Holding The Change: Grief and Ambiguous Loss After a Brain Injury

Holding The Change: Grief and Ambiguous Loss After Brain Injury Series

Grief after brain injury is often complex, ongoing, and difficult to name. There may be no clear ending, no shared language, and no simple path forward. This three-part series explores the concept of ambiguous loss and how it shows up in the lives of people with traumatic or acquired brain injury.

Together, we will look at what it means to grieve changes in identity, ability, and relationships, and how to make sense of a reality that may feel unfamiliar or unresolved.

Session 1 (30 minutes): Naming the Loss

This session introduces the concept of ambiguous loss grief that occurs without clear closure or resolution.

We will explore:

• What ambiguous loss is (loss without clear ending or certainty)
• Different types of loss experienced after a brain injury
• Why this kind of grief often feels confusing, ongoing, or “stuck”
• Normalizing mixed and shifting emotions, including grief, relief, anger, and numbness

Reflection & Discussion (30 minutes):

We will reflect and share around the question:

“What is the hardest part of your experience to explain to others?”