How Therapy Helps with Grief and Loss
The Reality of Loss
In life, there are countless forms of loss. It’s a reality that many people struggle to accept and may even avoid. People leave us. People die. We lose jobs. We move homes. New health challenges lead to loss in independence. Friendships change. What we thought our life would look like is not our reality. Through any of these experiences, we oftentimes question ourselves, feel isolated, and wish we could find meaning. Even though these experiences happen to all of us, the hurt and pain are still exhausting and complex.
How does therapy help?
The beautiful thing about therapy is that it provides space for people to share their story, to feel heard, and to be validated in how they feel. Therapy provides the client with space to feel the pain and work toward healing. While the healing process varies for each person, there are some themes that arise for many people:
acknowledging the reality of the loss
expressing emotions and thoughts
addressing guilt and shame
acclimating to new life routines and new relationships
practicing self-compassion and self-care
finding support through community
By exploring the themes above, the grief doesn’t go away, but it may become more manageable. If you’re experiencing a loss in your life, therapy may be the best next step. If you’re feeling especially isolated and depressed in your grief, remember that you deserve to have support. You deserve to feel connected, heard, and understood. Through my own grief experiences as well as my work with clients who are dealing with loss, I believe:
Your story is worth telling.
You deserve to feel heard.
Your pain is real and valid.
You are not overreacting.
Remember, these experiences are a normal part of the human experience. The pain of the experience is real and can be incredibly heavy. It can even feel unbearable at times. It is also something that can connect you to community around you. What if you could feel less alone in your grief?
