Grief & Loss

Experiencing grief and loss is a normal part of the life cycle—but that doesn’t mean it is easy or fun.  Grieving the loss of a loved one such as a spouse, parent, child, or close friend can be a long and slow road to finding a new normal.  Death is an obvious reason for grieving, but there are many other reasons people silently grieve such as pregnancy loss or infertility; divorce or infidelity; injury or upsetting health diagnoses; loss of job or missed opportunities; children growing up or moving away; loss of identity or hobbies; addiction and its consequences, and so on.

Grief and loss can be difficult not only because it brings on difficult symptoms like anger, depression, and bargaining, but because it often brings up existential life questions that we may be unprepared to deal with.  It is common after the death of a loved one to question your ideas about God or to wonder if your life is on the right track.

Even though all people go through grief and loss at some point in their lives, it can be helpful to process emotions with a professional. Oftentimes the loss of a child or providing ongoing care for a dying parent with extensive needs can put a serious strain on the marital relationship.  In these cases, couples counseling can be instrumental in solidifying your marriage as a source of strength.  If you think that you could benefit from walking through your grief with a therapist book your first appointment below or contact me for more information.