THERAPY FOR disenfranchised GRIEF IN NEW YORK CITY

There are plenty of beliefs and attitudes that contribute to disenfranchised grief, including the following:

Illegitimate Relationship

Losing someone or a relationship with someone who isn’t your spouse or an immediate family member can still have a huge impact on your life. While other people may not understand or accept why such a relationship is important to you, what you’re feeling is still valid. Unfortunately, you may face a lack of support, which can make you feel more alone during the entire grieving process.

Workplace Culture

There are some job positions where you may experience tremendous loss, which include:

• Doctors

• Emergency medical workers

• Therapists

• Other health professions

• And more

Such occupations may expose you to death because it is part of the job and may create a sense of loss. While some people may say that they shouldn’t bother you personally, it may not be easy not to let go of such loss.

Not Death-Related

Death isn’t the only kind of loss that people will experience, but most society makes it seem like it’s the most important kind of loss. You can also lose a person who is still alive — perhaps you’ve had a falling out or they’ve changed drastically. Some people may not understand why this kind of loss affects you so much, even if no one died.

Taboo Deaths

When a loved one dies as a result of suicide, murder, miscarriage, drug overdose, or other kinds of premature death, it can be hard to talk to friends and family about it. Some people may not want to talk about it because they don’t want to remember traumatic events that caused the death. This may also lead to a further state of isolation, so it may help to attend groups for this kind of grief.

Showing Unexpected Emotions

Everyone will have a different emotional reaction to loss — society will expect you to cry, become saddened, or experience depression. However, some people will have a different reaction. These people may not be able to show their emotions, feel relief instead, or may exhibit another kind of emotion that may not be expected.

Examples of Disenfranchised Grief

There is a wide range of reasons why people may feel disenfranchised grief, where others may not see the reason behind your grief, such as the following:

• The addiction of someone we love

• Our elderly loved one’s dementia

• The death of an abuser

• The death of an ex-partner

• The death of our pet

• The death of a patient

• The death or loss of a secret or private relationship

• Abortion

• Miscarriage

• Infertility

• Losing a job

• Moving far away

How Therapy Can Help

Going to therapy for a one-on-one session or group discussion can help you to cope, understand, and accept your loss. A therapist can give you a helpful perspective from an external source, which can help guide your internal feelings. Apart from feeling immense grief, you may also struggle with being on your own during this time.

Therapy can provide you with the recognition and validation you need when trying to work out what to do next or how to move forward in your life. Various forms of therapy can help as you continue to navigate life with disenfranchised grief. Here are the kinds of therapy you can look into:

• Acceptance commitment therapy (ACT): This focuses on increased cognitive flexibility and the acceptance of negative feelings

• Art therapy: This technique encourages participants to create art through the use of psychotherapy tools to process and express their emotions

• Brainspotting: This technique uses a therapist who will guide you while you locate and process your feelings of trauma and emotional pain

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This targets any negative thought patterns which contribute to feelings of guilt, shame, regret, and mourning

• Group therapy: This is a kind of psychotherapy that allows you to interact with others who are going through the same kind of disenfranchised grief

• Narrative therapy: This can encourage people to create a story that allows them to make sense of the emotions they’re going through

• Support groups: These groups can help you connect with people going through the same thing you are, where they can offer healing and validation. Even if you’re not ready to start therapy, there are free online support group options. Check out these to get connected.