Losing a loved one can be profoundly painful.
You are not alone.
When you lose someone you love through death or the end of a relationship, marriage, or friendship, the pain you feel can seem insurmountable. It might feel like you are drowning, in a fog, or living in slow motion. Sometimes, it will seem like the people around you don't understand or cannot provide you with the support you need. Others expect you to move on, but you just can't. All of these experiences are common in grief. While you may feel alone, know you are not alone in this experience.
Grief is an all-encompassing, complex reaction to loss. It is one of the most challenging experiences you will face in your lifetime. While it is painful, giving yourself permission and space to grieve helps you adapt to your loss.
When you are actively grieving, you might notice:
- Sadness, anguish, despair, hopelessness, anger
- Shock, fear, anxiety, panic
- Loneliness, isolation, abandonment
- Guilt, shame, relief, freedom, peace
- Confusion, disorientation, and lack of concentration
- Constant thoughts about your loved one, visions, dreams
- Social withdrawal
- Hollowness in your stomach or tightness in your chest and throat
- A lack of physical energy or sleep disturbances
- A loss of identity
- A search for meaning or a renegotiation of your faith or religious beliefs
While these are common manifestations, your grief experience and symptoms will be unique to you. There is no right way to grieve. There is no timeline for grief. You will mourn the loss of your loved one, relationship, marriage, or friendship in your own time and at your own pace.
Grief shows up at different times in our lives
I help people process their grief related to:
- the death of a loved one
- the loss of relationships (partners, spouses, friends, family members)
- miscarriage
- the loss of physical health and well-being
- anticipating the loss of loved ones (support for caregivers in end-of-life care)
How I can help
Grief is extraordinarily challenging, natural, and needed. However, certain circumstances can compound your grief experience and leave you feeling overwhelmed, trapped, or stuck.
To help you heal, we might explore:
- the nature of your relationship with your loved one
- the dynamics of your relationships with other family members or friends
- any conflicting emotions you are experiencing
- difficult memories or images of your loved one
- the circumstances surrounding your loved one's death or the loss of relationship
- things left unsaid or undone
- changes to your mood, anxiety levels, and ability to function in your daily life
I can help you welcome grief, understand it, make room for it, and live with it. Together, we will find ways to help you find peace, meaning, and connection as you move forward in life.
I often draw from acceptance & commitment therapy (ACT), grief theory, narrative therapy, and self-compassion principles to support you on your journey.
