Grief & Loss (Bereavement)

 Grief is a natural reaction to the losses that we all experience at different times in our lives. Grief is a process that is as unique as a finger print and can involve a wide range of emotions from numbness and disbelief to anger, guilt, loneliness, bitterness, and overwhelming sorrow. Grief can be the result of any number of situations from the loss of a job to a divorce or separation, traumatic injury or illness, or the death of a child, spouse or friend.

Counseling for Grief & Loss

Grief counseling must be individualized since no two people grieve in the same way. In grief counseling, support and understanding are paramount to moving through the personal process of accepting the loss, processing the pain, adjusting to a new way of life and reinvesting in this new reality so that joy in life can once again be experienced.

Counselor Rick A. Combs, does not view personal loss as something we “get over”, but rather, as something we learn to live with. The outcome of grief counseling is not to “get  over” the loss of a loved one, but to learn to incorporate who that person was into our life so that we can learn to live with a new “normal” and carry with us what that person meant to us. In this way, we can eventually live with the memories of our loved one, but without the constant pain of the loss.

If your loss was related to the ending of a marriage or relationship you will need somewhere to process your feelings of sadness, hurt, anger and confusion. Greif counseling will help you to cope with the tremendous sense of loss you are likely experiencing. Counseling for divorce can help you to get the perspective on the past that you need in order to move forward with your future.

For those whose loss is related to a transition in job or career, counseling will help you to process what is happening to you and how it is affecting your life and relationships. Your dreams, hopes and plans will need to be re-evaluated in light of recent events. Once you have worked through the shock of the loss, shifting your focus to career counseling may help you to understand where you are, who you are, and where you want to be in the future.

For losses related to illness or injury grief therapy can help you to identify and understand what you are feeling and experiencing as a result of this major life change. Fear may be a prominent feeling and uncertainty about the future can bring symptoms of anxiety or depression. counseling will help you to navigate this roller coaster of emotion and come to a place of acceptance and hope.