ABSTRACT
Grief is one of the few experiences that all individuals will experience at some point in our lives, and while grief is often difficult, painful, and exhausting, it is part of the shared human experience and not a malady to be treated. Many non-death losses will continue as an ongoing presence for the rest of an individual’s life in some way, shape, or form. In addition, being able to support an individual through the chronic, ongoing grief can be exhausting for those who care for and about that same person. Thus, deep understanding is required for this arduous process, and this chapter explores practical recommendations to support someone who is living with a non-death loss experience and identifies the true meaning of compassion. In this chapter, clinical implications are discussed to articulate importance of cultivating therapeutic presence, letting go of expectations regarding outcome (i.e., closure), and clarifying the intention to journey alongside the individual whose life has been shattered by loss.
