According to Worden, Task II involves which of the following?

• A. Adjusting to a world without the deceased
• B. Finding ways to remember the deceased that do not preclude going on with life
• C. Processing the pain of grief
• D. Accepting the reality of the loss

Answer: (C)

Worden’s framework presents four tasks that grief work moves through after a loss. Task II is about processing the pain of grief. This means actively engaging with and expressing the raw emotions that come with the loss—sadness, anger, guilt, longing—rather than pushing them away or bottling them up. Working through these feelings helps the mourner acknowledge that the loss has happened and enables the person to integrate the experience into life going forward. It’s not about erasing pain or rushing to “get over” it, but about allowing the grief to unfold so healing can begin. Other tasks in Worden’s model involve accepting reality, adjusting to a world without the deceased, and finding a way to maintain a bond while moving forward, but Task II specifically centers on the emotional processing of grief.