Grief counseling in Tampa, FL

The passing of a loved one is one of the most painful experiences we are forced to endure. Some of us are lucky to evade this ill fate until late adulthood; but, when someone close to us does pass, we fall victim to grief. We might feel horribly upset, angry, confused, disappointed, hopeless, or any number of other difficult emotions. We might struggle to focus at work, get enough sleep, remain present in our relationships, fuel our bodies.

We run from grief because loss scares us,

yet our hearts reach toward grief because

the broken parts want to mend.

–Brene Brown

Grief can have a negative impact on one’s life in more ways than one. Therefore, it is important to consider working with a counselor or psychologist as we move through tough emotions and learn to live life without the loved one lost. If you have recently lost someone close to you, please consider reaching out to Thriveworks Tampa Counseling. Our grief counselors and therapists are here to help, guide, and support you through the grieving process. To schedule your grief counseling appointment at Thriveworks Tampa, just call (813) 473-4663.

What Does Grief Feel Like?

When someone who means a lot to you passes away, it can easily feel like the whole world is falling apart. Often, the death can kickstart a flood of emotions, including deep despair, confusion, shock, even anger, guilt. Managing these emotions—especially when you are experiencing them all at once—can prove incredibly difficult. That’s where grief counseling can make a huge difference in the grieving individual’s life.

Grief might feel like the end of the world. It might feel like the end of an era. It might feel gut-wrenching, hopeless, unbearable. This will depend on the person, their relationship and closeness to the loved one loss, their ability to cope well with difficult, and so much more. Whatever the specifics, though, know that a grief counselor can help. They have specific skills, experience, and training related to processing and healing from these tough losses.

Who Needs Grief Counseling? Do I?

If you are grieving the loss of a close loved one, grief counseling is for you. You might not feel like you need it, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t benefit you. As we mentioned earlier, grief can feel and be different for every single person; however, there are five stages of grief that many of us enter, even if we experience these stages in our own way. They are as follows:

1. Denial; seclusion: News of a love one’s passing is perhaps the worst news we can ever receive. Therefore, it’s no surprise that most of us don’t react well. In this first stage of grief, we deny the death of our loved one and insist that it isn’t true. We do everything in our power to confront this horrible reality.
2. Anger: Many people also react to the news of a loved one’s death with anger and other negative emotions. They lash out, in an effort to avoid their pain.
3. Bargaining: This third stage is characterized by the regret or remorse one might feel. The individual starts to think about what they could or should have done differently before it was “too late.”
4. Depression: It’s also possible to fall into a state of depression, when those painful emotions do eventually flood in and take over. It’s important that we lean on others for love and support during this stage of grief.
5. Acceptance: In the fifth and final stage of grief, the individual accepts the death of their loved one and makes peace with their loss. Finally, they can focus on moving forward.
   

Are you in any of the above stages of grief? Can you relate to any of the emotions we’ve described thus far? Consider talking to one of our grief counselors. They can help and support you through every stage of grief you might enter.

Schedule Grief Counseling at Thriveworks Tampa Counseling

Grief counseling at Thriveworks Tampa Counseling is dedicated to helping people process their loss and supporting them during this most difficult time. While grief counseling will unfold differently for every individual, based on their unique needs, the two main goals of grief therapy include:

• Acknowledgement: First, your grief counselor will help you acknowledge and accept the reality of the situation. This will often come with confronting difficult emotions like sadness, guilt, anger, and more.
• Acceptance: Then, your grief counseling will help you work through any challenges that might arise as you recover and move forward with your life.

If you have recently lost someone close to you, please consider talking to a grief counselor. They can provide you with vital guidance and support. Thriveworks Tampa Counseling has grief counselors who can help you as soon as today. Give our office a call to schedule your grief counseling appointment.