Has a close relationship ended or changed?

Conflict, cut off, divorce, and many other events can leave you separated or estranged from people who were once involved and integrated into your life.

Maybe you were the one who ended things, or you got the news dropped in your lap. You may be still processing how and why things changed so suddenly, or you may be grieving the loss of this person even though you know it was for the best. Perhaps you’re feeling pressure to reconcile, dealing with family or friends taking sides, or just missing the way things used to be.

However things were before, they’re different now and it can be hard to deal with the emotions:

• Feeling like you tried your best to make things work, but they just couldn’t. Now you’re the bad guy even though you offered to do your part to fix the relationship.

• There’s an empty space in your life where that person used to be. It feels weird to grieve someone who’s still alive, but you’re definitely grieving.

• You miss the person you knew before their accident, addiction, or mental illness changed everything and you’re not sure you like the person they are now.

• Family and friends all have their own opinions about who’s right, who’s to blame, and who still gets to be invited to holidays and other events. It’s frustrating to have to explain why things happened the way they did yet again.

Grief counseling can help the pain of relationship loss

It may feel impossible now, but you can grieve this major life change and process your loss. You can create boundaries with family and friends and their opinions you don’t want. You can process the rupture and separation without feeling pressured into reconciliation.

Separation and estrangement therapy to process the loss of a relationship helps:

• Learn how to grieve for someone who is still alive, just not part of your life anymore

• Identify boundaries you need with friends, family, and other well-meaning people

• Process your loss and the way things used to be

• Hold your difficult thoughts, emotions, and memories

• Develop a new relational narrative without that person involved

I’ll help you through this process, tailoring each step to your unique needs and circumstances. My approach to therapy for separation and estrangement comes from a place of love amid the loss: honoring the good in what you had while also recognizing the need for separation from a relationship that no longer serves you.

Your life doesn’t have to be defined by what you’ve lost.

Frequently Asked Questions about therapy for relationship loss.

What are grief counseling sessions like for relationship loss?

In the beginning, we’ll talk about the person or situation you’ve left. We’ll also talk about the ways that the separation is impacting your life and other important relationships. Along the way, I’ll teach you useful exercises that can help you start to feel better. You’ll never be pressured to reconcile or make things right if that’s not the direction you want to go.

How do I know if therapy will work for me?

While I can’t make guarantees, therapy to heal the pain of separation and estrangement often helps people to explore the complicated emotions and thoughts that come up when a relationship is cut off. These separations can often feel traumatic even if they’re for a good reason, and therapy is a safe space to process all your feelings without judgment.

How do we get started?

We’ll have a 15 minute consultation for us to briefly get to know each other and so I can answer any questions you have about therapy. After that conversation, you’ll get a packet of forms to complete so we can get started. Once those are done, we’ll be able to schedule our first full session.