Writing letters to my dead parent in group therapy for parental bereavement - young adult experiences

This qualitative interview study explored 11 young adult clients' initial experiences of writing letters to their deceased parent in group therapy for parental bereavement. The focus was on: the clients' responses to first hearing about letter-writing; the clients' first encounters with the method in group sessions, and the clients' first experiences of writing letters at home. The method made immediate sense to many of the clients. Experiencing other clients reading letters in the group was an intense but manageable experience supported by the counselor and other group members. The clients underwent a process of adjustment from focusing on the group to focusing on their loss and their relationship with their deceased parent. At home, the clients aimed to secure their privacy and their ability to manage emotional processes connected with addressing their loss without disturbing daily activities too much. A rich description of the clients' initial experiences was generated.