THERAPEUTIC GROUP AS A RESOURCE FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT IN BEREAVEMENT SITUATIONS: A MENTAL HEALTH CARE STRATEGY

Abstract

Grief is a subjective process resulting from the rupture of an emotional bond. Considering the impacts arising from grieving processes and the importance of mental health care directed toward bereaved individuals, this article is the result of the experience of two therapeutic groups developed through a university extension project. It begins with the presentation of the theoretical-practical models adopted in the construction of the project proposal, followed by a methodological description regarding the selection of students and the dissemination of the project to the community. As an outcome, it reports that a total of seven adults participated in the groups, distributed into two groups over the course of five meetings focused on emotional support, sharing experiences of loss, psychoeducation, and strengthening coping strategies and the grieving experience. As a result, it was observed that the group setting favored the development of bonds among participants, emotional validation, and mutual support. In conclusion, the article argues that therapeutic groups constitute an important strategy for psychological support and mental health care for bereaved individuals, as they provide a space for listening, sharing, and re-signifying the experience of loss, which, although universal, is marked by each person’s unique and subjective elements.