Three Thoughts & A Coffee

In this episode of Three Thoughts and A Coffee, we explore a heavy clinical reality: the Grief Ghost. When a family experiences loss, they become a system bound by the same grave. This isn't just sadness; it’s a systemic presence—a functional role created by a void that recruits family members to preserve the death rather than giving them permission to move forward.To help these families, we utilize the Integrated Process Model (IPM). The IPM provides a multidimensional framework—addressing physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual dimensions—to address the forces anchoring a family to their loss. Restoring permission requires a systemic pulling up of the anchor. By using the IPM to re-engage the total grief process, we help the system shift from "leaving behind" to "carrying on," providing the scaffolding for them to become the authors of their own stories.Show Notes and Links to Resources within the EpisodeBarboza, Jessica & Seedall, Ryan. (2021). Evaluating the relationship between family resilience and grief-related symptoms: A preliminary analysis. Death Studies, 47, 10–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2021.1993381 Center for Grief and Existential Values (Denmark): Sorg og Eksistens. (n.d.). About the Center for Grief and Existential Values. https://sorgogeksistens.dk/about/ Grief Reconciliation International™: Hatanaka, J. (n.d.). About Grief Reconciliation International. https://griefreconciliation.com/about/Guldin, M. B., & Leget, C. (2024). The integrated process model of loss and grief - An interprofessional understanding. Death Studies, 48(7), 738-752. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2023.2272960Noel, Brook and Blair, Pamela D. (2008). I wasn’t ready to say goodbye: Surviving, coping and healing after the sudden death of a loved one. Sourcebooks, Inc. Yildririm, Ö., & Çelîkkol, A. K. (2025). Family Resilience in The Face of Grief and Loss: A Systematic Review. Humanistic Perspective, 7(1) 73-89. https://doi.org/10.47793/hp.1608181