Pregnancy Loss and the Power of Psychotherapy: A Guide for Clinicians

Pregnancy loss, defined as the death of a conceptus, fetus, or neonate before the 21st day of life, affects a substantial number of women and their partners, leading to severe and long-lasting psychological consequences. Despite its prevalence, perinatal grief is often invalidated, avoided, or dismissed in Western society.

The Importance of Empathic Therapy

Therapy can offer bereaved parents an empathic and affect-regulating relationship in which to mourn and process their trauma. In Psychotherapy for Pregnancy Loss: Applying Relationship Science to Clinical Practice, author Rayna D. Markin applies cutting-edge research on the therapist-client relationship to individual and couples therapy for pregnancy loss and related forms of reproductive trauma.

Through in-depth clinical illustrations and practical relational guidance, Markin demonstrates how the therapy relationship can help clients affected by pregnancy loss to mourn their losses, process and grow from trauma and loss, and restore healthy self-esteem. Guided largely by attachment theory and research on evidence-based relationships and responsiveness, this book serves as a valuable guide on what exactly clinicians should do and how they should be in the therapy relationship to help clients not only grieve and process the traumatic experience of pregnancy loss but also achieve greater attachment security.

A Valuable Resource for Clinicians

Psychotherapy for Pregnancy Loss will serve as a go-to guide on how clinicians can establish and utilize the kind of therapeutic relationship that is needed to help clients process and grow from the trauma of pregnancy loss. With its focus on attachment theory and evidence-based relationships, this book provides clinicians with a comprehensive framework for supporting clients affected by pregnancy loss.

Published by Oxford University Press, Psychotherapy for Pregnancy Loss is a vital resource for mental health professionals seeking to provide effective support for clients navigating the complex emotional landscape of pregnancy loss.