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Loss, Trauma, and Resilience: Therapeutic Work With Ambiguous Loss
All losses are touched with ambiguity. Yet those who suffer losses without finality bear a particular burden.
Pauline Boss, the principal theorist of the concept of ambiguous loss, guides clinicians in the task of building resilience in clients who face the trauma of loss without resolution. Boss describes a concrete therapeutic approach that is at once directive and open to the complex contexts in which people find meaning and discover hope in the face of ambiguous losses. In Part I readers are introduced to the concept of ambiguous loss and shown how such losses relate to concepts of the family, definitions of trauma, and capacities for resilience. In Part II Boss leads readers through the various aspects of and target points for working with those suffering ambiguous loss. From meaning to mastery, identity to ambivalence, attachment to hope–these chapters cover key states of mind for those undergoing ambiguous loss. The Epilogue addresses the therapist directly and his or her own ambiguous losses. Closing the circle of the therapeutic process, Boss shows therapists how fundamental their own experiences of loss are to their own clinical work.
In Loss, Trauma, and Resilience, Boss provides the therapeutic insight and wisdom that aids mental health professionals in not "going for closure," but rather building strength and acceptance of ambiguity. What readers will find is a concrete therapeutic approach that is at once directive and open to the complex contexts in which people find meaning and discover hope in the face of ambiguous losses.
Pauline Boss, the principal theorist of the concept of ambiguous loss, guides clinicians in the task of building resilience in clients who face the trauma of loss without resolution. Boss describes a concrete therapeutic approach that is at once directive and open to the complex contexts in which people find meaning and discover hope in the face of ambiguous losses. In Part I readers are introduced to the concept of ambiguous loss and shown how such losses relate to concepts of the family, definitions of trauma, and capacities for resilience. In Part II Boss leads readers through the various aspects of and target points for working with those suffering ambiguous loss. From meaning to mastery, identity to ambivalence, attachment to hope–these chapters cover key states of mind for those undergoing ambiguous loss. The Epilogue addresses the therapist directly and his or her own ambiguous losses. Closing the circle of the therapeutic process, Boss shows therapists how fundamental their own experiences of loss are to their own clinical work.
In Loss, Trauma, and Resilience, Boss provides the therapeutic insight and wisdom that aids mental health professionals in not "going for closure," but rather building strength and acceptance of ambiguity. What readers will find is a concrete therapeutic approach that is at once directive and open to the complex contexts in which people find meaning and discover hope in the face of ambiguous losses.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 17, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 14, 2012
A follow up to Boss's original book, this one is essentially a training manual for therapist who are working with clients who are dealing with ambiguous loss. It has been especially useful for me as I have not found a grief therapist in the area who understands or know how to treat the trauma of ambiguous loss. If you can't find a good therapist who understands the ambiguous loss model and how to treat it, give them this book (or read it yourself). It is full of useful and practical information on how to live well with ambiguous loss.
September 10, 2010
Follow-up to her original book, "Ambiguous Loss" (a classic and excellent), this book gives specific advice to therapists on how to work with clients suffering ambiguous losses. Not sure it would be meaningful to many others. But good stuff.
September 13, 2025
Дуже сподобалась. Полін Босс розширила моє розуміння про невизначену травму. Раніше думала, що це лише про військових, які зникли безвісти. А тепер розумію, як багато всього можна віднести до невизначеної травми. Рекомендую усім психологам, навіть якщо ви і не працюєте з невизначеною травмою.
February 18, 2019
One of the most interesting and useful text books I've ever had the pleasure of not buying.
October 12, 2021
The holding of presence and absence can seem impossible. And, yet for many, this is what life is. This book is helpful in understanding ambiguous loss and how to find hope and meaning.
July 10, 2024
Of all my school textbooks, this is one I’ll keep coming back to over and over.
April 7, 2025
Well researched and experienced process with good questions/suggestions.
May 25, 2020
Excellent resource in general, and especially in this time of coronavirus pandemic. Chapter 7 on "Normalizing Ambivalence" and Chapter 8 on "Revising Attachment" were particularly good, as well as the epilogue on issues for the therapist's self-focus.
October 30, 2015
Felt like someone's thesis blown up into a book -- good idea, yes, somethings to keep in mind .. but half the length would have been fine? Sorry. Liked the author when I heard her live, tho.
May 2, 2017
A book par excellence.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews