Dr. Donna Schuurman is back - this time talking about the dangers of pathologizing grief. While the term "complicated grief" has been used in various grief settings for years, it wasn't until March of 2022 that Prolonged Grief Disorder made it into the DSM-5-TR - the Diagnostical & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - as an official diagnosis. This conversation explores the concerns Donna and others in the field share about the move to pathologize grief.
We discuss:
What Donna’s learned about grief working in the field for over 30 years
How that work experience shapes her personal grief
Why she is so passionate about this topic
How diagnoses are social constructs - and who often gets left out of the studies behind these constructs
The dangers of pathologizing grief as a mental disorder
The (short list) of positives of Prolonged Grief Disorder being available as a diagnosis
What Donna is optimistic about in the field of bereavement
Register for Donna’s upcoming webinar: Flawed Foundations, Deconstructing Three Contemporary Grief Constructs Thursday, February 8, 2024.
Donna L. Schuurman, EdD, FT, is the Senior Director of Advocacy & Education at Dougy Center. Dr. Schuurman was the Executive Director of Dougy Center from 1991–2015. Dr. Schuurman is an internationally recognized authority on grief and bereaved children, teens, and families, and the author of Never the Same: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Parent (St. Martin’s Press, 2003), among other publications.
Navigating Grief At Work
When Every Item Is Precious - The Grief Gallery
Signs & Messages - Psychic Mediumship
Are We Going To Be Okay? - Grief, Collected & The Mash-Up Americans
"I Needed To See People Who Looked Like Me" - Luna Peak Foundation
One In A Million
The (Not) Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Holidays & Grief Mini-Episode
Grief Doesn't Fit In A Box, But You Can Make A List - What's Your Grief
"These Relationships Matter" - Grieving The Death Of A Pet
Celebrating Día de Los Muertos
"They Were Part Of My Firefighter Family" - Grieving A Coworker
Caring For A Parent At The End Of Life - Mark Chesnut & Prepare for Departure
The Awkwardness Around Grief Is International
"We Did Everything We Could Not To Be Here"
Embracing Grief In Community - Adam Stevens, RDT
It's Complicated
Things Others Never Even Have To Think About - Grief & Identity
Born For This Work - Supporting Grief & Death (Valenca Valenzuela, MSW)
We Have No New Memories - Amanda Drews & Buzzy's Bees
Comedy & Grief & Father's Day - A Reprise
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