Grief & Loss

Everyone will experience loss at some point in their lives. Following a loss, we go through the grieving process and feel a mixture of emotions that can be overwhelming at times. Oftentimes,  we try to face grief alone because we feel like no one can relate or no one wants to hear about it. When you bottle it up, it can start to leak out in unexpected ways. 

Grief can affect people differently. Some people might avoid thinking about it, yet others find it hard to focus on anything else. You might avoid seeing your friends and family because you don't want to "bring them down" or feel like you'll need to pretend to be happy around them. You might feel numb all the time and not experience joy anymore. Maybe when you do feel joy, you feel guilty for being happy. You might feel like life has no meaning without the missing piece that you lost or that you're not the same person you were before the loss. Grief can cause anger, sadness, guilt, or a confusing combination of all three.

Loss comes in many forms and all grief is valid and painful. The grieving process can happen following: 

• The loss of a loved one
• Anticipating an unavoidable loss
• A loss of ability
• Shifts in relationships 
• Changes to your sense of self 
• Changes related to phases of life 
• Saying goodbye to future possibilities 
• and more 

If you're dealing with any of these losses, counseling can provide a safe environment to actively engage in the complex process of grieving. Grief therapy can help you accept the reality of the loss, experience the pain of grief, adjust to an environment without the missing piece, and find an enduring connection to the missing piece while embarking on a new life.