On page 181 of the article introduced last week, Corr (2016) mentions the concept of 'disenfranchised grief' - experiences of grief that are unacknowledged or under-acknowledged by society (Doka, 1999). In such cases, public mourning does not occur, and the individual is not socially supported in his or her experience of grief.
1. What kinds of death might commonly result in disenfranchised grief?
2. What impact might disenfranchised grief have on human development?
2. How might we as counsellors help someone experiencing this type of grief?
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1. What kinds of death might commonly result in disenfranchised grief?
Deaths of individual's that are often ostracized in society - kept secret, or considered "unimportant"
2. What impact might disenfranchised grief have on human development?
Not being able to feel or discuss emotions relating to death and grief can hinder human development as individuals are not expressing parts of themselves or being inauthentic
3. How might we as counsellors help someone experiencing this type of grief?
We can validate their feelings, regardless of personal standing, because all emotions are valid
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1. Pets, people who are in relationships that aren't public, school mates, etc.
2. It can cause feelings of shame, mental health issues like anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc.
3. I think the best thing is giving people a space to talk about their feelings towards the death. I have gone through this, and for me it was very healing.
1. What kinds of death might commonly result in disenfranchised grief?
Pregnancy related such as stillborn, miscarriage, etc, fertility related, hidden relationships, ex partner, co-worker, friend of a friend or someone not particularly close to you, adoption related - birth parents, pet, teacher, class mate etc.
2. What impact might disenfranchised grief have on human development?
Could lead to - Feeling guilty or ashamed, lead to insomnia, substance abuse, withdraw socially, anger, mood swings, high stress, avoidance, fear of connection with others etc.
2. How might we as counsellors help someone experiencing this type of grief?
Empathy, listening, non judgement, reassure their grief is real and valid, ways they can heal over time.
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A friend from the LGBTQ+ community wasn’t allowed to attend his partner’s funeral because of the partner’s parents religious beliefs. Watching him be excluded from saying goodbye was heartbreaking, and I’m not sure he ever found closure.
Similarly, a child losing a grandparent without understanding what’s happening may feel confused or emotionally lost, unable to process their grief.
In both cases, unacknowledged grief can lead to resentment, anger, or disconnection.
As a counsellor, supporting others through grief helps them find closure and validates their feelings.
1. What kinds of death might commonly result in disenfranchised grief?
I touched on this briefly in another discussion. That everyone experiences grief in different ways and forms, so some common disenfranchised (the wording of this seems so insensitive and disassociative) grief may be the loss of a pet or a relationship where the person hasn't physically died but the loss is very real.
2. What impact might disenfranchised grief have on human development?
I guess for children experiencing this, it could impact their emotional growth; they may have trouble with grief later in life. For adults, you may distance yourself from others and become isolated, internalise feelings of guilt or shame for feeling so big or being told you're overreacting. All of these can then lead to mental health issues if unresolved.
2. How might we as counsellors help someone experiencing this type of grief?
Listen and validate their feelings, thoughts, emotions and processes. Grief is not linear, nor is it cookie-cutter, we all experience it in unique ways.
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1. Abortion, suicide, or a relationship that was hidden among other things.
2. It might cause depression, substance use or thoughts of suicide or harm.
3. I would validate the clients experience, allow them to talk about it openly, explore feelings and show empathy for their loss. Also perhaps collaborate with the client to create a ritual to signify the ending or loss.
1. What kinds of death might commonly result in disenfranchised grief? From a relationship that isn't known of or recognised by others, like ex partners, secondary partners, or when someone dies following uncomfortable circumstances like suicide or overdose.
2. What impact might disenfranchised grief have on human development? Emotional development and self esteem could be suppress, emotional connections with others hindered. If left, this grief and suppression of emotions may lead to withdrawal, confusion and difficulties in maintaining or making future healthy relationships.
3. How might we as counsellors help someone experiencing this type of grief? As counsellors, we can help by listening and being present for the client. This would help to validate the person's grief, and creating a safe space for them to open up
Disenfranchised grief can result from deaths which are not so normalised by society. For example deaths surrounded by stigma such as death by suicide, drug overdose or abortion to name a few. It is difficult for a person to work through their grief when it is disenfranchised as they are unable to mourn openly leading to bottled up feelings as these are disregarded and made to feel invalid. As counsellors, we can help validate this grief, no matter what the person is grieving for. Acting non judgmental while acknowledging the feelings as significant would help.
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1. What kinds of death might commonly result in disenfranchised grief?
Death of a coworker or someone from your office or someone from your school who you may not have known extremely well. Learning of a passed family member you'd never met.
2. What impact might disenfranchised grief have on human development?
It could be extremely disruptive if you interpret the grief with guilt for whatever reason. It could derail personal progress that you could be making
2. How might we as counsellors help someone experiencing this type of grief?
By helping them make sense of why it's hitting so hard. There'll likely be a reason why something seemingly on the outskirts of their priorities would be making such an impact
abortion, loss of a living distant parent, a unknown partner, an ex or ex friend.
alcohol or drug abuse, over working/productivity overload, grieving in silence/ supressed emotions/ isolation
recognising this form of grief, having empathy and open discussions about feelings
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