An Intimate Loneliness: Supporting Bereaved Parents and Siblings (Facing Death) [Hardcover]

Gordon Riches (Author), Pam Dawson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0335199739 | ISBN-13: 978-0335199730 | Edition: 1

This volume explores how family members attempt to come to terms with the death of an offspring or brother or sister. Drawing on relevant research and the authors' own experience of working with bereaved parents and siblings, this book examines the importance of social relationships in helping parents and siblings adjust to their bereavement. The chances of making sense of this most distressing loss are influenced by the resilience of the family's surviving relationships, by the availability of wider support networks and by the cultural resources that inform each;s perception of death. This book considers the impact of bereavement on self and family identity. In particular, it examines the role of shared remembering in transforming survivors' relationships with the deceased, and in helping rebuild their own identity with a significantly changed family structure. Problems considered include: the failure of intimate relationships, cultural and gender expectations, the invisibility of fathers' and siblings'grief, sudden an d"difficult" deaths, lack of information, and the sense of isolation felt by some family members. This book will be of value to students on courses in counselling, health care, psychology, social policy, pastoral care and education. It will appeal to sociology students with an interest in death, dying and mortality. It is also aimed at professionally qualified counselling, health and social service workers, at informed voluntary group members, the clergy, teachers and others involved with pastoral care.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gordon Riches is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Derby. Pamela Dawson is Bereavement Services Coordinator for the London Borough of Bromley. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Open University Pres; 1 edition (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0335199739
• ISBN-13: 978-0335199730
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,330,114 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loss of a Child or Sibling, October 21, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: An Intimate Loneliness: Supporting Bereaved Parents and Siblings (Facing Death) (Hardcover)

This book is so packed with information, don't expect to finish it quickly. The loss that brings you to it may surface as you find yourself in the pages. Based on years of experience with bereaved indiviudals, the book stands alone as a resource for counselors and other professionals who work with the grieving. I particularly liked their exploration of the search for meaning following a loss, and the concept of resilience as being a positive factor to help in resolving loss.