Review of Principles and Practice of Grief Counseling by Darcy L. Harris and Howard R. Winokuer

Abstract

This is an extended book review of the second edition of the book by Harris and Winokuer (2016). They describe what is currently known about grief counseling, bringing us up to date about the latest research and what has been successful in working with clients. They seamlessly fit the theoretical foundation of grief counseling with its practice and process. This helps the reader to understand the relationship between grief counseling and other kinds of counseling. The book includes chapters that help counselors reflect on the quality of their own work. The book’s style is easy to read and filled with examples, yet also a resource for further study. It does not have explicit references for grief counseling in religious settings, though its principles are applicable to religious settings. Moreover, the book provides a social-historical context of grief counseling, helping the reader understand how far the science has advanced since the 1960s. This resource is valuable for pastoral counselors, care-givers, and others that minister to people in grieving situations.