Understanding prolonged grief from an existential counseling perspective

AbstractIn this article, we examine prolonged grief through an existential theoretical lens. In particular, we critically compare criteria for prolonged grief disorder with existential theoretical principles, including existential phenomenology, existential relatedness, and existential givens of human existence: death anxiety, existential freedom, existential isolation, and existential meaning/meaninglessness. We explore how existential perspectives and principles provide a clinically useful explanation for the presence and etiology of many of the symptoms of prolonged grief. We also describe counseling implications for treating prolonged grief phenomenologically, relationally, and through the lens of the four existential givens.

Source: Journal of Counseling and Development - March 27, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Nathaniel N. Ivers, David A. Johnson, D. Robert Casares, Marlise R. Lonn, Thelma Duffey, Shane Haberstroh Tags: APPLIED THEORY ARTICLE Source Type: research