ideation. The intense emotional pain and functional impairment make individuals highly vulnerable.
- Implication for Practice: A thorough and ongoing assessment for these co-occurring conditions is essential. This includes direct questioning about depressive symptoms, anxiety, substance use, and most critically, suicidal thoughts or plans. Safety planning is paramount if suicidal ideation is present. Collaboration with other mental health professionals or medical providers may be necessary for medication management or specialized treatment for co-occurring disorders. Addressing these concurrent issues is vital for the grief work to progress effectively.
Navigating the Impact of the Loss’s Circumstances (e.g., legal, public, social stigma):
- Consideration: Sudden, traumatic losses (e.g., suicide, homicide, high-profile accidents) often come with unique external pressures. There might be ongoing police investigations, legal proceedings (trials, civil suits), media attention, or significant social stigma (e.g., after suicide or overdose). These external factors can impede the grieving process, prevent closure, lead to secondary victimization, and isolate the bereaved.
- Implication for Practice: The practitioner needs to be aware of and acknowledge these external stressors. This might involve helping the client navigate complex systems (e.g., victim services, legal aid), providing advocacy, or simply creating a safe space for the client to express feelings related to the public nature or stigma of their loss. Psychoeducation about the “uniqueness” of their grief experience due to these circumstances can also be validating. The practitioner should also be mindful of community reactions and support systems (or lack thereof) available to the bereaved.

Human Services Practitioner Professional Concern: Vicarious Traumatization

If I were the responder to this type of crisis (Complicated Grief after Sudden, Traumatic Loss), the professional concern that might be most prominent for me would be Vicarious Traumatization.

Explanation:

Vicarious traumatization (VT) refers to “the cumulative transformative effect on the helper of working with survivors of traumatic life events” (Pearlman & Saakvitne, 1995). It involves changes in the helper’s cognitive schemas, belief systems (e.g., beliefs about safety, trust, control, meaning), and emotional regulation as a result of empathic engagement with clients’ traumatic experiences. It’s not just about feeling tired (burnout) or mirroring a client’s emotion (secondary traumatic stress), but a deeper, more pervasive alteration in one’s worldview.
Working with individuals experiencing complicated grief from sudden, traumatic losses would expose me to graphic details, intense suffering, and profound questions of injustice, randomness, and the fragility of life. Repeated exposure to stories of horrific accidents, violent acts, or suicides, and witnessing the shattered lives left behind, could challenge my own sense of safety, trust in the world, and even my personal meaning-making frameworks. I might find myself becoming more cynical, overly cautious, or feeling a sense of helplessness or despair about the human condition. The emotional weight of carrying others’ trauma could subtly but profoundly alter my inner landscape.

How I Would Try to Proactively Prevent/Manage This Concern:

Robust Self-Care Practices (Non-Negotiable):
- Regular Exercise and Mindfulness: Physical activity and mindfulness practices (meditation, deep breathing) are essential for stress reduction and maintaining emotional equilibrium.

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