Grief and loss counseling helps people grieve difficult losses including the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the end of a relationship. It helps people navigate their grief process and eventually accept, understand, and move forward from their loss. Theriveworks grief therapists in Cherry Hill, NJ have specific experience, training, and skills that enable them to best support grieving individuals.
Grief and loss counseling isn't one-size-fits-all, but it involves sharing about your loss and then working with your counselor to acknowledge and accept your new reality in its wake. Your Thriveworks provider at Thriveworks in Cherry Hill, NJ will design your treatment plan around your unique needs and goals for therapy, applying the counseling techniques that best support them.
If you have recently experienced an event like the death of a loved one, a breakup or divorce, the loss of a job, or another major life change, then you may want to seek grief and loss counseling. Grief can be caused by many experiences and events, so if you feel that you are having trouble moving on from a certain event or find that it is still impacting your life and functioning, grief and loss counseling can help you process it more effectively so that you can move on and once again find fulfillment and satisfaction in your life.
There are many counseling theories for treating grief, one of the most frequently used being the dual process model of grief which helps people acknowledge who or what they've lost through rumination while also adjusting to the new roles and identities that this loss has now placed on them. There are also many commonly used therapy approaches used in grief and loss counseling, including Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and traumatic grief therapy.
For many, grief and loss counseling lasts for about 6 months. For others, it may last shorter or longer, depending on the severity of their loss and their grief.
Loss is an inevitable experience in humanity and grief is the natural response. The process of grieving can be healthy in which an individual is able to release the emotional pain that is resulted from losing a precious person. But if it is difficult to break out of those emotions, it can become an unbearable feeling and some individuals find it difficult to move forward. The strong emotions that proceed after losing someone can be so painful that it might be hard to cope at times, especially if an individual is unable to accept that person is gone. When an individual can allow time and focus on the thoughts and feelings directed from the loss, they will be able to move forward and heal.
Common symptoms:
- Mourning and preoccupation of the loss
- Shock and disbelief
- Isolation from social events and people
- Behavioral change such as avoidance or proximity seeking
- Anger
- Bitterness
- Frustration
- Anxiety
- Worry
- Depression
There are two different types of grief that can occur from loss. Acute grief will ease over time, and the pain intensity will decrease naturally and diminish slowly. Complicated grief is prolonged yearning and sadness that becomes severe. This type of grief occurs around ten percent of mourning individuals (Shear, e al., 2011).
It is often best for a mourning individual to seek support and be around others that can help with coping. If the grieving process is not being acknowledged, or interrupted by confusing thoughts, it can be redirected in a negative way and impact a person’s life for a long time. Feelings of guilt, blame, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness and frustration can grow deep. Lack of support and feeling that there is no one to turn to during this process can lead down a dark road. Nevertheless, our therapists are here to help remove that pain and promote healing. Our professionals are trained to help individuals make good decisions during this time and teach how to decipher which feelings that may be preventing the ability to heal. An individual will gain insight on how to push through the difficult emotions slowly and cope with the loss.
Understanding the sudden loss of a loved one is essential in breaking free from a dark time. Coping therapy and Grief counseling are recommended for individuals and families that are struggling with the loss of someone. By getting professional help with experts in the bereavement process will not only allow a person to healthily recover but it will also gain insight on how to move past forthcoming relevant events. Our counselors that specialize in grieving are caring and empathetic. We provide a safe and comfortable atmosphere that allows individuals to naturally explore their emotions and absorb what is needed to have peace again. Coping mechanisms, and techniques can help provide relief from pain, anxiety, worry and any other emotions pertained to the loss. Contact us and we will schedule you with one of our processionals who will guide you towards healing and peace that you deserve. You will obtain a healthier coping style and learn how to embrace the natural grieving process!
Call Thriveworks Cherry Hill Grief Counseling today at 856-208-4396 to schedule a session with one of our licensed grief counselors. We’re ready to help you as soon as you call!
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” – Psalm 34:18, NIV)
Resource: Shear M. K, (2011) Complicated grief and related bereavement issues for DSM-5. Depression & anxiety,28, 103-117.
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