Cognitive behavioral grief therapy

From a REBT perspective, loss through death is viewed as an intense negative and traumatic Activating event which effects the Belief system and related emotional and behavioral Consequences. Grief, then, is seen as a normal reaction and the process that follows is a necessary one characterized by the bereaved attempting to reorganize a shattered belief system. In the present paper a distinction between functional and dysfunctional grief is made. Based on Ellis' differentiation between iB's and RB's, typical irrational grief-related beliefs are identified (with specific focus on pain related ones). Various REBT interventions aimed at facilitating a more functional, healthier course of grief are suggested.