Retelling Violent Death

About this book

Violent death whether by homicide suicide or accident is particularly traumatic for the family and surrounding community of the deceased. Unlike natural dying from disease or old age someone is responsible for a violent death; the family and community cannot rest until the dying is explained until the perpetrator is identified and justice and order are reestablished. Often a spectacled story of the death eclipses the memory of the persons life: family members remain mired in the retelling of the death and cannot fully reengage in their own living. In Retelling Violent Death Edward K. Rynearson presents a strategy for restorative retelling that is based upon his thirty years of clinical practice and research with family members after a violent death as well as his own personal experience after his wifes suicide. In addition to a clear outline of this model for encouraging resilience the book includes clinical interventions and case studies as well as coverage of restorative retelling with children and adolescents extant literature on violent dying and the design and establishment of support groups and programs for those affected by violent death. Written from a highly engaging and uniquely personal perspective Retelling Violent Death is an important resource for family members and clinicians who seek to help them in the aftermath of this devastating and life-changing event. It provides hope that there is a way to survive and accommodate a violent death to begin and continue the self-transformation that makes survival possible.