The Integration of Rituals into Therapy for Ambiguous Loss
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Authors
Guinane, Emily
Issue Date
2025-05-06
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
ambiguous loss , ritual , ceremony , therapeutic ritual , disenfrenchised grief
Alternative Title
Abstract
Ambiguous loss describes losses where there is ambiguity between absence and presence as a person is either psychologically present but physiologically missing or vice versa (Boss, 2006). Ambiguous losses are common and can lead to serious, ongoing mental health complications. They are unique in that they are ongoing, lack closure, and do not conform to traditional grief rules or rituals associated with them (Boss, 2006). In the ambiguous loss model created by Boss (2006), rituals are suggested as a strategy for supporting those who have experienced ambiguous loss. However, the model does not provide guidance on how to create such rituals. This Capstone project examines the existing literature on the integration of ritual into therapy and places it in relationship to the goals of the ambiguous loss model. It takes into account the unique aspects of Ambiguous Loss and provides recommendations for practice. The search terms ritual or ceremony and therapy or counsel* as well as ambiguous loss and adjacent words were used in the databases Psyc Info + Psyc Articles, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection and Mental Health & Social Care Collection. The book Loss, Trauma and Resilience: Therapeutic Work with Ambiguous Loss (Boss, 2006) is the seminal work on the ambiguous loss model and lays the foundation for the section on Ambiguous Loss. The review concludes that the therapeutic goals of the ambiguous loss model are supported in the literature, and nine recommendations for the integration of therapy into ambiguous loss treatment are made
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License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
openAccess
openAccess