J. Shep

Jeffreys (psychiatry, Johns Hopkins U. School of Medicine, and pastoral counseling Loyola U., Maryland) presents an updated text for professional care providers, trained volunteers, family caregivers, and caring friends who help grieving people, from the bereaved to the dying, the chronically ill or disabled, and their families. Drawing on the author's professional and personal experiences--his youngest child died in 1975 at age 8 after a three-year battle with cancer--the text covers the social-cultural influences on grief; the origin and function of the human grief response; the role of the family in the grief process; the unique needs of children, parents, and older adults as grievers; chronic illness/disability, terminality, and dying; a continuum of supportive and clinical strategies; and atypical complicated grief. The second edition has been updated with new research on cultural diversity, religiosity and healing; complicated grief; elder grief; forgiveness; and other clinical supports. Annotation 穢2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)