Grief and Loss Counseling

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Grief is a universal experience, yet each person’s journey through grief and loss is unique. To lose someone or something can leave us feeling empty, overwhelmed, and helpless in our sorrow. Though many people experience a sense of loneliness and isolation during grief, you are not alone. Grief transforms us. With support and time, we can reach a place of acceptance and relief. Seeking professional treatment can help guide and support you on your grief journey.    

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Stages of Grief

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Once thought to be a linear experience, we now know that the stages of grief don’t happen in a particular order, and people grieving can move in and out of these stages throughout their grief journey. Over time, experiences of these stages reduce in frequency and intensity. The stages of grief include: 

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• Denial: The Bereaved may experience shock and difficulty accepting the loss. Numbness and disbelief are common during this stage. Numbness can serve as a defense mechanism, allowing us to gradually process this sudden change. 

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• Anger: The intensity of our grief can cause us to “mask” our sadness with anger. This anger may be directed towards the person you lost or people involved in the loss (the boss who fired you, the ex who left you, etc.) Inanimate objects can also be the focus of your anger, and it is difficult to perceive your situation in a rational manner. 

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• Bargaining: During this stage, the bereaved can feel restless, desperate, and seek a way to fix or alter the outcome of the loss. This may include thoughts like “If only I had called her, this wouldn't have happened,” or “If I had been a better partner then she wouldn’t have left me.” Some individuals may plead to a higher power for relief from the pain.  

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• Depression: Confronted with the magnitude of their pain and suffering, individuals in this stage may isolate themselves, feel overwhelmed and fatigued, and struggle to see the purpose of their life. Thoughts such as “what’s the point of going on?” or “I have nothing left without him.” are not uncommon. Though challenging, this can be a healthy step towards confronting and processing the painful feelings associated with the loss.

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• Acceptance: Individuals in this stage are able to accept and make meaning of how their lives have changed. Grief is no longer dominating their daily experience, and functioning usually improves during this stage. It is common for individuals to make sense of the new relationship with the person or thing that they lost. 

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Treatment Options 

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Processing Emotions: Your therapist will help you unearth and address underlying emotions such as fear, guilt, shame, anger, and sadness. With an increased awareness of these feelings, you can develop skills to regulate your responses to these emotions, gain insight into how feelings impact your life and relationships, and create a healthy relationship with your own emotional experience.

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Creating a Ritual: In this process your therapist will work with you to create and implement a ritual activity that will express your feelings and values, increase a sense of control of your grieving process, work towards acceptance of the loss, and make new meaning of your relationship with the deceased. 

 

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Your therapist will work with you to assess core thoughts and beliefs that contribute to negative emotional experiences, evaluate the validity of those thoughts, and help you restructure your thought process to reduce the likelihood of triggering feelings such as grief, shame, anger, and hopelessness.

 

Support Groups: Attending a support group helps to increase your level of social support, and provides a safe and comforting space where you can process your thoughts and feelings throughout the stages of grief. 

Get Help Today

When grieving, you may feel isolated and hopeless, and have trouble believing that you will ever get relief from the pain of your loss. These feelings are a part of the normal grieving process. Our therapists can help you process your grief to achieve relief and make new meaning of your relationship with the lost. Reach out today, and we will connect you with a therapist who can partner with you to develop a treatment plan that fits your unique needs, and will help you get started on your path to recovery.