Table 2.
Session contents and treatment strategies
| Session number | Session content | Treatment strategies |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Admin. contracting, psychoeducation about treatment | Work sheet on social roles and tasks and symptoms, safety planning |
| A2 | Nodal events: My loss in a bigger perspective, stabilization | Genogram, life line, grounding exercises if necessary |
| A3 | Psychoeducation on normal and complicated grief and introduction of CG-model | Worksheets to prepare psychoeducation and CG model to enable the patient to recognize dysfunctional behavior and personal triggers |
| A4 | –– | – |
| A5 | Primary and secondary losses in my life | Introduction of the deceased with pictures, music, etc; worksheet on life changes due to bereavement |
| A6 | Review of information and treatment goals | Four blocker method similar to motivational interviewing: Advantages and disadvantages of change, worksheet on treatment motivation, and treatment goals |
| A7 | –– | –– |
| B8 oder | Relaxation | Introduction to relaxation, progressive muscle relaxation |
| B8 | Relaxation and demarcation | Imagery work addressing distressing cognitive stimuli followed by relaxation techniques |
| B9 | Identification of dysfunctional thoughts | Cognitive restructuring, metaphors, psychoeducation regarding thought processes, helpful, and non-helpful thoughts |
| B10 | Rumination and guilt | Socratic dialoge, reframing, metaphors, worksheet |
| B11 | Emotions and perceptions | Worksheet, dialoguing (Gestalt) |
| B12 & 13 | Worst moments: confrontation in sensu | Confrontation of thoughts, emotion, and/ or situations that are avoided |
| B14 | Worst moments and identification of “hot spots” | Identification of “hot spots” and dysfunctional cognitions, cognitive restructuring, reinterpretation; |
| Preparation of “Walk to the Grave” | ||
| B15 & 16 | Confrontation, cognitive restructuring, and acceptance | Dialogical work “Walk to the Grave” |
| C17 | Heritage and continuing bonds | Presentation/letter/essay, worksheet, home activities |
| C18 | Memento and future | Dialoguing or letter, description of new life, dedication |
| C19 | New life | Describing new status quo and life plan |
| C20 | Termination | Review, relapse prevention, feedback, questions |
| Optional | Family session––preparation | Identification of topics and tasks (for example, different ways of grieving in the family) |
| Optional | Family session––implementation | Dealing with different grieving styles; collateral narratives, circular questioning |
| Optional | Special event planning: | |
| Birthday, anniversary, holidays | Preparing plan, modify rituals, include social network | |
| Court appointments | Identify course of events, elicit information from lawyer, | |
| contact social support, carry out plan in sensu |