Grief Therapy in Orange County & Throughout California

Grieving is unique for everyone. We all experience grief in our own way and there is no time clock ticking on when we will start to feel better. Some of us recover from grief and return to normal activities within a short period of time. Others may begin to feel better a little further down the road or much later in life.

Sometimes we grieve for years without seeming to find relief. Our recovery can be complicated by a variety of conditions—most notably depression and our level of co-dependence.

The loss of people that we love can involve difficult emotions—and recovery can be an extremely challenging process—whether the loss is due to death, the break-up of a relationship, or other circumstances.

One of the hardest challenges a distraught person endures is the adjustment of living in the absence of the loved one(s).

Help with the Grieving Process

Grief counseling, also known as bereavement counseling, is a type of counseling designed to help individuals cope with the loss of a loved one. Everyone has different grief responses, and it can certainly take time to fully process your loss. But if you feel that you’re not making progress with your grief process and that it’s taking a long period of time, a mental health professional can help you work through it.

Grief counseling offers a safe and comfortable space for you to be able to discuss your emotions surrounding the loss of a loved one. The goal of counseling is to help you explore new ways to cope with the pain of grief and the deep sadness it can cause. 

How Can Grief Counseling Services Help You?

Everyone copes with grief differently, so there is a wide range of feelings that are normal during such difficult times. Well-meaning friends and family members might advise you to keep busy or tell you that it will get easier with the passage of time, and you might feel worse when you notice that their advice isn’t helping. A grief counselor can provide comfort and support to individuals who are struggling with loss. 

Essentially, a grief counselor will help you treat your trauma by giving you a safe space for outwardly expressing your emotions. An expert in grief therapy can help you address any lingering feelings of guilt that you might be holding on to that are adding to your experience of grief. 

By working with you through the stages of grief and by providing grief support resources, your counselor’s job is to help you move forward in a healthy way. 

Signs You Should Seek Grief Counseling

If you’re struggling with the loss of a loved one, you may need to consider grief counseling. Here are three signs you should seek a grief counselor. 

• You’ve Just Experienced a Loss: If you’ve just experienced a loss, it’s a good idea to consider grief counseling. Sometimes, we think we have control over our grief journey, only to quickly find out it’s taking over. A loss of a loved one is a life-changing event. It’s best to have the right support from the start so that you can effectively deal with your grief.
• Your Feelings Interfere With Work: It’s normal to feel grief. But when grief and feelings of sadness begin to interfere with other important aspects of life, it may be time to see a grief counselor who can support you.
• You Feel Depressed: If you have mental health concerns or signs of clinical depression, such as intense sadness for extended periods of time or loss of appetite, a grief therapist can help.

Grief Counseling in Orange County and Throughout California

If you need grief counseling in Orange County or Los Angeles County, give me a call. I can help you deal with depression, emotional pain, feelings of guilt, and other complicated grief responses stemming from losing a loved one. Live in another part of California? We also offer phone or video sessions to help you at this challenging time.

Grief is an intense feeling and it might not feel like things will ever get better, but no bereaved person has to face it alone. Let me help you on your grief journey so you can find joy again.

When our hearts are on the line—healing requires us to grieve in our own way—and in our own time. Sometimes just talking things out with a trusted counselor can be all we need to start feeling better. I’m here to meet you right where you are, and to walk this path with you. And, in those moments when you cannot see the light of hope—I can see it for you.

I would enjoy hearing from you.