Group Therapy for Loss: Attachment, Intersubjectivity, and Healing

ABSTRACT

Loss is a fundamental human experience that can impact a person’s mental health in diverse ways. While this experience is potentially formative, harmful manifestations can fracture one’s sense of self and undermine relational health. In this article, we present a rationale for process-oriented group therapy focused on healing relational injuries associated with loss. We draw on attachment, self-psychology, intersubjectivity, and Yalom & Leszcz’s (2005) model of group psychotherapy to explore how group processes allow clients to work through losses and relational frustrations in the here-and-now. A case vignette and discussion offer practical insight on the ways in which loss manifests in the room and demonstrate the uniqueness of the group setting for reparative processing.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David R. Paine

David R. Paine is a Ph.D. Candidate at Boston University and a Psychology Intern at the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Sarah H. Moon is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and serves as Senior Clinical Associate, Post-doctoral Research Associate, and Group Therapy Supervisor at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Rachel Langford is a Clinical Assistant Faculty of Clinical Psychology at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in Pasadena, California. Sejal Patel is a Staff Psychologist at MIT Medical and an Adjunct Professor at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Andrea Hollingsworth is an Adjunct Faculty Member at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, MN. Steven J. Sandage is an AGPA Research Member and the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Professor of Psychology of Religion and Theology at Boston University, Research Director at the Danielsen Institute, and Visiting Faculty in Psychology of Religion at MF Norwegian School of Theology. Miriam Bronstein is a Psychotherapist and serves as the Director of Clinical Services at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Barbod Salimi is an Assistant Professor of Philosophical Psychology, Theological Ethics, and Peace Studies at Boston University’s School of Theology.

Sarah H. Moon

David R. Paine is a Ph.D. Candidate at Boston University and a Psychology Intern at the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Sarah H. Moon is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and serves as Senior Clinical Associate, Post-doctoral Research Associate, and Group Therapy Supervisor at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Rachel Langford is a Clinical Assistant Faculty of Clinical Psychology at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in Pasadena, California. Sejal Patel is a Staff Psychologist at MIT Medical and an Adjunct Professor at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Andrea Hollingsworth is an Adjunct Faculty Member at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, MN. Steven J. Sandage is an AGPA Research Member and the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Professor of Psychology of Religion and Theology at Boston University, Research Director at the Danielsen Institute, and Visiting Faculty in Psychology of Religion at MF Norwegian School of Theology. Miriam Bronstein is a Psychotherapist and serves as the Director of Clinical Services at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Barbod Salimi is an Assistant Professor of Philosophical Psychology, Theological Ethics, and Peace Studies at Boston University’s School of Theology.

Rachel Langford

David R. Paine is a Ph.D. Candidate at Boston University and a Psychology Intern at the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Sarah H. Moon is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and serves as Senior Clinical Associate, Post-doctoral Research Associate, and Group Therapy Supervisor at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Rachel Langford is a Clinical Assistant Faculty of Clinical Psychology at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in Pasadena, California. Sejal Patel is a Staff Psychologist at MIT Medical and an Adjunct Professor at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Andrea Hollingsworth is an Adjunct Faculty Member at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, MN. Steven J. Sandage is an AGPA Research Member and the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Professor of Psychology of Religion and Theology at Boston University, Research Director at the Danielsen Institute, and Visiting Faculty in Psychology of Religion at MF Norwegian School of Theology. Miriam Bronstein is a Psychotherapist and serves as the Director of Clinical Services at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Barbod Salimi is an Assistant Professor of Philosophical Psychology, Theological Ethics, and Peace Studies at Boston University’s School of Theology.

Sejal Patel

David R. Paine is a Ph.D. Candidate at Boston University and a Psychology Intern at the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Sarah H. Moon is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and serves as Senior Clinical Associate, Post-doctoral Research Associate, and Group Therapy Supervisor at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Rachel Langford is a Clinical Assistant Faculty of Clinical Psychology at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in Pasadena, California. Sejal Patel is a Staff Psychologist at MIT Medical and an Adjunct Professor at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Andrea Hollingsworth is an Adjunct Faculty Member at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, MN. Steven J. Sandage is an AGPA Research Member and the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Professor of Psychology of Religion and Theology at Boston University, Research Director at the Danielsen Institute, and Visiting Faculty in Psychology of Religion at MF Norwegian School of Theology. Miriam Bronstein is a Psychotherapist and serves as the Director of Clinical Services at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Barbod Salimi is an Assistant Professor of Philosophical Psychology, Theological Ethics, and Peace Studies at Boston University’s School of Theology.

