Life after death: Grief therapy after the sudden traumatic death of a family member

TOPIC. Survivors of the sudden traumatic death of a family member are at increased risk for complicated grief and bereavement. PURPOSES. To present the complicating factors inherent to sudden traumatic death in order to promote adaptive grieving in the survivors. SOURCES. A comprehensive review of the existing bereavement literature, clinical anecdotes, and therapeutic experiences. CONCLUSIONS. Grief is a process and not an endpoint. The goal of grief is not to forget about the loss, a commonly stated goal of survivors; rather, the goal is to remember the decedent, understand the changes created by the loss, and determine how to reinvest in life.