Dr. Ken Doka on the Sibling Bond and Disenfranchised Grief

In this episode of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss, Dr. Angela Dean talks with surviving sibling Dr. Ken Doka, the grief scholar who coined the term disenfranchised grief. Ken is Frank and Dot's kid brother. His brother Frank, thirteen years older, died a few years ago after an illness. He spoke about the relationship of his living sister Dot, who helped raise him. Together Dr. Doka and Dr. Dean talk about why the sibling bond is so often overlooked, how grievers process loss in different and equally valid ways, and what it means to enfranchise your own grief when no one around you names it. In this episode you will: Hear how Dr. Doka came to study grief, and his own experience of losing his brother Frank. Learn why the sibling bond is the longest relationship most people have, and why it is so often disenfranchised. Learn the difference between instrumental, intuitive, and dissonant grieving, and why no single style is the right one. Be inspired to enfranchise your own grief, create your own ritual, and find a grief professional who actually fits. Connect with Dr. Ken Doka: Kenneth Doka at TAPS: https://www.taps.org/kennethdoka Hospice Foundation of America: https://www.hospicefoundation.org Content warning: This episode discusses the death of an adult sibling from illness, childhood cancer and pediatric illness, perinatal loss including miscarriage and stillbirth, twin loss, and a brief reference to a murder in the host's extended family. Mentioned in the show: Hospice Foundation of America Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) The Compassionate Friends The Surviving Sibling's Bill of Rights If you are struggling, in the United States you can call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The Crisis Text Line is available by texting HOME to 741741. Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at [email protected] or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com. Please like, subscribe, and share! Please follow us: Facebook:  @BrokenPack Instagram:  @thebrokenpack TikTok: @the_broken_pack YouTube: @thebrokenpack Sign-up for Wild Grief, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/  Thank you! Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT, GTMR  🐺Tony's Little Sister Credits: The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is produced by Not Done Here Media. IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME     Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean     Performed by Fuji Sounds featuring Joe Mylward     Courtesy of Not Done Here Records     Licensed for use by The Broken Pack Full song: https://fujisounds.music