What is the treatment approach for grief therapy?

From the Guidelines

Grief therapy should be approached with sensitivity, allowing individuals to express their feelings without minimizing their concerns or comparing their loss to others, as emphasized in the 2016 Pediatrics study 1. When considering grief therapy, it's essential to prioritize a supportive and non-judgmental environment. The goal is to help individuals cope with their loss, not to rush them through the grieving process.

Key Principles of Grief Therapy

• Express concern and be genuine in your approach, as children can tell when adults are authentic 1.
• Listen and observe more than you talk, allowing the individual to express their grief and feelings.
• Avoid sharing personal experiences that may shift the focus away from the child's loss or make comparisons that could be perceived as insulting.
• Offer practical advice and reassurance without minimizing the individual's concerns.

Initiating the Conversation

To initiate a conversation about grief, consider the following steps:

• Express your concern and let the individual know you feel sorry for their loss.
• Be genuine and authentic in your approach.
• Listen and observe, talking less and allowing the individual to express their feelings.
• Limit the sharing of personal experiences and keep the focus on the individual's loss and feelings.

Finding Support

To find support for grief therapy, consider the following options:

• Contact your primary care provider for a referral to a grief specialist.
• Reach out to local hospice organizations or support groups.
• Use online directories like Psychology Today to find grief specialists in your area.

Important Considerations

• Avoid attempts to "cheer up" individuals who are grieving, as this can be perceived as minimizing their feelings 1.
• Do not instruct individuals to hide their emotions or tell them how they ought to feel.
• Avoid comparisons with your own experiences, as this can shift the focus away from the individual's loss.

From the Research

Grief Therapy Overview

• Grief therapy, also known as grief counseling or bereavement therapy, is a type of therapy that helps individuals cope with the loss of a loved one 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
• The goal of grief therapy is to help individuals process their emotions, manage their grief, and adapt to life without the deceased person.

Types of Grief Therapy

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a commonly used approach in grief therapy, which helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors associated with their grief 2, 5.
• Complicated grief therapy (CGT) is a specific type of CBT that focuses on helping individuals accept and cope with the loss, while also assisting them with adaptation to life without the deceased person 4.
• Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is another approach that has been used in grief therapy, which combines elements of CBT with mindfulness techniques to help individuals manage their grief-related distress 2.
• Present-centered therapy (PCT) is a type of therapy that focuses on helping individuals cope with daily problems and emotions related to their grief, rather than focusing specifically on the loss itself 5.

Effectiveness of Grief Therapy

• Research has shown that grief-focused cognitive behavior therapy (GCBT) is an effective treatment for prolonged grief disorder, with studies demonstrating significant reductions in grief symptoms and associated problems 2, 5.
• Complicated grief therapy (CGT) has also been shown to be an effective treatment for complicated grief, with studies demonstrating significant improvements in grief symptoms and quality of life 4.
• Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been found to be a viable alternative to GCBT, although GCBT may be more effective in reducing core prolonged grief disorder symptoms 2.

Assessment and Diagnosis

• Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a distinct diagnostic entity that can be assessed using various measures, including the Prolonged Grief-13 (PG-13) scale 2, 5, 6.
• Clinicians can use self-report and clinician-rated measures to assess symptom constructs and overall PGD severity, and to diagnose PGD according to the latest criteria sets for ICD-11 and DSM-5 6.