Repeated participation in a bereaved parents group: two case studies and implications for clinicians

Over 30,000 children die each year from catastrophic illness. Groups for the bereaved have arisen to address the needs of family members following the profound loss of a child. The authors review the commonly held notions of "normal" and "pathological" mourning and their special application to bereaved parents. The case of two women who participated in their fifth group for bereaved parents are presented with the meanings of their repeated attendance examined in the context of incomplete mourning. Implications for professionals working with bereaved parents are discussed.