Reconsidering the transference paradigm in treatment with the bereaved

What is to be expected of bereaved people years after a loss? How will life be lived following the conclusion of the mourning process? Answers to questions such as these are inherent in the use of terms such as recovery following loss or the resolution of bereavement. From the perspective of the Two-track Model of Bereavement, it should be clear that the outcome of loss needs to be examined along the dimension of functioning, where the term recovery might well be adequate, and along the dimension of the continuing relationship to the deceased, where resolution would be the more precise term. When one considers the impact of bereavement upon the individual years following the loss, it is well to keep in mind that both recovery and resolution range across the continuum, with varying degrees of adjustment, coping, and continued relationship to the representations of the deceased neither fixed nor static. In many ways, the continuing relationship to the deceased is similar to the relationships we have with living individuals. The more comfort and openness characterize the connection to memories and thoughts of a particular relationship, the greater the likelihood that the relationship is not a focus of conflict or difficulty requiring intervention. Changes in the relationship to the deceased will continue across the life-cycle. The presence of flexibility and resilience in the internal object world are important features of the individual's ability to deal with the ebb and flow of a life course.