A Metatheory of Grief: Implications for Counselors

Over the last 50 years, several conceptual metatheories of grief have emerged. In chronological order, these metatheories focused on: (1) stage-based models, (2) task-based models, and (3) idiographic models. This article reviews the grief counseling literature and traces the development of the three metatheories. All three metatheories influence current clinical practice. This review suggests how certain outdated models may be impacting the effectiveness of grief support and what is needed to enhance the support being given to those in need.