"Unbreak My Heart": Clinical Implications for Working With Bereaved Couples. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hall, Cadmona A.; Ungureanu, Ileana
• Is Part Of: Family journal. Volume 29:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 299
• Page End: 304
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: bereavement -- couples therapy -- social justice -- grief -- cultural competence; Family psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Marital psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Family counseling -- Periodicals; Marriage counseling -- Periodicals; 616.8915605
• DOI: 10.1177/10664807211000067
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1066-4807

Abstract

Death and bereavement remain a cultural taboo that continues to impact helping professionals. The death of a child is a particularly difficult loss as it challenges expectations about the life cycle. Many clinicians find themselves unprepared and ill-equipped to appropriately intervene. Bereaved couples require knowledgeable and culturally competent support to facilitate positive and healthy outcomes. The aim of this article is to provide clinicians with a theoretical framework and clinical conceptualization to assess and intervene in the lives of bereaved couples.