Cite as (APA style): Wyszadko, A. (2026). Grief beyond bereavement: Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy as an integrative conceptual framework for understanding loss. The Global Psychotherapist, 6(2), 158-166 http://doi.org/10.52982/lkj323
Abstract: Grief is a natural and highly individual response to loss. Although traditionally associated with bereavement, contemporary research increasingly recognizes grief reactions following non-death losses, including disruptions to health, identity, relationships, life roles, and anticipated futures. While evidence-based interventions have been developed for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), there remains a need for integrative frameworks capable of addressing the cultural diversity, multidimensionality, and individualized nature of grief experiences.
This conceptual paper examines contemporary grief research through the lens of Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy (PPT after Peseschkian, since 1977) and explores the extent to which PPT may serve as an integrative framework for understanding grief. An integrative review of contemporary literature identified several recurring themes across bereavement and non-death losses, including meaning reconstruction, cultural variability, social recognition, embodiment, identity change, and adaptation to disrupted futures. These themes demonstrated substantial conceptual convergence with key PPT constructs, including the Balance Model, Actual and Basic Conflicts, Actual Capabilities, Family Concepts, and the transcultural perspective. This paper suggests that PPT may function as an integrative conceptual framework that organizes diverse grief-related processes within a single, individualized, and culturally sensitive formulation. By simultaneously addressing culture, identity, relationships, embodiment, meaning, resources, and future orientation, PPT may offer a useful conceptual approach for understanding grief across both death-related and non-death lossess.
Keywords: loss, grief, Positive Psychotherapy