Grief and loss
Writing a Narrative of the "Before" and "After" of a Loss
This writing task helps a client integrate a major loss into their life story by articulating the.
When a client’s life has been split by a major loss, they often struggle to connect the “before” and “after.” Their personal history can feel like two separate, irreconcilable stories, with the event itself being a chaotic void rather than a transition. This fracture can make it difficult for them to articulate a stable sense of self or a continuous identity.
This directive offers a way for the client to give shape to the changes the loss has produced in their world. By articulating these shifts, they begin to build a new, cohesive narrative that incorporates the event. The client gains a more organized personal story that honors what was lost while making sense of who they are now.
Writing a Narrative of the "Before" and "After" of a Loss
Divide a page into two columns, one labeled “Before” and the other “After.” Or use two separate pages.
In the “Before” section, write a narrative of your life prior to the loss. Describe your daily routines and habits. Write about the central people in your life and the nature of your relationships with them. What were your primary concerns, hopes, or goals? How did you understand yourself? What did you assume was true about the world or your future?
In the “After” section, write a narrative of your life now. Describe your current daily routines and habits. How have your relationships changed, ended, or begun? What are your primary concerns, hopes, or goals now? How do you understand yourself today? What do you now believe is true about the world or your future?
Write without editing or correcting as you go. Focus on specific details and observations as you remember them then and as you experience them now.
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