Grief is the process of figuring out how to cope with loss.
This can include the death of a loved one, the loss of a relationship or marriage, the loss of job, a move to a new home or community, adjusting to a major life change.
We can also grieve the loss of "what never was" or "what never will be."
Grief Counseling
Grief is a normal reaction to loss, and a necessary process for healing.
Grief is often accompanied by
an acute time of intense feelings of yearning and sadness
thoughts and images of a lost loved one
feelings of disbelief or shock
loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
feeling disconnected from others
rumination
chronically avoiding things that remind you of your loss
isolating from others
feeling that your happiness is solely dependent on who or what you have lost
There is no specific timeline or “normal” way to grieve.
We call it “complicated grief” when a person has been unable to begin to adapt to their loss after about a year.
Some things I will help you work through as a part of grief counseling:
expressing your emotions, which can be complicated and confusing
developing and utilizing effective coping approaches
accepting the loss and adjusting to a “new normal”
finding or rediscovering a sense of purpose
redefining your identify