Treatment for Complicated Grief

This program offers group and individual treatment for people who have experienced the loss of a loved one more than six months ago and who continue to experience intense grief reactions that cause them distress and interfere with their ability to complete daily tasks.  

As with our other treatment programs, the complicated grief program is based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and is based on the best available evidence from scientific and clinical trials. International studies have shown that this form of therapy is the most effective way to treat complicated grief. The aim of this study is to examine new ways of enhancing existing treatments.  

Treatment involves 10 group sessions, each lasting approximately 2 hours. While group treatment can be confronting at first, group treatment allows patients to meet other people experiencing similar problems, to gain support from these people whilst dealing with difficult issues, and to learn from each other about effective strategies for managing grief. Previous patients have found this approach very helpful.

In addition to the group sessions, the complicated grief program also includes four individual treatment sessions, each lasting approximately 1- 1 ½ hours. These sessions allow patients to discuss difficulties that are not being addressed in the group, or that they feel are too personal to raise in the group, with their own individual clinician.

More information about complicated grief can be found here.