Grief & Loss Counseling

The darker the night, the brighter the stars, the deeper the grief, the closer to God!
– Dostoevsky

Are You Struggling To Let Go Of Someone Or Something?

Have you experienced a loss of some sort?  Are you having trouble with the grieving process? Perhaps a friend, family member, or pet has passed away, gotten sick, or otherwise left you. Or perhaps you recently lost your job, moved, or experienced some other life transition that has left you feeling helpless or disconnected.

When your grief is particularly strong, you might cry uncontrollably or have angry outbursts. Even when you’re relatively stable, persistent thoughts about the loss might make it impossible to concentrate. Your appetite or sleep patterns may have changed. Moreover, the emotional weight you’re carrying may prevent you from fulfilling your professional or personal duties.

You may be feeling too exhausted, overwhelmed, or hopeless to keep up with the ways your life is changing. And the loss of a close companion can leave you feeling lonely and isolated. But as alone as you may feel right now, you’re not the only person who has felt this way, and there is hope for healing.

Grief And Loss Are Part Of Life

Everyone experiences loss at some point, and we all grieve in our own way. Grief is both necessary and healthy. However, coping with loss without the proper support can be overwhelming. Culturally, we are ill-equipped to deal with grief. People around us often have good intentions but may not know what to say. As a result, they may end up saying hurtful or inappropriate things that leave you feeling even worse. Our cultural institutions are likewise little help; considering the short (or nonexistent) bereavement leave offered by most employers, we are forced to overcome our grief much more quickly than is healthy for us.

The range of emotions that come up during grief—from anger and denial to bargaining and depression—are part of the process. It’s also normal to move back and forth between these feelings. Ideally, you could lean on your family or community for support during this turbulent process. For many people, though, that support just isn’t available.
Thankfully, a grief therapist can give you the safe space, compassionate support, and validation you need to find healing and acceptance in the face of loss.

Grief Counseling Can Support You Through This Difficult Time

We are social creatures, and having support from others while dealing with loss is very important. If you’re not being adequately supported right now, individual grief counseling (and/or joining a support group) can fill that gap.

Many people who have suffered a loss are initially unable to think clearly, let alone make sense of their loss. This is why the information, insights, and support provided during bereavement counseling can make all the difference. During your time with us, we will help you to:

Understand Your Loss

Although it may take you some time to realize it, the physical absence involved with your bereavement is probably only a small part of your loss. Before you can accept your loss and move on, you must first recognize the full extent and complexity of it. To that end, your grief therapist will talk with you about who or what you’ve lost and how that loss will impact your life emotionally, spiritually, and practically.

Process Your Pain

Some people avoid anything that reminds them of their loss to avoid the pain and hurt. Unfortunately, avoiding difficult emotions can stifle and prolong the grieving process. To help you heal more quickly and more completely, we will teach you to recognize your feelings when they arise and encourage you to fully experience them. At the same time, we’ll help you to avoid becoming overwhelmed by providing you with emotional regulation tools.

Adjust To Your New Reality

The impact of a loss typically lasts a lifetime, and there is really no such thing as “getting back to normal.” So instead of encouraging you to forget about who or what you’ve lost, your grief therapist will help you embrace the resulting changes to your life. We will work with you as you make difficult decisions about what you want your life to look like post-grief. We’ll also help you explore the larger philosophical and/or religious questions that often come up after a loss.

Move Forward With Your Life

Once you’ve fully processed your loss and what it means for you, you can begin to move forward with your life – even if it’s not the same life you previously imagined. Thanks to the growing emotional stability and clearer perspective you will gain in therapy, you may even be able to derive meaning from the new direction your life is taking. For many people, this meaning creates a sense of purpose that helps to drive them forward.

Grief therapy can provide some relief from your suffering both now and over the long term. It can also help you pursue a new direction for your life, all while honoring the memory of what you’ve lost.