Grief Therapy: All You Need to Know

Grief is one of the few truly universal human experiences. Everyone will experience loss at some point in their life, but that doesn’t make it any easier to prepare for.

Just as no two deaths are quite the same, the experience of grief can vary from one person to the next. There’s no timeline, and no clear blueprint to follow.

Some people may find that they’re able to find ways to cope with a loss relatively quickly, while for other people, grief will go on for a prolonged period, and it may start to interfere with their daily life.

Many factors can affect how a person grieves. Processing a sudden or violent death might look different than processing a death that was expected. On the other hand, losing a loved one to a terminal condition comes with its own unique and painful emotions.

No matter the circumstances, there’s no real way to prepare yourself for bereavement, but there are options to help you cope. You’re not alone.

Grief therapy is often referred to as grief counseling or bereavement counseling. It’s a type of psychotherapy that’s specifically designed to help you to cope with:

• the loss of a loved one or pet
• job transitions
• moving-related loss
• changes in romantic relationships, such as divorce or breakups.

Anyone may benefit from grief therapy, but it may be especially helpful if the grief you’re experiencing:

• affects your day-to-day life or relationships
• causes you excessive guilt
• has prompted symptoms of depression that don’t seem to be improving over time

It’s natural to feel overwhelmed by emotions after a significant loss. But if your grief feels like too much to handle, or it’s beginning to affect your ability to function, grief therapy could be a helpful option.

Grief can take all kinds of different forms, and there are several distinct types that a person may experience. Grief therapy can be particularly helpful in these cases.

1. Traumatic grief

2. Complicated grief

3. Anticipatory grief

4. Ambiguous loss

Any form of talk therapy can be effective for bereavement because it creates a safe, non-judgmental space for a person to express any emotions they’re experiencing. In some cases, there are specific techniques that a therapist may use to treat grief.

1. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

2. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

3. Complicated grief therapy (CGT)

Bereavement is one of the most challenging experiences anyone can go through. No matter the circumstances, a significant loss always brings an onslaught of emotions that can feel overwhelming. But grief looks different for everyone.

In many cases, people are able to work through grief without counseling. But in some situations, particularly when a loss is sudden or unnatural, grief can become more chronic. In these cases, grief therapy can be a worthwhile option.

If you’ve recently experienced a loss, try not to put any pressure on yourself to grieve in a particular way, or on a particular timeline. It’s natural to feel intense sadness and pain, and also to feel emotionally numb at times. These aren’t necessarily signs that you need to seek professional help.

But if your feelings feel impossible to handle or they’re affecting your life and relationships, consider reaching out to a therapist. They can help you to take care of yourself, and give you the space you need to process your loss."

*Grief is an extremely complex emotion and it looks different for everyone. There is no timeline or correct way to work through loss and loss also doesn't just have to be a death of a loved one. It can be the loss of a pet, a job switch, or a move. Grief can become chronic for some and that's okay! It's at this point when someone should consider seeing a mental health professional. There's no shame in reaching out for help because they can provide a safe space for someone to work through their grief. We will all go through grief at some point in life, so it's important to know that we are never truly alone. 💛 Have you ever gone through grief where you needed to reach out for professional help? What was your experience like?*

#Grief #Loss #GriefTherapy #Coping

Please find the full article at Psych Central!

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