Ambiguous Loss in Familial Caregivers: Exploring Meaning Making to Increase Resiliency
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Authors
Kos, Kaitlyn
Issue Date
2025-05-20
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
ambiguous loss , caregiving , grief , disenfranchised grief , living loss , meaning making , non-death loss
Alternative Title
Abstract
In Western society there has been a socially acceptable grief process that follows a death-related loss. This capstone reviewed non-death loss in relation to familial caregivers and looked at ways counsellors can support familial caregivers experiencing ambiguous loss. Ambiguous loss has been observed in response to a loved one with a diagnosis where they are still physically present but face psychological and mental complexities impacting the relationship dynamic for the caregiver and future the caregiver had imagined and expected. The grief appears as a result of emotionally losing parts of their loved one, which has not been commonly recognized or acknowledged as loss within our society. The research from these findings has pointed to the use of meaning-making to support family members experiencing a non-death loss. Findings have shown that meaning-making can be developed through support groups utilising interventions such as re-storying, creative writing, and a resilience-oriented approach to increase resiliency and support the grief process of an ambiguous loss. This capstone has studied the many ways in which counsellors can work with ambiguous loss to better recognize and acknowledge types of living loss and the grief that follows. This awareness can increase responses counsellors have and reduce the isolation and shame that those experiencing a living loss often face through both identifying and validating the loss and supporting the client to find meaning in their experience.