ABSTRACT

The public nature of the event and the constant media attention caused many family members to withdraw in an attempt to mourn their loss privately, away from the public spotlight. This chapter outlines the structure of the group including outreach, screening and assessment, attendance, and the group model overview. An essential component of the healing included not only accepting guidance and support but also providing it to others. Clinical interventions included connecting to living memories, and creating and verbalizing the dying narrative. The Victim Compensation Fund and other charitable funds were considered to be controversial because family members were being financially compensated for their loss on September 11, whereas families of the victims from previous disasters had not had the same generosity awarded to them. The public knowledge of the financial compensation often led to resentment and judgments toward families by the public, which was yet another hurdle faced by family members.