Solution-Focused Brief Therapy With Grieving
Eastern Orthodox Arabs continued from page 20
specific cases , Arabs will honor the person who has died by doing a traditional wedding zaffeh celebration . This celebration is most commonly held when a young male ( ages 20 – 40 ) has passed away , especially if he is unmarried . For an older person , the zaffeh would be considered taboo .
Eastern Orthodox Christian Religious Practices
Coping with the loss of a loved one has the potential to be a difficult emotional transition for the bereaved . Religious faith not only often helps those who are bereaved to deal with their loss , it helps reframe death and give it meaning . While religious bereavement rules and traditions differ , bereaved Eastern Orthodox Christians may find it helpful psychologically when their faith prescribes a set period for mourning , thus saving them confusion and insecurity in their grief .
Orthodox Christians believe God is the source of their faith and that there is no division between the living and the dead . Orthodox Christians have a duty to pray for the departed , and they are assured that their prayers are helping those who have passed ; when someone dies , everyone knows what is to be done and how to participate . Although there are variations to funerals , the Orthodox funeral consists of three services : the vigil service or the Trisagion , the funeral service , and the memorial service .
The Trisagion Service usually takes place the night before the funeral and on anniversaries of the departed . This service is a request for God to grant rest to the departed soul so that it receives mercy . During this service , congregants recite the phrase “ Holy God , Holy Mighty , Holy and Immortal , have mercy on us ,” and the service also includes asking Christ to give the soul of the person who passed rest with the Saints , where there will be no pain or grief but life everlasting . The following day is the funeral service and burial of the departed , in which the Divine Liturgy is celebrated . The service represents a farewell to the deceased . A Memorial Service occurs a few times throughout the year — one week , 40 days , and one year after the death .
“ Religious faith not only often helps those who are bereaved to deal with their loss , it helps reframe death and give it meaning .”
For information on Greek Orthodox funerals , see the blog post by Erin Coriell , a grief worker and end-of-life care educator , bit . ly / 41lPYMH . Greek Orthodox traditions are similar to Eastern Orthodox traditions ; the information linked shares about the cultural background of Orthodox Christians who identify ethnically as Greek . Coriell ’ s post includes an example of how Orthodox Christians commemorate the departed to recognize gratitude for eternal life and bring a sense of peace for those grieving . For more information about Orthodox Christian funeral service rituals , visit bit . ly / 41nsarW .
CLINICAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Clients who are Eastern Orthodox and Arab may experience grief in different ways from other Christians , from people of other faiths , from people who are agnostic , and from those who are atheistic . They may even experience grief in ways that differ from people within the same cultural subgroup .
It ’ s important that LCMHCs not only understand the significance of the secular or non-secular practices in the client ’ s life , but also that they examine the client ’ s physical and emotional responses to grief , and ways that journaling , self-care , and the client ’ s faith may help them cope with their grief . One aspect of working with grieving clients of different cultures is being mindful of which cultural traditions of the client may not match the grieving practices of Western cultures . Here are some suggestions for LCMHCs working with grieving clients .
Physiological responses to grief
Ask about clients ’ physical symptoms — such as tense muscles , trouble concentrating , and loss of appetite and sleep — symptoms that may be overlooked but very prevalent . The subjective quality of a typical night ’ s sleep , as well as difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep , may all be impaired due to nighttime thoughts about the loss and dreams about the deceased , according to a January 2020 article that was part of a special issue of the Journal of Depression and Anxiety on “ Bereavement and Persistent Grief : Mental Health Considerations bit . ly / 4059FYe . Sleep disturbances , which can include both trouble falling asleep and awakening in the middle of the night , were more common among the bereaved more than a year after the loss .
Sleep problems are not limited to those who are grieving . “ About 50 to 70 million Americans have sleep disorders , and one in three adults ( about 84 million people ) do not regularly
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The Advocate Magazine 2023 , Issue # 1 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) www . amhca . org 21