No words can describe the pain someone feels when they have lost a parent, a child, or a spouse. Grief counseling plays an important role in the grieving process. It helps to work through each step and restore some level of normalcy to life as it was before.
What is Grief Counseling?
Grief counseling is a form of talk therapy that focuses on emotional, physical, cognitive, and social responses to a loss. Because each individual is unique, grief is not experienced the same by everyone. Your counselor will take time getting to know you and understanding your situation. They will then tailor sessions to meet your specific needs. Ultimately, the goal is to process through all stages of grief. Again, because everyone reacts differently to loss, every stage of grief may not be experienced by every single person.
Stages of Grief
The most commonly known and accepted stages of grief were developed by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. Let’s take a closer look at each of the five stages.
- Denial – Commonly known as shock, this stage helps with surviving the loss kind of like a defense mechanism.
- Anger – Dealing with the “why me” or “this isn’t fair.”
- Bargaining – The stage where you make a deal with God or say things like, “If only, I promise…”
- Depression – Feelings of hopelessness and sadness.
- Acceptance – Getting to a point where you understand life can go on beyond the loss of your loved one.
Common symptoms of grief that accompany these stages listed above include crying, detachment or isolating from family or friends, trouble sleeping, frustration, and even physical symptoms like headaches. If you are experiencing emotional or physical symptoms following the loss of a loved one, it may be time for you to try grief counseling.
Choose Garrett Counseling
Our compassionate counselors have the experience you deserve. To serve you better, we offer online and in-person appointments with convenient hours. Fill out the online information form here, or call (256) 239-5662 today.