Through discussions of various theories of grief, narratives of the bereaved obtained in interviews with 22 men and women, case study analysis, and chapter summaries, this text integrates the literature about and the bereavement experiences of partners in varying types of relationships.

Writing for counselors, Walter describes the many factors and issues of grief and loss for those in traditional, gay, and lesbian committed relationships. The formation of support groups, the models and use of intervention, the clinical implications of interventions (including those pertaining to the events of September 11th), and the different issues and experiences affecting those that have lost a spouse, same-sex, or opposite-sex partner are some of the main chapter topics. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Although there is extensive research on the loss of a spouse, predominantly focusing on the experiences of widows, much less attention is paid to bereaved partners not married to their significant other, whether or not the partners are of the same sex. This first-of-its-kind work explores both socially sanctioned and disenfranchised grief, highlighting similarities and differences. Combining a discussion of various theories of grief with personal narratives of grieving men and women drawn from numerous interviews, and detailed case study analysis, Carolyn Ambler Walter has produced a penetrating examination of the bereavement experiences of partners in varying types of relationships. She views narratives of widows, widowers, and bereaved domestic gay and lesbian partners from a postmodern perspective that breaks away from the traditional belief that the living must detach themselves from the dead in order to move on with their lives. Instead, building on the works of postmodern grief theorists such as Klass, Silverman, and Nickman, Walter views ongoing bonds with the dead as a resource for enriching functionality in the present, and as a key to looking to the future.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [261]-268) and index.