Expressive Writing Therapy for Grief and Bereavement

Introduction

Grief is an emotion that all human beings are likely to feel at some point in their lives. For many, the grief process can be lonely, confusing, and prolonged. For this reason, psychologists have long sought ways to ease this process. Early researchers found that various forms of art proved effective in aiding individuals through grief, and this realm of treatment became known as expressive art therapy. It allows patients to express feelings through various art-related methods, including music therapy, art therapy, and writing therapy. Expressive therapies have been essential in helping people cope with loss, particularly in cases of unexpected death.

Preliminary research into this topic suggests that people benefit greatly from bereavement counseling that incorporates expressive art therapy. This expressive art may come in the form of letter writing, music, or photography. Research indicates that such therapy allows people to examine the relationship they had with the lost loved one and bring closure to that relationship. In addition, expressive arts allows people to express their feelings without being judged, and to communicate through art what they may not be able to express verbally.

For the purposes of this discussion, the focus is on expressive writing within the broader expressive arts therapies. The central argument is that the thought processes involved in expressive writing give patients the opportunity to understand and accept their loss. The research questions addressed are as follows:

• Does grief affect everyone in the same manner?
• How does expressive writing aid people in the grieving process?
• What are the common forms of expressive writing?
• How do counselors measure the success of expressive writing therapies?

This topic is of particular interest because grief can be debilitating and impede an individual's ability to properly care for themselves or their families. Grief is also a universal emotion that can impact anyone. In light of natural disasters and other mass tragedies in which thousands of people have died unexpectedly, researchers must find innovative and universal ways of helping people deal with grief.

Grief and Its Psychological Dimensions

Grief can occur for different reasons, but the most pronounced grief is usually caused by the loss of a loved one, and is particularly difficult when the loss was unexpected. Larson and Nolen-Hoeksema (1999) assert that people cope with grief differently and for different lengths of time. The authors explain: "There are wide differences in the specific strategies people use to cope with the emotional and practical consequences of a loss. These differences may be tied to the type of loss people have experienced, their age or gender, and their basic personality characteristics" (Larson and Nolen-Hoeksema, 1999, p. 62).

Arnason (2001) explains that grief is thought of as a kind of path with a beginning and an end: "The metaphors of 'journey' and 'process' structure grief and emphasize its ordinariness." For some, this process can be prolonged and prevent them from participating in everyday activities. Thompson (2003) describes this disruption vividly:

"Daily habits are disrupted, activities associated with valued roles are lost, and life plans are derailed in the wake of significant loss. Intimately linked to these tangible experiences is the realm of the imagination, from which symbols and meaning emerge. Significant loss undoes the ways we have imagined ourselves in the world, uprooting us from the ground of meaning that has supported our sense of interconnected wholeness" (Thompson, 2003).

In his book The Heart of Grief: Death and the Search for Lasting Love, Attig (2000) asserts that the very things that are most painful to remember during bereavement are actually those that will provide the most comfort once the grief is confronted. He explains: "When we come to terms with our feelings of hurt, we tame them somewhat; we loosen their grip on us and gain some control over them. Rarely do we make them go away entirely or render ourselves immune to them. As we learn to carry these feelings, we realize there is room in our hearts for more than the pain and anguish of separation. We find that we can open our hearts to other experiences" (Attig, 2000).

Grief can be a destructive force in a person's life and lead to other problems such as depression and anxiety. For the purposes of this discussion, two key factors that intensify grief are explored: attachment theory and sudden or unexpected death.