Understanding Grief and Loss Therapy: Helping Hearts Heal

Have you ever felt really sad or heavy because you lost someone or something important to you? Do you ever feel that way just thinking about your past or childhood?

It's totally okay to feel that way. Sometimes, when we lose someone we love or something that means a lot to us, it can be really hard to handle those big feelings all by ourselves. Other times we feel big feelings because of things that we didn’t get or that didn’t happen. Both of these experiences describe the experience of grief and loss.

That's where grief and loss therapy comes in to help. Grief and loss therapy is having a warm, compassionate person who understands how you're feeling and knows how to walk the winding path of grief side by side with you. Just like when you have a coach to help you learn a new sport or a tutor to help you with math, a grief therapist is there to help you feel your feelings in a safe and caring way.

When you go to grief and loss therapy, you might talk about the person or thing you lost, and how much you miss them. You might also talk about all the things that did or didn’t happen and the feelings you have inside, like sadness, anger, regret, or even confusion. It's important to know that whatever you're feeling, it's okay, and your therapist is there to listen without judging you.

Sometimes, grief and loss therapy uses special activities to help you express your feelings. You might draw pictures, write stories, or use your imagination to show what's going on inside your heart. These activities can help you understand your feelings better and find ways to cope with them.

One thing about grief and loss therapy is that it can help you hold the good and the bad together. Instead of only feeling the hard stuff, you can start to remember and feel the happy memories too. It's like turning on a light in a dark room – it helps you see things more clearly and feel a little bit better. 

As we say in grief therapy, the only way through is through. It's okay to ask for help when you're feeling sad or overwhelmed by grief. Talking to a trusted therapist is a great first step. They can give you the support and care you need to heal.

*Disclaimer: The information in this blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health care nor a recommendation or endorsement for any particular treatment plan, organization, provider, professional service, or product. The information may change without notice. No claims, promises, or guarantees are made about the completeness, accuracy, currency, content or quality of information linked. You assume all responsibility and risk for any use of the information.

IFS EMDR Therapy Group is an outpatient therapy group founded by Morgan Levine. We specialize in helping adults struggling with the effects of living in dysfunctional systems move toward healing and wholeness. We provide therapy to address symptoms such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, grief, obsessive and compulsive thoughts and behaviors including but not limited to using work, perfectionism, substances, relationships, food, etc. We offer ongoing support as well as EMDR intensives; both of which are informed by IFS, EMDR, DBT, CBT, Polyvagal Theory, trauma-informed yoga, attachment, and other recovery principles. Our therapists work virtually with clients living throughout Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Florida.  Morgan Levine also provides trauma-informed consultation to therapists worldwide. Connect with us through our website at https://ifsemdrtherapy.com/contact-us.