Cognitive-behavioral therapy for prolonged grief (English Abstract)

Cognitive behavior approaches were developed for treating prolonged grief disorder where mourners suffer intensive pain of separation and traumatic pain. In this article, a cognitive-behavioral concept of prolonged grief disorder will be depicted, therapeutic strategies of treatment will be outlined and exemplified with a case study, and efficacy studies will be presented. Three core processes play a major role concerning the emergence and maintenance of the symptoms: insufficient integration of the separation in the autobiographical memory, negative global convictions and misinterpretations as well as anxious and depressive avoidance strategies. Three goals for treatment derive from these core processes: the loss should be elaborated and integrated in the autobiographical knowledge, problematic beliefs and misinterpretations should be identified and altered, and anxious and depressive avoidance strategies should be reduced while helpful coping strategies should be established. The most important methods of treatment are the exposition therapy in sensu, cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation. Methods from creative, interpersonal, systemic and Gestalt therapy are integrated, and an internetbased cognitive behavior therapy for prolonged grief will be presented.

Hypnosystemic Grief Support (English Abstract)

A new approach in grief work

Up until now, approaches to grief are focussing on saying farewell. In contrast to this, an approach to grief will be presented which allows an inner relationship with the deceased. This is especially important for the mourning process of older people. This understanding of grief is based on hypno-therapeutical and systemic approaches which will be integrated into a hypno-systemic grief counselling. Precise steps for grief counselling will be given.

Grief as a way of not becoming depressed after losses (English Abstract)

Grief and depression are reactions in order to cope with loss. While depression is characterized by an impoverishment of the ego, grief brings about a hurtful mood and a reduced interest in the outside world. The thought of the lost object has priority. Grief is described as a process which creates the lost object of affection in its mental existence within the mourner. In depression, remembrance of the object is not existent; it becomes part of the ego (Freud 1916) and becomes noticeable in inner dialogues of a degradation of the ego. In grief counseling, especially when a complicated grief as a mixture of grief and depression has appeared, it is important that the mourner remembers and relives similarities with the lost object. Ambivalent feelings and being sad about losing affection and support should be discussed.

Logotherapeutic Mourning Work (English Abstract)

The first part of this article depicts the central ideas of Logotherapy and Existential Analysis of Viktor E. Frankl (1905–1997). Since 1948, Logotherapy and Existential Analysis have been globally known as the »Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy« (following Freud’s Psychoanalysis and Adler’s Individual Psychology). Therapy, counseling as well as education converge and create a unity. The second part deals with a case study focusing on grief work on a logotherapeutic basis.

Grief in relatives of dementia patients (English Abstract)

What can psychotherapeutic interventions achieve? A case presentation

Dementia caregivers often experience severe grief that has an adverse impact on their mental and physical well-being. During her participation in a randomized-controlled trial for dementia caregivers, a 60-year-old caregiving wife was supported in identifying losses and managing her grief reactions. This article presents examples of losses experienced by caregivers and illustrates suitable intervention strategies. Distinctive aspects in the treatment of grieving caregivers are summarized.

Grief processing and adjustment after stroke (English Abstract)

A stroke is one of the most common causes of a disability acquired during adulthood. The adjustment to permanent impairment affecting important areas of life appears as a vast challenge to patients. As a consequence, patients often develop depressive symptoms, potentially meeting the criteria for the diagnosis of an adjustment disorder. The implementation of an integrative neuro-psychotherapy program, which combines psychotherapeutic and neuropsychological interventions, will be illustrated through a clinical case example. A key aspect of the therapy program is working through grief, while considering patients specific issues to foster the adjustment to living with impairment.