Grief and Loss Therapy

Conditions Treated

Grief Therapy in Reno, NV

Coming to terms with grief and loss is complex and especially challenging, as everyone experiences and processes their feelings differently. The spectrum of deep emotions and even physical responses are normal, but working through these complicated emotions and pain can be difficult and, if left unresolved, can turn to depression, anger, or feelings of hopelessness. Grief counseling in Reno, NV, can be a powerful way to find a path toward healing after losing a loved one.

Many are familiar with the five stages of grief developed by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in her book, On Death and Dying. The five stages are: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. These are the emotions and the phases some people go through in the grieving process, though it’s important to recognize there is no one or right way to grieve. Grief and loss therapy can help you work through any or all of these stages, as well as other emotions and mental health problems you face.

Grief and Loss

Steps to Heal

At Mind and Body, our Reno-based therapists will work with you on four essential steps to finding healing:

  • Learning to accept the reality of your loss
  • Working through your pain and despair
  • Finding ways to adjust your life after loss
  • Seeking or maintaining connections with your loved ones as you learn how to move forward

The 5 Stages of Grief, in Depth

As mentioned above, the five stages of grief, also known as the Kubler-Ross model or the Five Stages of Loss, were proposed by Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in her 1969 book “On Death and Dying.” The five stages are:

  • Denial: The first stage involves shock and disbelief. When confronted with the loss, individuals may initially refuse to accept the reality of what has happened.

  • Anger: As the denial begins to fade, the reality of the loss sets in, leading to feelings of frustration, resentment, and anger. The individual might direct these emotions towards themselves, family members, others, or even the situation or higher powers.

  • Bargaining: In this stage, the individual may try to negotiate with themselves, a higher power, or even the universe to reverse or mitigate the loss. They may make promises or seek ways to “fix” the situation, hoping to regain what was lost.

  • Depression: As the bargaining attempts prove futile, the person may experience profound sadness and a sense of deep emptiness. This stage is marked by feelings of helplessness, loneliness, and a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable.

  • Acceptance: The final stage does not necessarily imply happiness or completely coping with grief. Instead, acceptance is about acknowledging and coming to terms with the reality of the loss.

Grief and Loss

Overlapping Symptoms

Sometimes grief manifests in other ways, including anxiety, eating disorders, aggression, and trouble sleeping. Psychologists refer to this as “complicated grief,” and the American Psychological Association estimates it affects more than 15% of those grieving the loss of a loved one.

Another important part of your healing will be learning ways to take care of yourself. We commonly see patients neglect their needs or self-sabotage during the grieving process. As you can imagine, this only delays or halts your recovery and ability to move forward. Mind and Body works with you to identify unhealthy coping skills or behaviors and how to address your pain in more nurturing, fulfilling ways.

Children react differently to grief and loss than adults. Children may benefit from grief counseling to help them understand and heal from the confusion and pain of something they may not fully understand. Through grief therapy in Reno, NV, Mind and Body works with children to process their trauma and initiate healing. Our Reno-based therapists can also recognize what we would consider normal, healthy behaviors or more serious concerns we can address.

Grief counseling in Reno is an essential part of the healing process and for coping with the loss of a loved one. At Mind and Body, our grief counselors offer grief and loss therapy to help you with these painful emotions so you can grieve and process your feelings in a healthy, safe, and effective way.

Schedule a Session

If you are interested in learning more about our premier counseling services, call (775) 507-7222.

Mind and Body Counseling Associates
Mind and Body Counseling Associates
Mind and Body Counseling Associates
Mind and Body Counseling Associates