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Healing from Grief and Loss: Compassionate Support Awaits

Find the right therapist for your grief journey with personalized, client-centered care tailored to your needs.

Grief and Loss

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Wholesome Psychology, Alberta, CA
Author: wholesome
Date: November 30, 2024

Grief and Loss: Navigating the Path Toward Healing

Grief is a deeply personal and natural response to loss. It’s the emotional pain we feel when something or someone dear to us is taken away. This sorrow can be overwhelming, leaving us to grapple with a range of emotions—from shock, disbelief, and anger to guilt, profound sadness, or even numbness. Along with emotional suffering, grief can affect your physical well-being, making it hard to sleep, eat, or focus. These are normal reactions to loss, and the intensity of grief often corresponds to the significance of what has been lost.

What Kind of Loss Can Lead to Grief?

Grief can manifest after many types of loss, not just the death of a loved one. Some common situations that may trigger grief include:

  • The death of a loved one—whether a close friend, family member, or even someone you may have known casually, like a public figure.
  • Grief following the death of a pet.
  • The end of a relationship, such as a divorce or separation.
  • Changes in family dynamics, such as children leaving home (empty nest).
  • Job loss or retirement.
  • Health changes—whether it's your own health struggles or those of someone you love.
  • Financial setbacks or major life changes such as moving or starting a new chapter, like graduation or becoming a parent.

Signs and Symptoms of Extreme Grief

Grief can take many forms, both emotionally and physically. Some symptoms may be more noticeable or intense than others, and it’s important to understand that everyone’s grief journey is unique. Common emotional and physical signs include:

Emotional Symptoms

  • Uncontrollable sadness or despair.
  • Difficulty performing everyday tasks.
  • Preoccupation with thoughts of the loss or the person you’ve lost.
  • Feelings of guilt, anger, or resentment.
  • Withdrawing from others and isolating yourself.
  • Confusion, numbness, or a sense of being emotionally "stuck."
  • Thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
  • Decreased self-worth or irritability.

Physical Symptoms

  • Changes in appetite (either eating too much or not enough).
  • Digestive issues.
  • Sleep disturbances—either insomnia or sleeping excessively.
  • Physical aches and pains or headaches.
  • Frequent crying or a feeling of emotional exhaustion.
  • Decreased immune function, leading to illness or fatigue.

When Should You Seek Help?

It’s natural to experience grief after loss, and these symptoms often ebb and flow. However, if you find that your grief is consuming you, preventing you from performing daily tasks, or if your symptoms have persisted for an extended period without relief, it might be time to reach out for help. Therapy can provide the support and tools needed to navigate your grief in a healthy way, helping you move forward while still honoring your loss.

Treatment Options for Grief and Loss

Grief therapy is tailored to the unique needs of each individual. The therapeutic process may involve exploring the emotions tied to your loss and finding ways to cope. Depending on the nature of your grief, different approaches may be used to help you heal. Some effective treatment methods include:

  • Grief Work Therapy: This approach helps individuals understand and process their emotions related to loss, with the goal of finding peace and moving forward.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thoughts and behaviors, helping individuals cope with emotional pain and grief.
  • Person-Centered Therapy: In this approach, the therapist provides a supportive environment, where you are the expert on your own life, allowing you to uncover your own solutions and healing paths.
  • Faith-Based Therapy: This method integrates therapeutic techniques with spiritual beliefs, offering an approach that respects your personal faith.
  • Narrative Therapy: By re-framing your grief through the lens of personal stories, narrative therapy helps you understand the loss as part of your journey, rather than defining who you are.
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): This approach focuses on managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and developing healthier coping mechanisms for stress and grief.

Additional Therapeutic Methods for Grief

  • The Grief Recovery Method Ⓡ
  • Animal Therapy
  • Equine Therapy
  • Somatic Experiencing Method Ⓡ

What You Can Expect From Therapy at Wholesome Psychology

While you may never "get over" the loss of someone or something important to you, therapy can help you find ways to cope and heal. It’s important to remember that missing someone is a natural part of grief, and honoring those feelings doesn’t mean you have to stay stuck in them. Therapy offers the space to process your emotions, rebuild your strength, and regain a sense of hope and purpose in life.

At Wholesome Psychology, we have therapists who specialize in grief and loss, offering both in-person and online therapy sessions. Our client-centered approach means that you’ll receive personalized support that respects your unique experience of grief. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you on your healing journey.

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