Innovative moments in grief therapy: The meaning reconstruction approach and the processes of self-narrative transformation

Abstract

Several studies have proposed that self-narrative transformation occurs through the elaboration of “Innovative Moments” (IMs), which are alternative experiences to the problematic self-narrative. This study aimed to analyze the emergence of IMs among 6 complicated grief women undergoing grief therapy according to the meaning reconstruction approach and to examine associations of IMs to the severity of grief symptomatology, assessed by the “Inventory of Complicated Grief.” Eighty-three sessions were analyzed using the “Innovative Moments Coding System” (IMCS). A generalized linear model analysis (GLM) showed a significant association between the emergence of IMs and the interaction between time and symptomatic improvement, indicating a higher rate of IM production over time in cases with better clinical outcomes. These results reinforce IMs' relevance in studying narrative change among cases with distinct clinical progressions.