Treating Grieving Clients: The Importance of Cognitive Change

In addition to the affective and behavioral components of grief, bereaved individuals also experience significant cognitive change. Yet despite its importance, little has been written about the cognitive role in grieving. On the basis of clinical experiences and research data, the authors describe three general kinds of cognitive change likely to occur following the death of a loved one: the need to make sense of, or find meaning in, the loss; changes in beliefs related to world- and self-view; and strategies to keep the deceased person "alive." These cognitive changes have important ramifications for psychotherapy, and interventions for treating grieving clients are discussed.