Caracola method for a therapy of families in transit for perinatal grief

Abstract

Perinatal grief has been approached from the perspective of access to health services, but this article focuses on family therapy interventions for families who have experienced this type of loss. The purpose of this study was to systematize this therapeutic process using the "Caracola" methodology, which synthesizes five conversation topics in five sessions with three families grieving for perinatal loss, referred by a foundation in Medellín. The sessions were recorded, and after the transcriptions, the data were analyzed using critical discourse analysis. The results show how the participating families redefined their experience of perinatal grief through dialogue and activities that allowed them to communicate, construct, and integrate individual experiences, and to integrate grief into their family history. It is concluded that through the implementation of this therapy, it was identified that support strategies such as this one foster safe, sensitive, and respectful spaces that validate the diverse emotions experienced by families in the face of perinatal loss, and in which work is done to redefine experiences, mitigate pain, release burdens, strengthen bonds, and build tools to resume their life projects.