What is the purpose of grief therapy?

The purpose of grief therapy is fundamentally to assist individuals who are experiencing grief that may be considered abnormal or complicated. This type of therapy is designed to address and help process feelings of loss, heartbreak, and mourning that can sometimes become overwhelming or inhibit a person's ability to function in daily life. It is especially important for those whose grief is prolonged, significantly distressing, or disrupts their relationships, work, or overall well-being.

Grief therapy often employs various therapeutic techniques to help individuals navigate through their emotions, facilitate healing, and ultimately find a way to adjust to loss in a healthy manner. This type of support is essential for those who struggle with the typical grieving process and helps them to re-engage with life after a significant loss.

While companionship is a valuable aspect of support, it is not the primary focus of grief therapy. Likewise, strengthening family bonds can happen as part of the wider support network, but it is not the central aim of therapy sessions themselves. Mediation of disputes is unrelated to grief management, as it pertains to resolving conflicts rather than processing emotional responses to loss.

Thus, the emphasis on assisting individuals who face significant challenges in their grieving process makes this answer the most accurate in defining the purpose of grief therapy.