The programme was developed by Chris Bowden, a lecturer and suicide researcher at Victoria University of Wellington, and Caroline Cole, a counsellor at Skylight. It was updated and revised by Chris Bowden and Jenny McIntosh (Skylight) in 2014.
The programme’s design and content draw on current theory and research on effective bereavement interventions, and on evaluations of what has worked well in similar suicide bereavement groups. Waves is informed by two exemplar bereavement intervention programmes from the USA (Murphy, 1996; Murphy, Johnson & Lohan, 2003) and an intervention for bereaved families (Pfeffer et al, 2002).
While the core content of the programme remains constant, it has evolved over time based on evaluations and group member feedback. Group members have also taken an active role in shaping the content and focus of different sessions and have contributed to some of the resources currently used in the sessions.
Research article Waves: a psycho-educational programme for adults bereaved by suicide Chris Bowden BA (Hons), MA (2011): Waves, Bereavement Care, 30:3, 25-31