Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Group Therapy For Bereaved Parents : Sudden Death Of A Child Or Adolescent, Jessica L. Heidecker

Graduate Research Papers

This article reviews parental bereavement through sudden loss of a child by · homicidal, suicidal, or accidental death. It advocates for the Dual Process Model of grieving, and explores group therapy treatment for bereaved parents. This paper contends that parental loss of a child is more intense and traumatic than any other type of loss. Evidence is also provided to state that traumatic grievers benefit from group therapy as opposed to other types of grievers. Meaning reconstruction is established as a key element in the grief process. Overall, the article allows counselors to understand the complications involved in working with …