To be human is to know loss at some point. This is an experience we share with all of humanity, yet grief is as varied and unique as each individual. Grief can be messy and unbearable. It throws you into a dark tunnel and threatens to keep you there. It can be complex and come with a wide range of feelings that wash over you unannounced, leaving you disoriented and overwhelmed. Sometimes you are sad and full of sorrow. Other times you are angry or feel guilty – or maybe even relief, and then guilt for feeling relief. Grief counseling can help you navigate the overwhelm as you mourn.
This deep ache is common, yet incredibly personal and distinctive to you.
It can happen after the loss of a beloved person, or a pet, estrangement of a relationship, or ambiguous losses that can come with life transitions. Grief counseling can help you weather the waves when they are most intense. It can also help to keep you from getting lost at sea by finding ways to release and heal. To remember and honor the loss, while continuing to move forward in the ways that feel most authentic to you.
If it feels like your mourning is deep and complex, grief counseling at ME-Therapy can help.
What if you think you should be “over it” by now? That the grief “shouldn’t” feel as intense anymore? The challenging thing about grief is that it is on its own timeline – regardless of when the outside world thinks you should be back to “normal.” Grief demands your attention in knowing that something cherished has shifted. The timeline will be just as unique as your experience of the grief. I often describe the twelve months following a loss as the “year of firsts.” If you have lost a loved one, you will navigate new territory all the time that used to include that important person. Holidays will remind you of the depth of loss, but so can various traditions you may have had with that person.
What about after that first year?
Does the grief magically dissipate? No, grief doesn’t quite work that way. A friend once shared, it doesn’t get “better” so to speak, it gets “different.” The loss will still be there, an impact felt, but the experience of the grief will evolve. The waves lessen, or perhaps our familiarity with how to ride them evolves. Right now what may launch streams of tears and consuming thoughts may one day bring a twinge of nostalgia and sadness. Both honor the importance of what was lost. There is no right or wrong way to miss someone.
Grief counseling can be a supportive place to process the “firsts” or to find support years later.
What does grief counseling look like? There is not a standard step-by-step process because each person’s experience of grief will be nuanced. Grief counseling can look like a space to hold all of the feelings – especially if you feel like you have to “hold it all together” throughout the week. It can be a place to share the complicated feelings that do not feel “acceptable” in a non-judgmental space. It can involve sharing memories with laughter and joy.
Mourning and the feelings that can tag along are often uncomfortable to feel.
By participating in grief counseling, you can dedicate time to feel those feelings. You can gain insight and understanding when the loss feels complicated. When days feel lighter, you can authentically lean in and enjoy the moment. When an unexpected wave of grief happens after days, maybe even months, of feeling lighter – there is room for that too. Mourning can also affect your appetite, your sleep habits, or your ability to function in daily life.
Sometimes grief counseling looks like helping you find manageable ways to care for yourself as you grieve.
The unpredictable nature of grief can cause anxiety and bring up existential questioning. While this is normal, you can feel knocked off balance by all of the emotion. The ME-Therapy therapists desire to assist you individually, as a couple, or as a family move through the grief. To find ways to create a new normal that recognizes the loss of something important and embrace meaningful steps forward.
Ready to Start Therapy to Help You Navigate Grief in Florida?
Beginning the journey back to peace is easier than most of the things we’re all doing right now! Grief counseling does not have to wait. You can get the mental health support you need with a skilled therapist in St. Pete or with online therapy in Florida. To begin, just follow these simple steps:
- Contact us to request an appointment
- Meet with one of our experienced therapists.
- Get support & begin your journey toward mental wellness & connection today!
Other Mental Health and Wellness Services at ME-Therapy
Therapy can take many forms. At our St. Petersburg therapy & wellness clinic, we want to will help your mind but also want to feed your soul. This means our therapists and wellness team take a holistic approach to your wellbeing. In order to do this, our therapists offer individual therapy for women, therapy for men, trauma therapy, therapy for anxiety, and holistic, spiritual therapy. In addition to standard marriage counseling & couples therapy, our relationship therapists also provide sex therapy, affair recovery counseling and poly-friendly kink aware therapy.
All of these services can be provided in-person at our St. Petersburg, FL counseling clinic or anywhere in the state with online therapy in Florida. If you have any questions about therapy, please visit our FAQ page! Also, you may consider reading more of our blog posts to get to know us a bit better. Finally, thank you for allowing ME-Therapy to be a part of your life journey!
