. 2015 Aug 26;31(3):231–240. doi: 10.1177/1533317515602085

Table 3.

Examples for the Category Addressing Future Losses.

Addressing Feelings and Thoughts Associated With Losses	Identification of Resources for Coping With Anticipated Losses
T: You are witnessing that his health is deteriorating and you lose him a little more each day. C: Yes, that exactly is my problem. T: How does that make you feel? P: Not so good, it makes me very sad. [ … ] I know it means I will be alone again.	T: Saying goodbye is a difficult topic that we don’t like to think about. But it could also be helpful to think about it before it is imminent, although you don’t know exactly what is coming, to think about what you would need for it to be a good goodbye. Something you would like to have done together or what you would like to have said. Just as a preparation to feel—I don’t know if you could call it that—“ready.” I think it is helpful to prepare for these difficult moments by thinking them through.

Addressing Feelings and Thoughts Associated With Losses

Identification of Resources for Coping With Anticipated Losses

T: You are witnessing that his health is deteriorating and you lose him a little more each day. C: Yes, that exactly is my problem. T: How does that make you feel? P: Not so good, it makes me very sad. [ … ] I know it means I will be alone again.

T: Saying goodbye is a difficult topic that we don’t like to think about. But it could also be helpful to think about it before it is imminent, although you don’t know exactly what is coming, to think about what you would need for it to be a good goodbye. Something you would like to have done together or what you would like to have said. Just as a preparation to feel—I don’t know if you could call it that—“ready.” I think it is helpful to prepare for these difficult moments by thinking them through.

Abbreviations: T, therapist; C, caregiver.