Grief and loss counseling helps people grieve difficult losses including the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the end of a relationship. It helps people navigate their grief process and eventually accept, understand, and move forward from their loss. Thriveworks grief therapists in Dover, DE have specific experience, training, and skills that enable them to best support grieving individuals.
If you have recently experienced an event like the death of a loved one, a breakup or divorce, the loss of a job, or another major life change, then you may want to seek grief and loss counseling. Grief can be caused by many experiences and events, so if you feel that you are having trouble moving on from a certain event or find that it is still impacting your life and functioning, grief and loss counseling can help you process it more effectively so that you can move on and once again find fulfillment and satisfaction in your life.
“Grief is not a disorder, a disease, or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve.” -Earl Grollman
There is little that compares to the pain of losing a loved one. The emotions are so intense and mixed, it can feel like you’ll explode. Or maybe you don’t feel much of anything, just an icy numbness and the resignation that everything has changed.
Grief doesn’t have to be because of a death, although that is common. Any form of loss of someone you held close to you can be devastating. Thriveworks Dover is here for you during this time of pain, trauma, and loneliness. You don’t have to heal from this alone.
What is Grief and Loss Therapy?
Although painful, grieving is natural and healthy. It gets difficult when it spirals out of control. When it does, a Dover counselor can be of help. Many researchers believe there are 5 stages of grief, although they can vary slightly based on the unique person:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
These are less than flattering descriptions, we know. But Thriveworks Dover stresses that it is ok to be angry about a loss and slipping into a depressive phase does not make you weak. You lost someone who means a lot to you, and grieving can be a way to honor their memory while we shift into our new way of life.
Easier said than done. Many grieving people get “stuck” on that shift. They find they can’t move past one or more of the stages of grief and therefore never fully heal. It’s ok to have trouble moving on, and it’s ok to reach out for professional help to get to that place of health and love where you can remember your loved one with fondness and a gentle smile.
Thriveworks Dover does not want to make you forget your loved one, our focus is on getting you to a healthy mental and emotional state so we can properly honor and treasure their memory. Some strategies we will use together to get there include:
- Art and music therapy
- Exercise therapy
- Adapting to a new role
- Managing changes in behavior or schedule
- Developing new relationships or rekindling old ones with friends and family
- Cultivating a new way of life if necessary
- Talk therapy
Of course, these are only a few of the options we can explore. Thriveworks Dover believes in a client-first practice, where you will be the focus and everything we do is engineered to your unique personality, goals, and experiences.
Do I Need Grief Therapy?
Losing someone will hurt regardless of who you lost, how you lost them, or if you get stuck in the grieving process. So, in a process where tumultuous and high emotions are normal, how do you know it’s time to seek professional help? It’s a hard question, that’s for sure. Know that there is never a problem that is too small or big for our Dover counselors. If you aren’t happy with your life, we want to provide the professional guidance that will help you get to where you do want to be. Here are some signs that you might need help:
- Suicidal thoughts
- Unrelentless depression
- Inability to find joy in activities and people you previously did
- A small or weak support system
- Avoiding friends or family
- Fear or apprehension over forming new relationships
- Numbness of emotion
- Finding more things to keep yourself busy and distracted
- Sudden changes in behavior (like anger, sleep or eating patterns)
- Inability to move on- if it’s been months and you still feel this way, it may be time to seek relief through professional counseling
It’s a scary and hard action to pick up the phone and call a counselor, and we thank you for your strength and courage to do so. When you are ready, Thriveworks Dover is here to walk beside you towards healing and health.
