Working with the Two Track Model of Bereavement: Perspectives on grief and loss

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Working with the Two Track Model of Bereavement
Perspectives on grief and loss

• Simon Shimshon Rubin, Ph.D.
• University of Haifa
• Department of Psychology
• Haifa, Israel 31905
• Email rubin_at_psy.haifa.ac.il
• http//psy.haifa.ac.il/rubin

One-Day Symposium on Death, Dying
Bereavement Society for the Promotion of Hospice
Care, Hong Kong 2005
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• How does one think about, measure, and if need
  be, intervene following loss and death?
• Many laypersons and professionals consider how
  one is managing. This that can mean health or
  illness degree of sadness or depression
  anxiety ability to function at work ability to
  find support in family, culture, or religion
  meaning structures etc.

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• What about the uniquely relational and
  interpersonal aspects of the death of a loved
  one? How and where do professionals and
  laypersons look at that?
• This that can mean How often one thinks of the
  loved one whether one feels only sadness or also
  support from the memory how strong is the
  yearning and what is yearned for and many other
  aspects of the unique relationship between self
  and the deceased.

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• The TWO TRACK MODEL OF BEREAVEMENT (Rubin, 1981,
  1984, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2000, etc.) focuses on
  both domains of response to loss (Track I) The
  way people manage to live their lives following
  the death of a significant other and (Track II)
  the way in which the uniquely relational and
  interpersonal aspects of the connection with the
  deceased are maintained in the minds and hearts
  of the bereaved.

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The Two Track Model of BereavementASSESS BOTH
TRACKS and DECIDE WHERE TO INTERVENE
Track I Function -
Track II Relationship to the Deceased
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TRACK I assesses function in bereaved and
non-bereaved
For Example How productive at work is the
bereaved person 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, after
loss?
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TRACK I GENERAL FUNCTIONING- DOMAINS TO ASSESS
The Two Track Model of Bereavement
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Track II Relationship to the Deceased
For Example How does the bereaved person think
about the deceased 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, 10
years, after the loss?
Nova Scotia memorial 05
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TRACK II RELATIONSHIP TO THE DECEASED DOMAINS
TO ASSESS
The Two Track Model of Bereavement
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• Relationship to the Deceased Track II
  emphasize continuing bonds This means ongoing
  attachment that focuses us on questions of the
  nature, the intensity, the predominance, the
  quality, the uniqueness, the quality of those
  ongoing bonds for the individual, family, and
  culture.

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• What are the factors that should concern us
  following interpersonal loss?
• Q Is it how one manages life tasks or is it
  how the person manages reorganization/(not
  detachment) vis a vis the deceased? Answer BOTH!

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• THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS of Two- Track Model of
  Bereavement
• Select your focus Track I (and why)
• Track II (and why)
• Listening versus intervening not same
• Continuing involvement with memories of deceased
  is normative for many cultures and traditions in
  East and West but WHAT is the nature of the
  involvement? EXPLORE THAT as TRACK II !!

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• THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS of Two- Track Model of
  Bereavement
• Help loosen what is frozen, for example
• Is trauma blocking access to thoughts and
  feelings?
• Is emotional conflict to the deceased blocking
  access?
• Is intense focus on deceased blocking access to
  life ?
• Are gender differences, personality style
  differences complicating things?

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Closing Remarks Relationship to the deceased is
all around us. This is one source, from the
website of the Tzur family. Asaf was killed in
2003.
Website Asaf Tzur (Blondi). Angel of 17. Born
27.4.86. Died 5.3.2003. Killed in the Suicide
bombing in Haifa.
         
        
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??? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ????????? ??? ???? ?????
????? ????? ???? ??? ???, ????? ????? ?? ???
????? ?????? ???? ??. ???? ?? ??? ????? ????
????? ...
Website From the inscription on the gravestone
Asaf loved the sea, friends, music, and life.
Asaf, we love you, we will always remember you,
and we will miss you every day. The website
contains these pictures and explanation The
monument on his grave was designed as a surfboard
that goes out to the sea. The design was designed
by his parents to keep alive this love. This way,
he will surf for all eternity.
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Two Track Model of BereavementSelect References

• Rubin, S. (1981). A Two-Track Model of
  Bereavement Theory and research. American
  Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 51(1), 101-109.
• Rubin, S. (1999). The Two-Track Model of
  Bereavement Overview, retrospect and prospect.
  Death Studies, 23(8), 681-714.
• Rubin, S. Shechter, N. (1997). Exploring the
  social construction of bereavement Perceptions
  of adjustment and recovery for bereaved men.
  American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 67(2),
  279-289.
• Rubin, S., Malkinson, R. Witztum, E. (2003).
  Trauma and bereavement Conceptual and clinical
  issues revolving around relationships. Death
  Studies, 27, 667-690.

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Two Track Model of Bereavement Further Resources

• Questionnaire assessing Functioning,
  Relationship, History of Relationship, and
  Traumatic Elements. Clinical version and research
  version.
• Research studies
• Theory
• Clinical Material
• WEBSITE HAS ARTICLES and MATERIALS
• http//psy.haifa.ac.il/rubin
• THANK YOU