This Is Not What You Thought Grief Would Look Like

Grief can take many forms. Grief can encompass the loss of a loved one, the loss of a career, all of the losses associated with COVID-19, and so much more. We constantly hear that grief is complicated, but it is hard to truly know what that means until you are in the depths of it.

You may find yourself pulling away from loved ones, sinking more into isolation. You compare yourself to those who have suffered similar losses and wonder how they are continuing to live their day to day life as if nothing happened.

It is also possible that you are dealing with a variety of unexplainable physical symptoms; racing heart, constant headaches, chronic fatigue, GI issues, loss of appetite, brain fog, or muscle fatigue. You may have even presented to your doctor or urgent care with these symptoms, only to be told they are unfounded. 

 

Grief Truly is Complicated

The grieving process is not linear, as much as the 7 stages of grieving makes us believe that it is. If you have lost a loved one, you may have been expected to return to status quo following memorial and funeral arrangements. How can that be so?

You may begin to feel as though something is wrong with you that you are still carrying this heavy weight. You may feel like you need to justify to those around you why you are still struggling. If you could just move through these paralyzing feelings, you could begin to experience joy again, and truly begin to feel like yourself.

 

You Are Not Alone

Over half of the American population has grieved the loss of a loved on in the past three years, and we expect even higher numbers of those grieving events surrounding COVID-19¹. Three years after a loss, almost 20% of people say they are still intensely grieving. There truly is no timeline to grief.

These numbers do not even begin to account for those that are grieving silently, unable to seek help through their process. Taking the step to find a  grief and loss therapist is not easy, but you do not have to carry this immense weight of grief with you forever. 

 

There Is Hope Within Grief Counseling

The first thing we establish within grief therapy is a safe place. Grief and loss can make us feel unsafe and lose our sense of security in those around us. We want to ensure that above all else, this environment is cultivated for you from the beginning. A bereavement counselor will work with you at your own pace and continue to assess your needs and comfort as grief counseling moves on.

Our grief and loss therapists utilize evidence-based approaches to provide a place of healing and hope on your grief journey. We will help you develop coping skills and strategies, while continuing to develop a stronger mind-body connection. As your grieving process ebbs and flows, we will adjust our approach to meet you where you are at and provide the tools necessary for your personal success.

 

What to Expect

In your first session, your therapist will collaboratively complete a full intake with you. This background information helps to identify current and past experiences, things that have worked or not worked for you in dealing with these feelings prior, and assessing supports, barriers, and areas of improvement to guide your treatment forward.

From there, a thorough plan of treatment will be established, and evidenced-based practices will be utilized to move you towards those treatment goals. We will work to manage the symptoms associated with your grief and loss, reframe negative thoughts that are plaguing you, and develop coping skills to make progress as linear as possible.

 

I Still Have Some Concerns

I don’t even know where to begin in session.

We understand that even beginning to form cohesive thoughts around what you are experiencing is incredibly difficult. With the broad history and experience of our grief and loss therapists, we will help to gently guide the sessions in a way that feels right to you. You do not need to feel the additional burden of coming ‘prepared’ to grief counseling. Once you log into session, we can take the reigns from there if that feels right for you.

 

Will I have to share my entire grief story?

The priority in grief counseling is to keep you safe during sessions. We utilize specialized training and evidence-based approaches to ensure this safety and respond to what you need and feel comfortable expressing within each session.

Your bereavement counselor will never force you to do anything you are not comfortable with, and progress within treatment is possible without sharing your entire trauma story. Some individuals feel pulled to revisit their story of loss in order to heal, and your therapist will work with you to find the best medium to do so, whether it is verbal sharing, journaling, story-telling, or even through art. 

Our bodies can heal from grief and loss without having to talk about the experience from start to finish, so the process can look different for everyone. As every person and experience is different, every course of treatment is different, and we will work to find the best course of action for you.

 

Is grief counseling expensive?

Grief therapy is an investment you make in yourself. The time, energy, and emotions are invaluable assets, and most of them are being directed towards your grief and loss. It is completely attainable to reclaim these assets and put them towards the things that matter most to you. Therapy will provide the strategies and skills that you can take with you forever to continue to live a life free of the heavy, aching feelings of grief. 

 

Take the Next Step

If you think we might be a good fit, or would like to chat more before being scheduled, simply contact us. We are happy to chat and answer any questions or concerns. You deserve to be free from the weight of grief.

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¹https://eterneva.com/resources/coping-with-loss