Meaning-Focused Grief Therapy: From Principles to Practice
Synopsis:
Loss is a universal part of the human condition, but how we respond to it is remarkably varied, especially for those bereaved people who struggle with prolonged and preoccupying grief and who could benefit from professional support. In this brief overview of meaning-focused grief therapy, we introduce a narrative-constructivist Tripartite Model of Meaning Reconstruction that entails revisiting the event story of the loss, realigning the back story of the relationship with the deceased, and revising the personal story of the mourner’s own self-narrative. We then focus on one dimension of this approach, considering grieving as a process of reconstructing rather than relinquishing our bonds with those who have died, and briefly illustrate this attachment-informed practice in actual clinical videos with grieving clients. Finally, we close with research that suggests the effectiveness of such work and share three resources for those professionals interested in learning more about this theoretically grounded, evidence-informed and practically detailed perspective on grief therapy.
Learning objectives:
- Explain the role of meaning in mediating the impact of bereavement
- Discuss attachment-informed practices for realigning the back story of the relationship with the deceased
- Summarize research supporting a meaning reconstruction approach to bereavement and grief therapy
About Robert A. Neimeyer
Robert A. Neimeyer, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of the Department of Psychology, University of Memphis. He directs the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, a global online training institute in grief therapy and maintains an active consulting and coaching practice. Neimeyer has published over 600 journal articles and book chapters as well as 38 books, including Working with Continuing Bonds in Grief Therapy: A Practical Guide, New Techniques of Grief Therapy: Bereavement and Beyond, and Living Beyond Loss: Questions and Answers about Grief and Bereavement. He serves as Editor of Death Studies. He is currently working to advance a more adequate theory of grieving as a meaning-making process.
Practical information
Renowned grief researcher Robert Neimeyer will give a guest lecture for Death Care during his visit to Belgium.
Date: 12 November 2026
Location: room S.R.212 in the R-building of the University of Antwerp (Rodestraat 14, second floor)
Programme:
- 11:30 - 12:00 Welcome with coffee, tea and a sandwich lunch
- 12:00 - 14:00 Lecture by Robert Neimeyer + Q&A
Registration: Participation in this event is free, but registration is required since places are limited. Please send an email to Emma Moormann to reserve your spot.