Bonnie J. Gorscak, PhD
Licensed Psychologist
LEADING SPECIALIST IN PROLONGED GRIEF THERAPY,
AND OTHER GRIEF COMPLICATIONS
Dr. Gorscak has over 30 years of experience in the mental health field providing psychotherapy to adults with anxiety, grief/loss, depression, relationship and self-esteem issues. She is licensed is New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and is authorized to provide teletherapy treatment for people residing in most states.
She has worked extensively with bereaved people, including serving as a therapist and supervisor on three research studies funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) that demonstrated the efficacy of a treatment for complicated grief. As the lead trainer at the Center for Prolonged (Complicated) Grief at Columbia University, she has conducted trainings and workshops, presented at conferences, nationally and internationally teaching hundreds of clinicians this evidence-based treatment. She is the co-author of several journal articles and chapters and, with Allan Zuckoff, PhD, a self-directed book for people seeking to unlock their own capacity for positive action, Finding Your Way to Change: How the Power of Motivational Interviewing Can Reveal What You Want and Help You Get There
(see link below).
About grief, loss, and prolonged grief
While intense grief is a natural reaction to a loss, it can be overwhelming, disruptive, and extremely painful. And while grief can last forever, at least in some form, it is possible for bereaved people to find their own way to live with the unwanted reality of a painful loss. However, it is often the most difficult life experience we face, especially when we go through it alone.
Dealing with loss is almost always challenging for people, causing disruption in many areas of life. Bereaved people often feel like an earthquake has hit, and it is too overwhelming to even think about living a fulfilling life again.
While it is natural to experience such intense grief after someone close dies, it can be helpful to have supportive guidance to make sense of these unwanted life changes. After helping many people navigate the tumultuous waters of grief, I have learned that while it is not easy to grieve alone, it is not always possible to share this experience with friends or family.
Losing someone we love changes us, and in some form our grief may last forever. Typically, as time passes the overwhelming pain lessens, and we are able to find some peace, joy, and meaning in our lives. If this is not happening for you, I can help you to find ways to allow your natural healing processes to work for you towards living a more fulfilling life.
Prolonged grief
(formerly called "complicated grief disorder") is a form of grief that takes hold of a person and their life. People with grief complications may say that they feel stuck, or as if everything had frozen at the time when they first learned of the loss. Painful longing and thoughts of the loss dominate their life, and they cannot imagine finding any peace or fulfillment. They may feel that time is moving on but they are not.
Being stuck in prolonged grief exacerbates the pain from a loss that people naturally experience. Prolonged grief has been associated with chronic high levels of distress and reduced self-care, as well as increased risk for serious illnesses, including cancer and heart disease. Specialized treatment can help bereaved people to move from hopelessness and despair to living lives with meaning, fulfillment, and hope for their future, while keeping their loved one close in their heart forever.
More about individual psychotherapy
Over the years, Dr. Gorscak has incorporated methods from multiple approaches (client-centered therapy, cognitive- behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, motivational interviewing, psychodrama, existential therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and other evidence-based strategies), into her practice. She will recommend and you will decide together what methods and strategies best suit your needs and goals as you proceed. In general, psychotherapy sessions are individualized, focusing on your concerns, exploring obstacles, while emphasizing and building on your strengths.
More on therapy forprolonged grief
Intense grief is typical after we experience an unwanted loss. Grief remains intense until we begin to adapt to the unwanted loss. For an estimated 10-15% of bereaved people, however, adapting is impossible and a prolonged grief (PG) syndrome can occur. Rates of PG are higher when the death is sudden, violent, or unexpected, and when a child dies. An estimated 10-20% of people receiving mental health treatment have PG. People often feel skeptical that anything can help, but a specialized treatment can make a difference. In research studies 70% of people are much improved after just 4 or 5 months.
More on therapy for other losses
Other types of losses, such as the end of a relationship, losing a job or home, loss of physical and/or psychological function due to an accident or an illness, can similarly leave a person grief-stricken. The grief that occurs with these types of losses may be minimized or unrecognized, so people fail to get helpful support. While caring people may be available for some, people often feel unable to share their concerns or worry that they will burden others if they do. This can result in undue stress, anxiety, depression, and even self-destructive behaviors. Guidance from a professional familiar with the landscape of grief and loss can be helpful.
Psychotherapy has been shown to improve relationships, self esteem, and self efficacy. It can reduce stress, and enhance your overall satisfaction with your life.
There are no guarantees, however, as to what you will experience. Sometimes, facing difficult problems can stir up uncomfortable feelings, and people may feel a little worse before they start to feel better.
Dr. Gorscak encourages collaboration and feedback in the therapy relationship, for these reasons, in order to keep sessions challenging enough to be productive, while still comfortable enough to be doable. What you can expect is that your feelings, concerns, and wishes will be regarded with care, respect, empathy, and close attention, while you work to grow, change, overcome life obstacles, and reach your goals.
