“Grief never ends...but it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith. It is the price of love.”
Grief is like the ocean it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelmingly rough. At times you try and swim through the waves and become tired and exhausted from your efforts. Other times you can only muster up enough strength to just float.
There are many types of losses you can face in life, and when you lose something that holds importance, you grieve. Whether you are grieving the death of a loved one, a miscarriage, a divorce or loss of a relationship, struggling with the loss of infertility, loss of confidence or innocence, I can help you navigate through the storm you are facing.
The Process
Everyone grieves differently just as everyone loves differently, and there is no right way to do so. You may feel sadness, anger, loneliness, shock or confusion. You may have times when happiness creeps back in and you can again laugh and smile. You may have struggles with doubt and self-blame, guilt and shame. All of this is normal, and all of this is a part of your grieving process. At times grief feels so overwhelming and powerful that you need a supportive guide to help you through your journey.
I can provide you with methods to manage the intensity of your emotions and help you feel less overwhelmed, so that your grief does not consume your life. I will walk with you to awaken your inner strength and use this to move you through your grief process.
Children’s Grief
When children experience death, difficult divorces, or other losses, they usually develop natural ways to cope and continue to grow. However, there are times when children experience complicated feelings just as adults do, and struggle to cope with the loss.
At times children will act out in ways that are not common to their personality. They may become angry and display aggressive behaviors, or withdraw and isolate themselves from family and friends. These again, are all normal responses.
There are many tools that parents can use to help their child work through their confusing feelings and manage their emotions. I can help support you and your child through this process and offer a space for your child to share things that may be complicating their grief.
Anticipatory Grief
Some losses we experience as children are not felt until later in adulthood. Often these losses are triggered by a feeling we may experience due to a current loss. You may find yourself grieving multiple losses at once which can be a good time to receive extra support in navigating the pain. You may need new coping strategies because the ones that worked for you in the past are not working for you now.
While grief lessens over time, it can also be reignited by anniversaries, holidays, or family events. Therapy can be very helpful during those moments when you find your grief being reawakened by new wounds or new losses.