Grief Counseling
Are you questioning your grieving process?
How can grief counseling help me?
Do you wonder if the pain will ever get easier?
Do you feel alone in your grief?
Think that grief only occurs when someone dies?
You are in pain. Your heart hurts and you wonder how you will make it through. Someone you care about has died and you feel like you are in a haze. Feelings of disbelief, numbness and confusion consume you as you try to make sense of what happened. You are exhausted yet you can’t sleep. You are struggling to process what has happened and to make sense of it.
At some point in our life, we all will experience grief and loss. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Grief is both a universal and personal experience.” Not everyone will need grief support however some individuals can benefit from the help of a compassionate counselor. Finding the right therapist is important and I am here to support you.
Grief can feel very isolating and lonely
While life continues for others your life has changed. Your world has been turned upside down. You feel emotions such as anger, jealousy, sadness, yearning, and fear which at times may feel overwhelming and scary. You may even judge yourself for having these feelings which are part of grief. I provide a space for you to feel what you feel without judgment. Feeling seen and having your pain acknowledged helps to lessen the loneliness and isolation.
Isolation and loneliness can also occur from deaths that are not always acknowledged by others such as a death of a coworker, miscarriage, stillbirth, or a pet’s death. If you feel that you are not receiving the support you need, grief counseling can provide a place to honor your grief with a caring therapist.
Other non-death losses such the ending of a relationship or job loss can cause feelings of grief even if the loss was expected. Another non death loss that can be overlooked is the life we thought we would have, and our reality does not match. Grieving the loss of what we had hoped for is very real and can be helpful to explore.
Current events can also be a source of grief and loss. The present-day political atmosphere consists of loss and fear. War that is occurring in Ukraine, the Israeli Palestinian conflict, climate change, immigration and mass firings of federal employees are also concerns that cause grief and feelings of loss.
Racism and systemic oppression have caused grief and loss in society. COVID-19 and the re-emergence of previously controlled diseases like the measles, has affected people and became a source of grief and loss for many.
Other types of loss
Experiencing a loss is difficult, and grieving is a natural response. Grieving for someone who has not died such as a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is a non-death loss. The person you knew is gone and the pain of that loss is important to honor and working with a grief therapist can help navigate the feelings you have.
Other factors that can affect the grieving process
Avoiding the painful thoughts and emotions you are experiencing is necessary at times however continually trying to suppress your feelings is not helpful in the long run. Working with your grief emotions and thoughts are part of the healing process. Your emotions may feel overwhelming and confusing, and a grief therapist will support you as “dip your toes” in those feelings.
Another factor that can affect the grieving process is comparing your grief to someone else’s grief. There is no competition when it comes to grief. Everyone grieves differently and your process is unique.
Using old coping skills that may have been helpful at one time which are not working for you now may complicate your grief process. Learning new ways to deal with your grief that are helpful and honor your experience during this difficult time is important. As you tend to your grief, slowly and over time it will begin to soften.
My personal experience with grief
Many years ago, my mom died from a terminal neurological disorder, Diffused Lewy Body Dementia. Prior to her death, I had experienced other losses, yet her death was one of the most difficult and painful times in my life. The grief I experienced before and after her death was overwhelming and confusing. I felt alone and I judged myself for the emotions and thoughts I had. Talking with a grief therapist helped me to work through my grief and lessen my feelings of isolation, loneliness and self-judgment.
Since that time, I have experienced other deaths and had a miscarriage. I have faced non death losses such as my life not going the way I had hoped, relationships ending, life transitions and aging to name a few. Learning different ways to cope with my grief and loss has been an important part of my grieving process and inspired me to support others.
I understand how painful experiencing a loss can be and want you to know that I will be with you each step along the way.
Grief counseling can help
Grief and loss are an inevitable part of life. Grief counseling helps you process your emotions and thoughts in a safe space. Working with a therapist who is understanding, compassionate and non-judgmental lessens isolation and loneliness that you feel.
Grief affects our mental, physical, and emotional well-being which can be confusing and overwhelming. I provide psychoeducation about the grief process which helps increase understanding of grief and can help you make sense of what you are experiencing.
I incorporate Mindful Self Compassion (MSC) which helps to increase awareness of thoughts and feelings in a non-judgmental and gentle way. Self-compassion helps to create a space to be with emotions instead of avoiding.
I also use parts of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to explore thoughts and behaviors about the loss. You may have thoughts and behaviors that you feel uncomfortable sharing with others, and I provide a space to feel understood and heard.
My extensive grief and loss training stems from my internship at Agape Hospice for my master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at Regis University. I provided grief counseling to individuals who experienced the death of a loved one.
I continue to increase my knowledge of grief and loss by attending educational classes through the Association of Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), Hospice Foundation of America, Alan Wolfelt’s Center for Loss, and The Center for Prolonged Grief at Columbia.
Unsure if grief counseling is for you?
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Grief is a response to a loss and reflects how important this was to you. I want you to know that it takes courage to feel the pain instead of avoiding it. I am here for you.
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Therapy is an investment in yourself. Exploring grief emotions with a compassionate therapist who will validate and normalize your grief is an integral part of healing. Working with me provides a safe environment to receive support from a person who is unbiased and non-judgmental.
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I get the fear; exploring difficult feelings can be painful and overwhelming. We will work together as you step into the distressing feelings slowly and with self-kindness.
Are you ready to take the next step?
If you are ready for support and compassion while experiencing grief and loss, I am here for you. I understand reaching out for support can feel uncomfortable or even scary. You have experienced a loss that is painful, and I want to support you as you navigate through the grief. Contact me today if you would like to schedule an appointment or have any questions about grief counseling.
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