Complicated (Prolonged) Grief

The transition period following the death of a loved can be difficult for many of us.  Each person has his or her own manner of grieving.  In general, the most intense period of the grieving process lasts approximately six months, and up to one year for the loss of a child.  After this acute period, other adjustments to the loss naturally take place in one’s life.

For some people, the intense, acute period of grief can become prolonged and extend into years after the death.  Individuals who feel “stuck” in their grief can experience symptoms such as intrusive thoughts of the moment of death, avoiding talking or thinking about the loss, or spending extended time in “reverie” yearning for the past and surrounded by personal items of the lost loved one.  People who experience complicated grief often feel that they have not adjusted to their loss.

We at the CTSA are available for grief therapy, specializing in complicated and prolonged grief.  We use a treatment for complicated grief that is evidence-based and has been found to be effective for many people suffering from a lack of adjustment to a significant death.  The therapist assists individuals to emotionally process the loss, and engage in activities to expand their world and move forward with their lives.