Providing a couples weekend for bereaved parents

The death of a child at or around the time of birth is one of the most significant losses in adult life and is frequently associated with significant consequences for the couple’s relationship.

A therapeutic ‘couple’s grief weekend’ was offered to provide bereaved parents dedicated time together to enhance their individual understandings of grief, explore the dynamics of grief within the relational dyad and to meet and be supported by other parents who had experienced a similar loss.

An experiential approach facilitated opportunities for vicarious peer support, exploration of grief styles (intuitive/instrumental) and the ‘continuing bond’ with the baby, and a grief ritual. Participants completed pre and post surveys to measure mental health (Mental Health Inventory) and relational satisfaction (Dyadic Adjustment Scale), and seven of the ten attendees completed an evaluation of the weekend.

Findings demonstrated a deeper understanding of grief and enhanced dyadic satisfaction and cohesion. All participants found the weekend beneficial, and would recommend it to other bereaved parents. The weekend provided a therapeutic environment which enhanced peer support and had a positive impact on individual’s grief and the dyad relationship

9288 Providing a couples weekend for bereaved parents (5.22MB pdf)