A Shift in the Conceptual Understanding of Grief: Using Meaning- Oriented Therapies With Bereaved Clients

Grief ensues when an important or meaningful attachment bond is damaged or severed in some way. Loss leaves a “hole” which must be filled over time. Meaning-oriented therapies are widely accepted as one approach to restore such holes and aide bereaved individuals in the grieving process. This paper reviews some of the dominant approaches to meaning making. Additionally, meaning making with respect to three distinct losses: loss of spouse, loss of parent, and loss of sibling, are discussed. Clinical implications and recommendations are provided.