Grief is a universal human experience resulting from losing a loved one. While this process is often painful and challenging, it’s also a normal and necessary part of life. However, for some individuals, the experience of grief can become more complex and unmanageable, leading to conditions like Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD). This article will explore evidence-based treatments for grief and loss, focusing on Prolonged Grief Disorder.
Grief is a deeply personal process that can present differently in different individuals. It’s typically characterized by sadness, yearning, and sometimes anger or guilt. Most people naturally progress through their grief over time. However, when these feelings persist in intensity and begin to interfere with daily functioning, a diagnosis of Prolonged Grief Disorder might be considered.
Prolonged Grief Disorder is a condition recognized by the mental health community for its characteristic extended and intense grief. It’s not simply a matter of grief lasting a long time; instead, it’s a complex condition where grief is so intense and persistent that it interferes with an individual’s ability to function in daily life.
One of the most evidence-based treatments for Prolonged Grief Disorder is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT for grief focuses on helping the individual understand and change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour that may be contributing to their intense grief. This might involve helping the person confront and reframe negative thoughts or engage in activities they have been avoiding due to their grief.
Another effective treatment for Prolonged Grief Disorder is Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy (PGDT). This short-term therapy aims to address the issues complicating the grief process and bolster the grieving individual’s natural adaptive capacity. This therapy has multiple components designed to help individuals understand their grief, manage intense emotions, contemplate the future, rebuild strong relationships, reflect on the death, revisit reminders of the loss, and access living memories. PGDT, delivered in 16 weekly sessions, has made a significant difference in the lives of those grappling with complicated grief, with 70% of people showing marked improvement.
Grief counselling, a form of therapy often used to help people navigate the grief process, can also play an essential role in managing grief and loss. La Ronge Counselling, for instance, offers grief counselling that serves several purposes. One such purpose is creating a safe space for people to discuss the deceased. Sharing memories, including the person’s likes and dislikes, habits, and even faults, can aid individuals in working through their grief. Counsellors might ask bereaved people what advice their loved one might give them or how they would want them to live their lives.
Grief counselling can also help distinguish grief from trauma. Some people may become fixated on traumatic memories related to their loved one’s death, which can prevent them from starting to grieve healthily. Counselling can help minimize the trauma associated with these memories and recontextualize them to initiate the grief process.
Another key aspect of grief counselling is addressing guilt, which can significantly obstruct the grieving process. Counsellors can support grieving adults by helping them understand how guilt-related thoughts can be unproductive and suggest that the best way to honour their loved one’s memory is to lead a fulfilling life. They may encourage clients to take breaks from grieving and incorporate rituals that pay tribute to the deceased, possibly helping the bereaved overcome guilt.
