Grief Dreams in Traumatic Grief Counseling and Attachment Informed Grief Therapy

Grief dreams—dreams in which the deceased appears—can serve a therapeutic function for people processing loss, especially after traumatic bereavement such as that following natural disasters. Analyzing dream reports from three cases through Grief Counseling and Attachment Informed Grief Therapy reveals five perspectives that help mourners sincerely mourn and hold the deceased in mind without stirring anxiety or despair about their own death: dreams as a venue for symbolic reunion, dreams as a reflection of acceptance, dreams as a means of re-experiencing trauma, the resolution of grief dreams as a marker of progress, and sadness as a bond with the deceased.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Bereavement and grief, particularly following natural disasters, can evoke a variety of painful emotions, including sadness and guilt. For some, particularly after a traumatic loss, the grieving process can become complicated, leading to significant distress. This paper explores the therapeutic function of grief dreams—dreams in which the deceased appears—as a tool for processing loss. Using a pragmatic case study approach, this article analyzes dream reports through Grief Counseling, and Attachment Informed Grief Therapy on 3 cases, five perspectives that allow us to sincerely mourn the death of the deceased and hold it in our mind, rather than stirring up anxiety, fear, and despair about our own death. 1. Dreams as a Venue for Symbolic Reunion. 2. Dreams as a Reflection of Acceptance 3. Dreams as a Means of Re-experiencing Trauma 4. The Resolution of Grief Dreams as a Marker of Progress 5. Sadness is a bond with the deceased.