Research & Publications

My research interests and publications reflect a longstanding focus on grief, traumatic loss, and the psychological, social, and existential aspects of the bereavement process in adults.

This work informs my clinical practice and the ongoing treatment of my bereaved clients who are navigating challenging grief and trauma-related experiences.

Research

I initially entered the field of psychology to become a bereavement researcher. After observing the profound distress associated with many types of loss — and witnessing the resilience of those who grieve — I became deeply interested in understanding how people adapt to painful and complex bereavement experiences.

I was especially drawn to studying grief that is complicated by limited or poor-quality social support, spiritual struggle, or the added trauma of sudden and violent death (including murder, suicide, and accidental fatality).

My broader program of research focuses on death, dying, loss, and grief — work that directly informs the psychotherapy I provide. For example, research conducted with colleagues at the University of Memphis and elsewhere has highlighted the critical role of social support in shaping the bereavement experience. When support is responsive and meaningful, it facilitates adaptation. When it is absent or negative, grief often becomes more complicated and distressing.

Our studies have also explored the relation between bereavement distress and a crisis of faith, particularly among individuals grieving sudden or violent deaths. These findings led to the development and validation of the Inventory of Complicated Spiritual Grief (ICSG 2.0), a scale designed to assess spiritual distress in bereavement.

Additionally, along with Dr. Elizabeth Crunk and colleagues, I helped develop and validate a measurement tool to assess coping strategies in bereaved adults, called the Coping Assessment for Bereavement and Loss Experiences (CABLE).

Please see my downloadable publication list for links to peer-reviewed articles and additional research findings.

  • 2019 – 2022: Co-facilitator/Co-editor
    Restorative Connection with the Deceased Conference (Seattle, WA) and edited book

    2018 – 2022: Training Faculty
    Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, Portland, OR

    2016 – 2022: Principal Investigator
    Inventory of Complicated Spiritual Grief—2.0 (ICSG-2.0): Validation of a Revised Measure of Spiritual Distress in Bereavement, Department of Psychology, University of Memphis

    2018 – 2022: Co-Investigator
    Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) and Complicated Grief (CG)

    2018 – 2020: Co-Investigator
    Coping Assessment for Bereavement and Loss Experiences (CABLE)

    2015 – 2019: Research Assistant Professor
    Department of Psychology, University of Memphis

    2016 – 2017: Bereavement Expert/Co-investigator
    Grief Inquiry Following Tragedy (GIFT): Development of an Internet-based Application to Support Self-monitoring for Bereaved Individuals; Technical University of Eindhoven (TU/e) Industrial Design Department, Designed Intelligence Research Group; Wan Jou (Lavender) She, M.A., Doctoral Candidate, Dissertation

    2016 – 2017: Graduate Faculty Scholar/Co-investigator
    Coping Assessment for Bereavement and Loss Experiences (CABLE): Development of a New Instrument; College of Graduate Studies, University of Central Florida; A. Elizabeth Crunk, M.S., Dissertation Committee

    2013 – 2015: Bereavement Consultant, Clinical Advisory Board
    Project ADAPT: Improving Bereavement Resilience: A Pilot Online Bereavement Writing Intervention Co-Principal Investigators: Michelle Pearce, PhD & Debra Weigand, RN, PhD, FAAN University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Medicine/School of Nursing

    2014 – 2015: Executive Director
    Institute for the Study of Loss and Transition Portland, OR

    2012 – 2015: Co-Principal Investigator/Project Coordinator
    Project ARC: Assessing Responses to a Veteran Family Member’s Palliative Care Experiences Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center

    2010 – 2013: Co-Principal Investigator/Project Coordinator
    Project INSPIRIT: Investigating Natural Spiritual Processes in Response to Incidents of Trauma Center for the Study of Loss and Transition Department of Psychology, University of Memphis

    2008 – 2009: Project Coordinator
    Project BRAVEHearts: Bereavement Responses After Violent Experiences
    Center for the Study of Loss and Transition Department of Psychology, University of Memphis

Publications

The Restorative Nature of Ongoing Connections with the Deceased: Exploring Presence Within Absence

Edited by Laurie A. Burke & Edward (Ted) Rynearson

CABLE: Coping Assessment for Bereavement and Loss Experiences

ICSG 2.0: Inventory of Complicated Spiritual Grief

See My Full List of Peer-Reviewed Articles & Publications