CASE STUDY

Clarence recently experienced the loss of his older brother Joel to cancer. His brother was ill for several years, and Clarence feels that he was able to mend fences and heal what had been a complicated relationship with Joel. Clarence has always been self-sufficient and independent, yet months after his brother's death, Clarence is overwhelmed with grief and finds himself feeling intense anger and helplessness. He has suffered from subclinical depression for years. Now feeling depressed and anxious, he visits a counselor. His counselor guides Clarence to recall his years as a soldier in Iraq during the Persian Gulf War. Clarence realizes that he was not able to grieve his fellow soldiers, nor did he grieve the injuries he suffered during the war. There were so many losses at the time that it was easier to ignore them and move onand he was busy trying to stay alive. His counselor works with him to understand and grieve his losses as a soldier, as well as the more recent loss of Joel.

1. What type of complicated mourning might Clarence be experiencing?
2. Does Clarence exhibit any of the clues used to diagnose complicated mourning? If so, which ones?
3. What factors can you identify in Clarence's story that cause individuals to fail to grieve?