The dual model of grief and the inspiration of Lauren Sisler
In February 2024 we had the privilege of interviewing Lauren Sisler for our Finding Your Hope Filled Story series. Lauren is a sports reporter for ESPN in the USA who has personally experienced the tragedy of losing both her parents in one day due to prescription overdose, when Lauren was only 18 years old. While that loss is unspeakable what is worse more was to come in dealing with that story as Lauren also had to confront the hidden addiction and associated debt of her parents. Lauren has outlined this story in her book: Shatterproof by Lauren Sisler | A Memoir of Resilience, Addiction Recovery, Faith & Hope — Lauren Sisler | ESPN Reporter, Keynote Speaker & Author | Resilience, Mental Health, Addiction Recovery Advocacy
Why we believe in the dual processing model of grief
Throughout 2026, we at Best Life Counselling have been trying to emphasise the validity of the dual processing model of grief. This model was developed by Stroebe & Schut at a time when Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s model dominated grief work. Stroebe and Schut plotted squiggly lines on the whiteboard and noted grief moves between loss orientated and restoration orientated realities. See the full interview with Margaret Stroebe here.
Although, we didn’t raise the dual processing model of grief with Lauren at that time, we thought of Lauren as a wonderful illustration of an excellent role model of processing the pain of tragedy while also working in restoration. In February, 2024 Lauren’s child, Mason, had just been born to her and her husband John. Things were looking up. Lauren released her book later that year.
What we didn’t know until very recently, was that after the death of Lauren’s parents, Lauren’s only family of origin member was her brother. We couldn’t believe what we were hearing in late 2024, that Lauren’s only sibling, her brother Allen sadly died of alcohol abuse.
Despite this trauma, Lauren remains committed to processing her grief and restoration work
If we ever needed to see an example of inspiration in this area, we would need to look no further than Lauren. In this unspeakable loss Lauren remains committed to working through the grief and the restoration realities.
While three out of four of Lauren’s family, with so many redeeming characteristics, chose a unhelpful pathway for grief and loss, Lauren, her husband John and now Mason (through role modelling and guidance into the future) will be able to set a new direction for the Sisler’s from this generation on, that can show others that grief, loss and sadness can be handled in constructive ways.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Lauren, John and Mason as they make this a reality, and with all of us as we do this too.