Dual Process Model Blog Post
PART 1
Grieving the loss of a loved one can leave us feeling lost, disconcerted and searching for a roadmap through an incredibly difficult time. Many of us may be familiar with the Five Stages of Grief by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross (1973), in which a grieving person moves from denial, to anger, bargaining and depression, finally arriving at acceptance. However, few of us fit neatly into a linear journey. Navigating a world changed by loss takes time, patience, self-compassion and more than a little allowance for things to fall apart and be put back together.
The problem with expecting a linear journey through grief is that we may perceive ourselves as grieving incorrectly or regressing when a good day is followed by a bad day. The Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement (DPM) by Margaret Stroebe and Henk Schut (2010) offers a different approach to grief. The DPM suggests that those who are grieving face two major types of stressors: loss-oriented stressors and restoration-oriented stressors. Loss-orientation involves “grief work”, which includes feeling sorrow, anger, and yearning for your loved one, as well as thinking about the loss or the event. Restoration-orientation involves life necessities such as practical day-to-day tasks like working, shopping or cleaning, as well as taking on new roles and responsibilities after the loss, and periods when you might be temporarily distracted from the loss altogether. As we grieve, we move back and forth between loss-oriented and restoration-oriented stressors.
Art therapy can provide support while navigating the complex and non-linear journey of grief. Through creative expression, we can explore complex feelings that may be difficult to verbalize, allowing space to confront and process loss in a safe environment. Art therapy focuses on the process of creative expression rather than the final product, so you do not need to be an artist to benefit from it.
In the second part of this blog, I describe a simple sewing exercise I use to introduce clients to the DPM.
PART 2
In part one of this blog, we were introduced to the Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement (DPM) developed by Margaret Stroebe and Henk Schut (2010). This model illustrates how those who are grieving move back and forth between two types of stressors: loss-oriented stressors, which involve processing grief, and restoration-oriented stressors, which focus on present-day life and changing roles. In part two, I will introduce you to an art therapy activity designed to help grieving clients engage with this process. This meditative sewing exercise requires simple stitches made into fabric using just a piece of fabric, some thread, and a sewing needle of any size. In this exercise, the rise of the needle represents moments spent confronting restoration-oriented stressors, while the fall of the needle symbolizes the time dedicated to facing loss-oriented stressors.
I ask my client to make their first stitch and, if it is comfortable, to match their breath with the rise and fall of the needle. As they bring the needle up through the fabric, I invite them to focus on something in the present – perhaps a task at work or school that needs their attention. Then, when they lower the needle, we shift focus to their grief, allowing any emotions that arise – be it sadness, anger, or something else – to surface.
Throughout the process, I help them acknowledge the present moments as the needle rises, such as new responsibilities they’ve take on. When it lowers, I provide space for them to explore feelings relating to grief or reflect on the story of their loss. I guide them at their own pace, continuing until they feel ready to conclude the exercise.
As we examine stitches we’ve created, I highlight how they may not be perfectly even, reflecting the non-linear nature of grief. Just as our journey through grief is not always linear, the time spent facing loss-oriented and restoration-oriented stressors is not always equal. Navigating grief is a deeply personal experience that involves moving between these two types of stressors. Each person must move through grief at their own pace, allowing space to work through emotions and build a new sense of personal meaning. The DPM offers a valuable framework for understanding this dynamic, while art therapy can provide a creative outlet for processing complex emotions. Ultimately, it is in embracing the ebb and flow of the process that we begin to stitch together a tapestry of healing and resilience.
If you or someone you know is coping with loss, our team is here to support you on this journey.
Stephanie Myles, DTATI, RP(Q), is registered psychotherapist (qualifying) and a professional art therapist. She offers in-person and online psychotherapy and art therapy services to adult individuals experiencing grief, loss, depression, anxiety, or a history of childhood trauma.
Kübler-Ross, E. (1973). On death and dying. Routledge.
Stroebe, M., & Schut, H. (2010). The dual process model of coping with bereavement: A decade on. OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, 61(4). 273-289.
