Abstract
Empirical researches on psychotherapy are still very few in Brazil. Psychotherapeutic processes of bereaved are even less studied, despite their demand for psychotherapy. There is no research in Brazil approaching the psychotherapy experience of bereaved mothers. One way to best assess the psychotherapeutic processes is by analyzing the patients’ reports. The present study intends to understand how mothers live this process. From the phenomenological method, this qualitative study conducted interviews with four mothers who participated in a bereavement support group, triggered by the question: “Could you please tell us about your psychotherapeutic process during bereavement?” Once transcribed, the reports were analyzed following Giorgi´s methodological steps. The interviews’ analysis revealed 18 constituents, divided into three thematic axes: patient-therapist relationship, expressive possibilities emerging from the psychotherapeutic relationship, and resignification. The study concluded that this is an experience of a specific relationship established between the mourning mother and her psychotherapist, from which resignifying possibilities may emerge, about mother’s relation with her deceased child, with her relatives, with death, and even with life, as long as she is accepted, understood and acquire the confidence to express herself freely. These findings raise questions on whether a psychotherapeutic project, unlimited concerning dealt topics, and pre-established goals would not benefit people dealing with mourning.
Keywords:
Bereavement; Maternal grief; Psychotherapy; Phenomenological psychology