Black Male Grief Reaction to Trauma: A Clinical Case Study of One Man's Mental Health Treatment

Grief is a common response to loss and trauma among all people regardless of race, class or gender. Despite its universality, it is hypothesized that variation exists in how it is experienced and expressed among Black men in the United States. In light of evidence from bereavement research over the decades, previous paradigms regarding grief and loss are changing, which has important implications for mental health professionals working with people of color. Grief is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon that is influenced by a variety of external factors. Social, cultural and religious worldviews all influence grief reactions, informing individual responses to traumatic events. This book will focus on understanding one Black Man's grief reaction with a critical race theoretical (CRT) perspective. It will provide an overview incorporating the theories of attachment, ego-psychology, grief and resiliency.