What To Expect In Grief Counseling

When an individual experiences loss, every day normal activities may begin to feel overwhelming. Grief Counseling is one tool that can help as we work through the grieving process. If you’re curious about what to expect in Grief Counseling, we invite you to continue reading.

What Is Grief Counseling?

When you experience a major loss, you may experience the emotion of grief. Common losses that \may lead to grief include the death of a loved one or beloved pet, ending a significant relationship, job loss or unexpected career shifts, being diagnosed with a terminal, debilitating or chronic illness, or suffering a traumatic experience.

Grief is the emotional, physical, and spiritual response to the loss of something important to you. It may be expressed through sadness, inability to participate in everyday life, and even physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach pain.

Grief Counseling is specific therapy intended to help you process your loss in a helpful, healthy way.

The 5 Stages of Grief

The 5 Stages of Grief were first defined by psychiatrist Elizabeth Kübler-Ross. Although the 5 stages are not absolute, they offer valuable insight to understand what grief looks like.

Stage 1. Denial – The grieving person may refuse to accept that the situation is real, or they may feel a sense of numbness or detachment.

Stage 2. Anger – Once the person accepts the reality of the situation, anger toward oneself, the person who has passed, a higher power, or any other figure may occur.

Stage 3. Bargaining – This is an attempt to regain control of the situation. The individual may try to bargain with a higher power or they may mentally review things they could/should have done differently.

Stage 4. Depression – Once reality sets in, the grieving individual may experience feelings of loss, sadness, mood swings, and an inability to participate in everyday activities.

Stage 5. Acceptance – In the final stage, the grieving person accepts the reality of their situation, but this does not necessarily mean the grieving process is over. Once acceptance occurs, a person may continue to experience grief while also returning to some semblance of normalcy in their life.

You can learn more about the 5 Stages in our article: The Truth About the 5 Stages of Grief.

What to Expect in Grief Counseling

Your therapist or counselor will first strive to understand the nature of your loss. This enables your therapist to better support you through your grief. You’ll learn about the normal feelings and physical sensations of the grieving process. It’s important to understand that what you’re going through, though very painful, is normal.

You’ll learn coping skills and tools to help you better identify and express your feelings of grief. Your counselor may help you discover ways to discover meaning in your loss. In the case of bereavement, they may help you find healthy, even joyful ways to remember the deceased.

The goal of grief counseling is to assist you in your healing journey as you work through the stages of grief. You probably won’t achieve peace in a single counseling session. However even within a few appointments, you may find that you’re feeling better and more able to cope with daily life.

Contact Creative Counseling Center

If you’re ready to take the first step toward healing from a loss, and would like to learn more about what to expect in Grief Counseling, we would love to speak with you. We have therapists on our team who specialize in grief counseling and have immediate availability. Simply complete the brief form below to request a Free Phone Consultation and a member of our team will contact you. We want to learn about your situation and, if appropriate, partner you with the therapist in our office best suited to support you. If our practice is not ideal for you or your loved one, we are happy to provide referrals to providers in the Denver metro area. We look forward to connecting with you soon.