A tale of two widows: investigating meaning-making and identity development through writing in the face of grief

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this article we explore the grieving-through-writing process of two researchers who dialogue about spousal loss. Drawing on the idea that bereavement requires meaning-making, we engage in an interview-style conversation about how (1) we each made sense of our spouse's death, (2) experienced Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) as described by Calhoun and Tedeschi [(2006). Handbook of posttraumatic growth: Research and practice. Routledge], and (c) underwent identity change. Through a “researcher as practitioner” lens, we conceptualise identity change using Dialogical Self Theory and engage in writing as a therapeutic narrative re-storying process. We note that each of us differed with regards to when we wrote about our loss. The work is intended to contribute to the grief literature and can support counselling and writing-for-wellbeing practices..