Dual Process Grief Integration

Purpose and goals:

To safely express and honor the pain, longing, and emotional bonds connected to the loss. To also help the client remember that grief also includes moments of peace, grounding, and forward movement—the ‘restoration-oriented’ part of grieving. This helps prevent getting stuck solely in pain or avoidance. Bridging these two concepts together represents how grief and healing can coexist.

• To support healthy oscillation between loss and restoration.

• Facilitate emotional expression and containment

• Promote integration of grief and healing

• Strengthen meaning-making and personal insight

• Increase awareness of internal resources

• Reduce risk of stuckness or grief avoidance

• Enhance sense of control and agency in the grief process

• Foster self-compassion and emotional flexibility

Theoretical Rationale:

The Dual-Process Model (DPM) of grief reminds us that healthy grieving involves oscillation—moving back and forth—between loss-oriented emotions (pain, sadness, longing) and restoration-oriented experiences (comfort, hope, grounding, future-focused energy).

Art-making supports this natural rhythm by allowing space for expression, reflection, and integration. This directive helps the bereaved explore both sides of grief and then symbolically “bridge” them together.

Stroebe & Schut’s Dual-Process Model of Grieving

Art-Making:

Clients will create three small artworks, each representing a different aspect of the grieving process.

1. “Hold the Memory” (Loss-Oriented)

Prompt:

“Create a small drawing or collage that represents something you miss about the person you lost.

This can be an object, a place, a shared moment, a feeling, or even just a color or texture that reminds you of them.”

2. “Rest the Heart” (Restoration-Oriented)

Prompt:

“On a separate small paper, draw or collage something that makes you feel safe, calm, supported, or hopeful about the future.

This can be soothing imagery, a symbol of strength, or anything that brings you comfort.”

3. “Bridge the Two” (Integration)

Prompt:

“Look at your first two pieces. Now create a third artwork that combines something from each—like a line, a shape, a color, or an idea.

This piece represents how your grief and your healing can coexist.”