Andrea Hollingsworth

David R. Paine is a Ph.D. Candidate at Boston University and a Psychology Intern at the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Sarah H. Moon is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and serves as Senior Clinical Associate, Post-doctoral Research Associate, and Group Therapy Supervisor at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Rachel Langford is a Clinical Assistant Faculty of Clinical Psychology at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in Pasadena, California. Sejal Patel is a Staff Psychologist at MIT Medical and an Adjunct Professor at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Andrea Hollingsworth is an Adjunct Faculty Member at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, MN. Steven J. Sandage is an AGPA Research Member and the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Professor of Psychology of Religion and Theology at Boston University, Research Director at the Danielsen Institute, and Visiting Faculty in Psychology of Religion at MF Norwegian School of Theology. Miriam Bronstein is a Psychotherapist and serves as the Director of Clinical Services at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Barbod Salimi is an Assistant Professor of Philosophical Psychology, Theological Ethics, and Peace Studies at Boston University’s School of Theology.

Steven J. Sandage

David R. Paine is a Ph.D. Candidate at Boston University and a Psychology Intern at the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Sarah H. Moon is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and serves as Senior Clinical Associate, Post-doctoral Research Associate, and Group Therapy Supervisor at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Rachel Langford is a Clinical Assistant Faculty of Clinical Psychology at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in Pasadena, California. Sejal Patel is a Staff Psychologist at MIT Medical and an Adjunct Professor at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Andrea Hollingsworth is an Adjunct Faculty Member at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, MN. Steven J. Sandage is an AGPA Research Member and the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Professor of Psychology of Religion and Theology at Boston University, Research Director at the Danielsen Institute, and Visiting Faculty in Psychology of Religion at MF Norwegian School of Theology. Miriam Bronstein is a Psychotherapist and serves as the Director of Clinical Services at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Barbod Salimi is an Assistant Professor of Philosophical Psychology, Theological Ethics, and Peace Studies at Boston University’s School of Theology.

Miriam Bronstein

David R. Paine is a Ph.D. Candidate at Boston University and a Psychology Intern at the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Sarah H. Moon is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and serves as Senior Clinical Associate, Post-doctoral Research Associate, and Group Therapy Supervisor at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Rachel Langford is a Clinical Assistant Faculty of Clinical Psychology at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in Pasadena, California. Sejal Patel is a Staff Psychologist at MIT Medical and an Adjunct Professor at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Andrea Hollingsworth is an Adjunct Faculty Member at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, MN. Steven J. Sandage is an AGPA Research Member and the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Professor of Psychology of Religion and Theology at Boston University, Research Director at the Danielsen Institute, and Visiting Faculty in Psychology of Religion at MF Norwegian School of Theology. Miriam Bronstein is a Psychotherapist and serves as the Director of Clinical Services at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Barbod Salimi is an Assistant Professor of Philosophical Psychology, Theological Ethics, and Peace Studies at Boston University’s School of Theology.

Barbod Salimi

David R. Paine is a Ph.D. Candidate at Boston University and a Psychology Intern at the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Sarah H. Moon is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and serves as Senior Clinical Associate, Post-doctoral Research Associate, and Group Therapy Supervisor at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Rachel Langford is a Clinical Assistant Faculty of Clinical Psychology at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in Pasadena, California. Sejal Patel is a Staff Psychologist at MIT Medical and an Adjunct Professor at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Andrea Hollingsworth is an Adjunct Faculty Member at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, MN. Steven J. Sandage is an AGPA Research Member and the Albert and Jessie Danielsen Professor of Psychology of Religion and Theology at Boston University, Research Director at the Danielsen Institute, and Visiting Faculty in Psychology of Religion at MF Norwegian School of Theology. Miriam Bronstein is a Psychotherapist and serves as the Director of Clinical Services at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. Barbod Salimi is an Assistant Professor of Philosophical Psychology, Theological Ethics, and Peace Studies at Boston University’s School of Theology.