'Grief vessels': An exploration of therapeutic work in contexts of complex pregnancy loss using art-based inquiry.

This article explores therapeutic work with individuals who have made the decision to terminate a pregnancy for medical reasons (TFMR), focusing on the psychological complexities and cultural invisibility surrounding this experience. Using art-based inquiry centered on the metaphor of the "vessel," the author integrates hand-stitched textile art with clinical reflections to illuminate key therapeutic tasks such as providing containment, addressing disenfranchised grief, supporting identity reconstruction, and facilitating memorialization. The work highlights the challenges posed by polarized sociopolitical contexts and limited cultural narratives about TFMR, advocating for creative practices as meaningful avenues to express and process these nuanced losses. This approach aims to enrich clinical understanding and foster compassionate dialogue around pregnancy loss in complex medical circumstances.