Meaning-Centered Grief Therapy for Parents Bereaved by Cancer: A Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial

Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare three types of support programs for parents who have lost a child. The study will see how these support programs affect participants' grief and depression symptoms. The three support programs are called Meaning-Centered Grief Therapy, Supportive Counseling, and Enhanced Usual Care.

Eligibility

Age range

18+ years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

No

Interventions

• Behavioral
  Meaning-Centered Grief Therapy

  Meaning-Centered Grief Therapy is a therapy that focuses on helping participants find a sense of meaning or purpose in participants' life after participants' loss. Parents will be provided (via mail or email) a workbook. This support program will involve 16 sessions that will take place about once a week. Each session will last 60 to 90 minutes and will be delivered through videoconferencing.

• Behavioral
  Supportive Psychotherapy

  Supportive Psychotherapy will help participants cope with participants' loss by giving them a place to express participants' feelings and providing participants with support during the sessions. Supportive counseling will involve 16 sessions that will take place about once a week. Each session will last 60 to 90 minutes and will be delivered through videoconferencing.

• Behavioral
  Enhanced Usual Care

  Enhanced usual care includes any support or resources participants may receive as part of participants' standard care (for example, therapy sessions with a local therapist), enhanced with additional resources.

Locations (5)