On Oct. 9, 2007, ABC aired an episode of its popular Boston Legal series titled "The Chicken and the Leg."  In this show, characters Katie Lloyd and Jerry Espenson take on the case of a woman who alleges that a psychologist's therapy sessions caused her husband's suicide.  The words "grief therapy" are used and it is implied in a meeting between the woman and the therapist and their respective attorneys that participating in therapy directly caused the husband's death.  Read ADEC's letter to ABC TV and Boston Legal's producers.

More specifically, it is stated that research exists that suggests that 4 out of 10 individuals who seek grief therapy are harmed by the experience. Following the show some therapists, including some of ADEC's members, have received questions from clients who saw the episode.  The Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) wishes to reassure those who are grieving and may have seen this episode.

Recently reports in the media have claimed that grief counseling may be more harmful than helpful.  Studies of bereaved populations typical of those seen in counseling practices do not support this claim.  While more research is needed on how well grief therapy works and for whom it works, ADEC has cautioned its members that the "harmful grief therapy" assertion has no basis in research as it is supported by only one unpublished investigation. 

ADEC is in communication with ABC about the erroneous information in this episode.  Members of the public who viewed the Boston Legal episode are encouraged to discuss any concerns that the show's portrayal may have brought up with their mental health provider.  Information that also may be helpful to those who are grieving can be reached by clicking on "Coping With Loss" on the left navigation links on any page on this Web site.

Related Information:

Read ADEC's statement on a recent study on the helpfulness of grief counseling.
Read a statement from the American Psychological Association about this study.
Read the study,  "What Has Become of Grief Counseling?  An Evaluation of the Empirical Foundations of the New Pessimism."