Therapy for grief and loss
Grief is not a disorder. It is the natural response to losing someone or something that mattered. There is no right way to do it and no schedule. Therapy offers a place to feel what you feel, without pressure to move on.
You might be noticing
- Waves of sadness, anger, guilt or numbness that come and go
- Replaying "what if" and "if only"
- Pulling away from people, or feeling that no one understands
- Trouble sleeping, eating or concentrating
- Dreading dates, places or reminders
- Feeling stuck in the same place for a long time
- Grieving something other than a death, like a relationship, a job or your health
How we help
Grief looks different for everyone
Grief can bring sadness, anger, fear, guilt, relief, exhaustion or very little at all. It does not move in a straight line. Some days feel manageable and others knock you flat. Nothing about that means you are doing it wrong.
Loss comes in many forms
The death of a parent, partner, child, friend or pet can change your whole world. Pet loss is real loss, and we treat it that way. People also grieve losses that others may not see, such as the end of a marriage, a miscarriage, a move, a lost career, a changed body or a hoped-for future. If it mattered to you, it counts.
When grief gets stuck
Most people find that grief softens over time, though it does not disappear. For some, it stays raw and overwhelming and begins to crowd out the rest of life. You may be unable to accept the loss, avoid anything that reminds you of it, or feel that you cannot function. Grief can also be tangled with depression or trauma, especially after a sudden or traumatic death. Therapy can help you work through what is keeping you stuck.
What therapy offers
Sometimes the most important thing is having someone witness your pain. We also help you let yourself feel difficult emotions rather than push them aside, adjust to a world that has changed, and find ways to stay connected to the person or thing you lost while still building your life. Your clinician may use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, or EMDR when a loss is traumatic.
Supporting each other
Grief can strain relationships, because people grieve in different ways. Couples and family sessions can help you understand each other and support each other through it.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 now. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
A plan built around you
Every person is different and responds to different things. Your care can combine several evidence-based approaches, with or without medication. If questions come up about ADHD, autism or learning, psychological testing is available within the practice. And your plan can change as your needs do, including moving to another clinician on our team whose expertise fits better.
