Generating a Vocabulary of Mourning: Supporting Families Through the Process of Grief

Abstract

While grief and loss are common and universal life transitions, the language and customs of grieving differ based on the intersection of family practice and spiritual/religious affiliation. One aspect of cultural awareness and sensitivity to differing mourning processes may be the counselor’s awareness of meaningful verbiage and practice. This literature-based article will introduce family counselors to the differing nomenclature and practices of bereavement and offer implications for culturally relevant and sensitive counseling practice to support the family members’ mourning processes ( n = 80).