Our therapists offer grief & loss counseling in Pittsburgh, PA

My go -to approach for helping people with grief and loss is to validate their feelings whatever they are and explain that grief can look different than people expect. Grief is very personal and no one should be afraid of grieving the wrong way. I provide psychoeducation on the grief process and explain that we don't necessarily stop grieving but it changes over time. Grief is what you need it to be. My style is eclectic so I prefer to adapt my methods to meet their needs and this changes as therapy progresses. This allows for continued progress as the client's needs change.

These are some of the tools or coping skills that I teach for grief and loss:

• Stages of grief - these are helpful to understand the process but you may experience all or only some and there is no set order
• Mindfulness - techniques that increase your awareness and help you focus on being present in the moment and connecting you with your thoughts and feelings
• Grounding exercises - part of mindfulness often used to cope with feeling anxious or overwhelmed
• Communication skills - learning to express your thoughts and emotions appropriately to yourself and others, this includes listening skills.
• Relaxation techniques - used to reduce stress, anxiety, and other symptoms as well as for self care
• Stress management techniques including self care.

I know a client is making meaningful progress when they report using skills that they learned in therapy to help them process their grief and improve daily functioning. Clients often report they are making progress when they start to feel more like themselves again.

Clients can supplement their time in grief counseling with reading articles or books to increase their knowledge and understanding. I often make suggestions or send links to articles that are specific to their needs or concerns. If you find information on your own it is always a good idea to ask your therapist to confirm that the information is accurate especially for information found on social media or online videos.

To prepare for your first grief and loss counseling session, you can: Make a list of questions and/or concerns. Bring a list of any medications that you are taking, prescription, OTC and supplements. Have a list of prior mental health treatments with dates and names if possible. But most of all be kind to yourself and allow yourself to be open to the idea exploring your thoughts and emotions.