Grief And Loss Therapy

Usually, when we think of grieving a loss, we think of mourning someone who has died. While mourning the death of a loved one is surely one of life's most difficult losses, it is not the only loss that people experience over the course of a lifetime. Divorce, break-ups, losing one's job, acquiring a disability or a diagnosis of a major health problem, experiencing infertility, moving, and experiencing an "empty nest" are all  common losses that many people will experience at one point or another.

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What they all have in common is that something significant in your life has changed, sometimes drastically or suddenly, and this "new normal" will need to be incorporated into your life. This incorporation process can be made more bearable with the help of a trained grief and loss therapist, like the team members at In Session Counseling.

​There are many misconceptions when it comes to grieving losses. One misconception is that certain losses "should" matter less than others. For example, mothers who experience miscarriage or infant death often have well meaning people tell them things like "it was probably for the best", or "you still have your other children".

People in the midst of a divorce are often surprised to find themselves grieving, even after finally making the decision to leave an unhappy marriage after years of turmoil. The truth is, only the person experiencing the loss can say how much the loss matters to them.

​Another misconception is that there is a certain amount of time that a person should grieve. After that amount of time has passed, you should be "over it". While it is true that there is generally a certain amount of time for which someone who has experienced a loss can expect to feel that the loss impacts their life on a daily basis, the fact of the matter is that there will simply never be a time when you are "over it". We never "get over" losses, but instead, we learn how to integrate the loss into our lives. In a way, someone who is grieving needs to learn how to live a new life; a life with the loss in it.

​Lastly, most people misunderstand what things grieving people find most helpful. Sometimes, people that are trying to help will discourage a grieving person from talking about the loss, or expressing emotions such as crying. In truth, people who have experienced a loss find it extremely comforting and helpful to talk about their loss and their feelings about it. Contrary to what many think, displaying emotions such as crying is extremely therapeutic, and helps the grieving person process through their feelings.

Our misconceptions about grief and loss as a society leave most grieving persons feeling very alone, at a time when they actually may need the opposite. Most grieving persons need a safe space to talk and have their feelings validated; grief counseling provides such a safe space. Searching for a “counseling service near me” is a good first step, and has led you to In Session Counseling.

Our grief and loss therapist can also help you learn effective coping skills, and prevent the adoption of unhealthy coping skills to manage feelings, such as alcohol or drugs. Our counselors can further help a grieving person learn how to talk to friends and family about what they need during their time of grief, set appropriate boundaries, and what other sources of support might be available.