Grief and Loss
Conditions Treated
Grief and Loss
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 left unresolved can turn to depression, anger, or feelings of hopelessness. Grief counseling can be a powerful way to find a path towards healing.
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 counseling can help you work through any or all of these stages, as well as other emotions you face.
Steps to Heal
At Mind and Body, our therapists will work with you on four essential steps to finding healing:
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 and children may benefit from grief counseling to help them understand and heal from the confusion and pain of something they may not fully understand. Mind and Body works with children to process their trauma and initiate healing. Our therapists can also recognize what we would consider normal, healthy behaviors or more serious concerns we can address.
Grief counseling and therapy for loss are an essential part of the healing process. At Mind and Body in Reno, our therapists are trained to help you with these painful emotions so you can grieve and process your feelings in a healthy, safe, and effective way.
