Therapists’ Bereavement and Loss Experiences: A Literature Review

Abstract

This paper reviews literature on therapists' bereavement and loss experiences. The review also looks at literature that reflects how these experiences affect therapists personally and professionally. In order to have a holistic, elaborate and flexible view on loss, this review uses acknowledgesalso the main existing theories of bereavement. Therapists' bereavement and loss experiences, are presented within three different contexts namely: the death of a close related kin, the end of therapy due to clients' death and other types of personal losses. The paper ends with recommendations for possible future research into the area.3

Facing up: psychotherapists writing about dealing with the idea of one’s own death

“…Kouriatis & Brown, 2011;O'Brien, 2011;Strom-Gottfried & Mowbray, 2006). For example, Kouriatis and Brown (2011) report, 'Extensive research has been conducted on bereavement and grief but is lacking with regard to therapists' significant loss experiences ' (p. 205). Similarly, as I have suggested here, while literature regarding therapists and mortality in general is extensive, therapists writing about the idea of his or her own future death is relatively limited.…”

“…Radden, 2000) and mourning, grief and bereavement (e.g. Kouriatis & Brown, 2011;O'Brien, 2011;Strom-Gottfried & Mowbray, 2006). For example, Kouriatis and Brown (2011) report, 'Extensive research has been conducted on bereavement and grief but is lacking with regard to therapists' significant loss experiences ' (p. 205).…”

“…Since Givelber and Simon's article in 1981, several more pieces have appeared that address the situation of a therapist who experienced a death of someone close to him or her, including within grief and bereavement studies (e.g. Kouriatis & Brown, 2011;O'Brien, 2011;Strom-Gottfried & Mowbray, 2006). Among these are Schneider (2002) regarding his brother, Cowan-Jenssen (2007) about her mother, and Callahan and Dittloff (2007) dealing with the death their child.…”

Impact of Client Death on Clinical Geropsychologists: A Qualitative Analysis

“…Doka (2002) identified the concept of "disenfranchised grief," grief reactions that are not socially recognized, acknowledged, or sanctioned by one's social groups. Preliminary findings on therapist reactions to client death have supported the disenfranchised grief model, with therapists and psychologists discussing a sense that their professional role precludes them from openly mourning for their clients (Kouriatis & Brown, 2011;O'Brien, 2011;Schwartz, 2004). One example of this dilemma would be the need for a therapist to balance respect for confidentiality with a desire to attend a funeral (O'Brien, 2011;Rubel, 2004).…”

“…Despite the relevance of this topic, a limited number of studies have directly addressed how psychologists are impacted by nonsuicidal client death (Kouriatis & Brown, 2011). Existing research has relied on case studies and clinical case reflections based largely on the experiences of generalist practitioners who experienced client death as a rare and unexpected event.…”