Although retelling the “event story” of the death in an atmosphere of responsive witnessing represents a core component of Meaning Reconstruction, it is only one of a great variety of narrative procedures that can be used by grief therapists. In this workshop we explore the possible role of a sample of creative techniques in which stories of loss can be written and re-written, metaphorically expressed, therapeutically deepened and used to prompt further work with others in support groups or in the client’s personal journal. Participants will receive clear instructions for the use of three distinct writing tools whose goals are to help mourners integrate their losses into the larger narrative of their lives, foster novel reconstruction of their restrictive, frozen meanings, reinforce a secure continuing bond with the deceased loved one, and recruit their imaginations as a healing resource in fostering change. Such tools are especially relevant in an era of telehealth counseling, when therapists can serve as grief coaches to survivors’ own efforts to make use of reflective interventions between sessions.
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