The importance of occupational therapy practitioners leading bereavement groups

Bereavement is a deeply personal and often painful journey that affects emotional, physical, and social well-being. The loss of a loved one can bring profound challenges, something we have experienced firsthand. Through our own losses, we sought out bereavement groups, finding them essential for navigating grief. These experiences underscored the unique value that occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) bring to bereavement support. In this article, we highlight the importance of occupational therapy–led bereavement groups and explore how they can foster healing, promote well-being, and encourage meaningful activities to help individuals cope with loss as detailed in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (OTPF-4; American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2020).