Since they died, does the grief feel like it will never stop?

Maybe you can’t sleep anymore, or you can’t do anything but sleep. Food doesn’t taste right, and you can’t imagine trying to just go about your daily life like nothing happened. But the bills don’t stop, your boss expects you back after just a few days of bereavement, and you still have to keep up with everything.

You may be really struggling, feeling like it’s a fight just to keep your head above water. Or you may be the opposite- focusing on your daily tasks and chores because they keep you from falling apart. Either way, your life is missing a key piece now.

Your grief feels like it’s consuming your life, and you’re beginning to notice the impact of your loss in other parts of your life:

• Your other relationships get weird. People don’t seem to understand grief. They get awkward around you, and they either try to offer cheap positive platitudes or they disappear from your life entirely.

• Your emotions are all over the place, and it doesn’t seem to take much to set you off crying, angry, or fearful of what is going to happen next.

• You’re definitely not giving work as much focus as your boss might want, but it feels really unfair that they expect you to act like nothing happened.

Grief therapy can help

It may feel impossible now, but you can learn strategies for healthy grieving that will help you navigate this difficult time. You can break free from the fear, anxiety, and traumatic memories. And I can help you get there.

Grief therapy to process the death of someone close to you helps:

• Practical exercises and skills to manage the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma

• Learn ways to deal with intrusive thoughts and memories using ACT skills

• Process your loss using narrative reconstruction techniques to make sense of what happened

• Create structure for yourself to help you navigate the waves of grief as they come

• Develop a new vision for your future without them while finding ways to continue to hold their memory

I’ll help you through this process, tailoring each step to your unique needs and circumstances. My approach to grief therapy for death comes from a place of care and safety: learning how to navigate the pain of this loss while getting rid of the extra pain that comes with regret, anxiety, shame, and trauma.

You don’t have to live life feeling like you have to hold onto the pain in order to keep their memory alive.

I can help you get there.

Frequently Asked Questions about grief therapy for death of a loved one:

What are grief therapy sessions like?

In the beginning, we’ll talk about your relationship with your loved one and if you feel comfortable talking about it, we can go over the circumstances of their death. We’ll also talk about the ways that your grief is impacting your life and relationships. Along the way, I’ll give you a helpful understanding of the neurobiology of grief and how the loss of a core relationship affects you physically and mentally. We’ll address any symptoms of anxiety, regret, or trauma that are causing you extra pain and suffering.

How long do I need to be in therapy?

That depends on what you need. Some people stay just a few weeks to learn more about what’s normal for grief and to know what to watch out for during their process. Other people have more anxiety and trauma wrapped up in their grief and stay longer to work through these other issues that have come up after the loss. Even after you’ve finished therapy, you’re welcome back for additional support during holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special days when the pain might come up again.

How do I know if grief therapy will work for me?

While I can’t make guarantees, I’ve helped many clients over the years who are navigating this awful time. Everyone’s circumstances are different, and we’ll work together to make sure therapy is meeting your needs. Therapy doesn’t make your loss feel better, but it does help you find your footing amid the chaos and uncertainty.

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.