Six Stages of Grief

According to the Kubler-Ross model there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.  David Kessler added the sixth stage of "finding meaning or hope" which I think is a vital step in the grieving process and will be incorporated into my therapy ideology. Denial is the first stage. This occurs when the person is still in a state of shock and disbelief over their loved one's death.  At this time it is not uncommon for a person to be unwilling to accept or acknowledge the death.  The second step, anger, occurs after a person accepts their loved one has passed away.  Common manifestations of anger are blaming medical personnel, being angry at God, misdirected blame of others and feelings of guilt and believing they could have stopped their loved ones death.  Bargaining brings feeling of devastation or hopelessness.  The feelings at this stage can be irrational and filled with "what if" scenarios.  The fourth stage, depression, usually revolves around sadness and despair surrounding the reality that their loved one will never be with them again.  In the Kubler Ross model the final stage is acceptance.  This occurs when one is no longer denying or struggling against their grief. In a way the person comes to terms with the reality of their situation and begins to learn to live with their grief.  I agree with David Kessler that there should be a sixth and final stage of grief.  Finding Meaning is one step beyond acceptance and is vital in the healing process.  At this time, the person is able to find a new purpose for their life in which they can move forward in a way that honors their loved one.  These stages are paramount to my equine assisted grief counseling method.  Later in the worksheets I will depict a specific exercise that addresses each stage of grief.  Working in the setting with a horse will evolve in conjunction to which stage my client is experiencing.  

Reference:

Jennifer, Fisher. 5 Stages of Grief-- Coping with the Loss of a Loved One. Harvard Health Publishing, December 12, 2023. health.harvard.edu.