The Impact of Homicide on Survivors and Clinicians

In this article, we offer reflections on long-term clinical work with survivors of homicide. These reflections are based on our experience at the Center for Homicide Bereavement (CHB), a community-based program of the Victims of Violence Program at the Cambridge Health Alliance. There are unique features of homicidal death, including the abrupt and irreversible loss of a loved one to violence and the intentionality of the perpetrator. In this article we (a) offer a brief review of the literature regarding the aftermath of homicide, (b) present a summary of the CHB program, and (c) illuminate key clinical issues involved in this work.