Grief and Loss
“There is sacredness in tears. They are not a mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition and unspeakable love.”
Are You Mourning The Loss Of A Loved One
Are you grieving for a loved one but don’t know how to reconcile the overwhelming sadness and uncertainty? Do you struggle to define your identity or worry about your security and future after losing a spouse, child, or parent?
Perhaps a divorce or the revelation of infidelity has fractured your home and you wonder if you can ever be whole again. Or it could be that chronic illness has slowly taken someone away from you. And now that they are gone, you have to deal with the guilt of feeling secretly relieved for finally being able to move on.
Losing a loved one can naturally be a traumatic experience. However, if you are dealing with complicated grief, recovery can be even more difficult.
For instance, if you’ve lost a partner or family member to addiction or suicide, you may feel additional guilt or self-blame for possibly enabling their behavior or not doing more to stop it. Similarly, if you have lost a spouse only to discover an affair, the overwhelming anger and shock can devastate the recovery process. Or it could be that you were the survivor of an accident or catastrophic event that claimed a loved one’s life. And now, on top of the grief and loneliness, you have the added element of overcoming survivor’s guilt.
When we lose someone we love or a relationship changes, it can create a hole that swallows up joy, hope, and even pain that you have a right to feel. Despite how ugly and dull life may seem, I can help you see through the darkness, find your inner strength, and process your grief so you can become whole once again.
Grief And Loss Are A Natural Part Of The Human Experience
Grief and loss are aspects of life that truly make us equal. That is, almost everyone will encounter some sort of loss or bereavement at some point in their life. That transition will fundamentally alter how they see themselves and the world. In fact, according to the US Census Bureau, someone passes away every 12 seconds in the US alone, leaving behind multiple bereaved family members and friends.
Sadly, often our own culture—how we perceive and deal with death and bereavement—limits our ability to grieve properly. For example, American societal influences have long portrayed vulnerability as weakness, inevitably robbing individuals of their right to acknowledge, value, and process their emotions. And although humans have been dealing with loss since the beginning of time, we are still no better at managing the pain and grief alone.
Sometimes, a loss is simply too great to process or a lack of closure makes it hard to move on. For others, complicated grief can add another layer of wounding to the loss that can ultimately devolve into significant mental and physical health concerns if left unaddressed. According to the Mayo Clinic, prolonged grief can eventually lead to anxiety, depression, PTSD, or alcohol/substance abuse. And the effect it can have on your ability to care for yourself, your career, and surviving relationships can be profound.
Fortunately, you do have support available that can help you navigate the sadness and uncertainty. With my help, you can come to terms with your loss and gain closure in a way that honors the memory of your loved one while enabling you to move forward with your life.
Mourning Through Grief Counseling
Psychotherapy provides a safe, neutral space where you can let your guard down and speak about your loss and your emotions candidly. It offers a continuity of support, especially when family and friends have gone back to their lives or can no longer bear your pain. You have someone to confide in and lean on when you need it most. In time, I can help you find meaning in your life—and the life and death of your loved one—while helping you to move forward in peace.
I have the utmost respect and sympathy for your loss, and I want to begin our work from where you are in the healing process. We’ll begin by gently discussing the nature of your loss. Does it involve the loss of a relationship, a loved one, career, or plans for the future? How is that affecting you on a daily basis? And what challenges are you facing on your path to healing?
We will determine if your grief is being complicated by other factors, such as the experience of a previous loss or an estranged or co-dependent relationship with the person who has died. Whatever your situation, my goal is to enable you to realize your inner-resilience and process your loss so you can begin enjoying life again free of guilt or pain.
No two people mourn alike. Therefore, I always take into account your unique grieving style, including the many cultural, religious, or spiritual factors that may come into play during the healing process. In the beginning, I may offer you healthy coping strategies to help you establish a sense of normalcy in daily life. I can also help you address unfinished business or things you didn’t get a chance to express to the one who has passed so you can find closure.
As you progress, I will help you process and walk through your sorrow until you find peace. I will support you in adjusting to your new reality, rethinking your future, and adopting a new sense of identity that gives you purpose and meaning.
I understand that there is a void in you right now that can’t possibly be filled, but your pain doesn’t have to last forever. You do have the power to heal, and I can help you find new meaning in life as well as the courage to invest yourself in new relationships and adventures. With my help, you can grieve and honor your loss while learning to create a life that is at peace with your conscience and in accordance with what you truly want.
I am considering grief and loss counseling, however, I still have some concerns…
I’m not sure I am ready to start talking about it.
Our sessions will be focused on talking about the issues that you want to explore, so I will never be pushy or overbearing. If you’d like, we can discuss your grieving style, other losses, or what barriers you may be putting up and why. We can celebrate the joy that your loved one represented or talk about how you handle stress in general.
There are so many ways to grieve without it being emotionally painful. And although we cannot replace the ones we love, we can honor their memory by doing our best to find new life, friends, and opportunities for happiness.
I’m worried about the financial cost of grief therapy.
If you are suffering and unable to change your situation, psychotherapy can be a profound investment in your overall well-being. When you are consumed by grief, it can erode relationships, productivity at work, and even your physical health. Liberating yourself from unnecessary blame or guilt allows you to realize a future of hope and new possibilities. And though it will require a financial investment, psychotherapy will not last forever, but the skills and insight I offer will.
How long will I be in grief counseling?
Grieving is an intimate process that differs for everyone, whether in style or duration. Some individuals with prolonged grief may require more time to untangle their emotions than others. Regardless of your situation, psychotherapy is about helping you work through the pain at your own pace, in your own way. Together, we can get through this, and in time, you can begin feeling whole again and live with a renewed sense of self and direction.
You Can Find Peace And Acceptance
If you are having troubling finding closure or grieving someone or something you lost, I can help. Please call 646-620-9940 to see how my compassionate, insight-oriented approach to grief counseling can help you.
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