PRECONFERENCE MASTERCLASSES

When grief becomes painfully preoccupying and protracted, the problem often arises at the intersection of the death and the relationship it interrupted. Drawing on attachment-informed and Two-Track models of bereavement, we will begin by considering grieving as a process of reconstructing rather than relinquishing our bonds with those who have died, and the complicating circumstances that can interfere with this natural process.  We then turn to a close analysis of a single session of therapy that releases an adult daughter from an anguishing grief that has persisted unchanged for many years, and that has insinuated itself into her life with intimate others. We begin this work by attending closely to “quality terms” in the client’s narrative that poignantly convey the character of her connection with her mother, that symbolically signal the devastation caused by her death, and that function as harbingers of a more hopeful reconstructed relationship. Probing gently for possible openings into a foreclosed system of meaning and mourning, we observe and discuss the role of body imagery and chair work in fostering therapeutic transformation. We conclude with a follow-up report on the therapy that documents its impact, and bridge into experiential practice with these same techniques, with the goal of refining both our sense of personal presence and clinical competence in addressing complications in bereavement.

Learning Outcomes:

• Conceptualize complicated or prolonged grief as a disturbance in attachment to the deceased that calls for relational reconstruction
  
• Describe the Two-Track Model of bereavement and the role of accessing the back story of relationship in reorganizing the continuing bond
  
• Track metaphors and quality terms in the client’s narrative that provide portals to a deeper understanding of the client’s impasse, and how it might be unlocked
  
• Practice analogical listening to delve into embodied meanings that maintain mourning, and foster their transformation 
  
• Direct experiential chair work to externalize and explore problematic emotions linked to the loss and its aftermath

Attachment status is one of a very few factors that have consistently been identified by researchers seeking to understand the underlying causes of complicated vs. normal grief. These findings concerning adaptation to loss are part of a growing body of research emphasizing the impact of early relational experience and attachment orientation on emotional health across the lifespan. In this Master Class, the instructor will explain the significance of contemporary perspectives on attachment that are critical to understanding variations in how people grieve, and will explore in depth the implications of these insights for the practice of therapy with bereaved individuals. 

Throughout the day we will use client videos and case discussion to deepen our understanding of how theory translates into practice. Ample time will also be given for questions and discussion with those in attendance. You and will end the day with insight into the value of attachment theory in guiding treatment formulation, and with tools that will help you support your bereaved clients. 

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this class participants will be able to:

1. Review findings related to the role of insecure attachment in complicated grief.
   
2. Describe what is meant by “attachment informed grief therapy” and discuss the practical application of attachment theory in providing bereavement support to individuals with attachment related grief complications.
   
3. Explain the importance of emotion regulation in coping with loss, describe how deficits in emotion regulation contribute to complications in grief, and describe interventions for strengthening regulatory capacity.
   
4. Explain the importance of mentalizing in healthy adaptation to loss and describe techniques for strengthening this capacity in bereaved clients.
   
5. Identify three core principles of attachment theory that relate to grief and loss.