Grief & Loss

At some point in our lives, each of us faces the loss of someone or something dear to us: the death of a loved one, a pet, the loss of health, loss of a relationship, even intense disappointment. The grief that follows such a loss can seem unbearable.

During grief, it is common to have many conflicting feelings -- sorrow, anger, loneliness, sadness, shame, anxiety, and guilt. In an effort to “move on,” the bereaved person may feel pressured to hide or deny these emotions. But denying these feelings is harder on the body and mind than going through them, and healing will take longer.

Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross identified five well-known stages of grief:

• Denial - difficulty accepting the reality of the loss.

• Anger - at the world, God, the person who died, even oneself.

• Bargaining - "If I do this, will you take away the loss?"

• Depression - reality of the loss grows, sadness is more present.

• Acceptance - coming to terms; intensity of emotions tapers off.

Sometimes people get “stuck” in one of these phases, making it impossible to move through the process in a healthy way.

I have had specialized training and experience in bereavement counseling. If you have suffered a loss, I can gently guide you in working your way through the grief and pain, to move safely into the next phase of your life.