Dr.Shalanda Tookes 
Most people will not need to seek professional intervention or treatment for their 2 grief (Iglewicz et al., 2020); however, it is important to have already started building resiliency before experiencing loss and its accompanying grief. Resiliency after a disaster is an individual’s perseverance and ability to deal with trauma and still remain in a steady state of functioning (Southwick et al., 2011). Moving through developmental stages in a healthy way where one is able to complete developmental tasks for that stage helps to build the resiliency trait in the young child (Southwick et al., 2011).
Positive, social interactions help to form social support which results in positive coping for the people who are fortunate enough to engage in these uplifting connections (Southwick et al., 2011). This is why support groups are popular and beneficial forms of intervention for people experiencing grief. People may be tempted to isolate and withdraw, but support groups tend to discourage this pattern of behavior (Walter & McCoyd, 2009). Support groups give members a safe space to talk about feelings while providing aid (Walter & McCoyd, 2009).
Gestalt therapy can be successfully applied in the group setting. A Gestalt therapy group facilitator would gently prompt group members to focus on their present behavior by encouraging a here-and-now interaction within the group (Berg et al., 2018). The facilitator often uses this approach to encourage participants to dialogue with themselves as they focus on the here-and-now (Natural Therapy Pages, 2025). Focusing on the present moment also allows group members to work on what is referred to as “unfinished business” within themselves (Berg et al., 2018).
Cognitive behavior therapy has been used in evidenced-based research and practice to successfully treat the bereaved. There is also a new cognitive behavior therapy called internet-delivered cognitive-behavioural therapy or iCBT, which is a time 3 conscious and cost-effective alternative to therapy that helps people get better access to therapy (Tur et al., 2021). Online or virtual therapy has influenced the way people receive therapy by creating more access to therapeutic services with interventions having the capability of being delivered without an in-person therapist (Stroebe et al., 2013).
Research shows that online therapy has proven to be just as impactful as in-person therapy (Stroebe et al., 2013). There are online bereavement groups that have become more popular with people as they are able to connect from different parts of their country and even the world (Stroebe et al., 2013). Online groups have been noted as giving group participants the ability to feel a sense of connection as they are able to connect from secluded, rural areas where mental health care is not readily accessible (Stroebe et al., 2013).
Group participants are able to work through cognitive behavioral techniques that challenge them to identify maladaptive patterns of thinking and practice cognitive restructuring and cognitive reframing of thoughts into more positive and constructive ways of thinking as they grieve, regardless of the session being virtual or in-person (Stroebe et al., 2013). A cognitive behavior technique of behavioral activation may also be implemented by encouraging the bereaved to engage in activities that elevate their mood (Stroebe et al., 2013). They could also be asked to monitor their mood during their activities (Stroebe et al., 2013) and share with the group the following week.
Other support that impacts resilience building and coping are family members. Family knows us better than anyone and is more familiar with the environment the loss is occurring in. Family therapy can be useful for the middle adult and older adult family 4 members. Let us take the middle adult who is now being called to be a care provider for their older adult parent. Research has demonstrated that the older adult is dealing with loss as well. They are no longer able to care for themselves and must now depend on the children they were once caregivers to. Family therapy can help these adults in different stages of development come together to understand each other’s plight while offering support from a perspective of understanding and empathy for what the other may be experiencing. Clinicians often use family therapy to teach family members the skills helpful for developing into a strong family unit (Varghesel et al., 2020).
References
Berg, R. C., Landreth, G. L., & Fall, K. A. (2018). Group Therapy: Concepts and Procedures (6th ed.). Routledge. Iglewicz, A., Shear, M. K., Reynolds, C. F., Simon, N., Lebowitz, B., & Zisook, S. (2020). Complicated grief therapy for clinicians: An evidence‐based protocol for mental health practice. Depression and Anxiety, 37(1), 90-98. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22965 Natural Therapy Pages. (2025, April 29). Gestalt therapy for grief and loss: Healing at your own pace. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/gestalt-therapy-for-grief-loss Southwick, S. M., Litz, B. T., Charney, D. & Friedman, M. J. (Eds.). (2011). Resilience and Mental Health: Challenges Across the Lifespan. Cambridge University Press. Stroebe, M., Schut, H., & Van Den Bout, J. (Eds.). (2013). Complicated Grief: Scientific Foundations for Health Care Professionals. Routledge. Tur, C., Campos, D., Herrero, R., Mor, S., López-Montoyo, A., Castilla, D., & Quero, S. (2021). Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy (iCBT) for adults with prolonged grief disorder (PGD): A study protocol for a randomized feasibility trial. BMJ Open, 11(7), e046477. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046477 Varghese, M., Kirpekar, V., & Loganathan, S. (2020). Family Interventions: Basic Principles and Techniques. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 62(Suppl 2), https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_770_19 Walter, C. A., & McCoyd, J. L. M. (2009). Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan: A Biopsychosocial Perspective. Springer Publishing Company.
