Grief



What Is Grief?

Grief is a natural response to loss, but it can take many forms and doesn’t follow a linear path. It can manifest as sadness, anger, confusion, or even physical symptoms like fatigue and loss of appetite. While many people associate grief primarily with the death of a loved one, it can arise from any significant loss — a relationship, infertility, a job, a life transition, or the loss of a long-held dream.

The Stages of Grief
A Non-Linear JourneyThough everyone grieves differently, many people experience some form of the stages of grief, as originally identified by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross:
  1. Denial: Initial shock may lead to a sense of disbelief, protecting you from the full intensity of the loss.
  2. Anger: You may feel frustrated or angry — at the situation, at yourself, or even at those around you.
  3. Bargaining: Thoughts of “What if…?” may emerge as you try to make sense of the loss.
  4. Depression: Sadness, loneliness, and a deep sense of despair often come with the weight of loss.
  5. Acceptance: Over time, acceptance may bring some measure of peace, even as you continue to adjust.

It’s essential to remember that these stages aren’t a checklist. You might experience some stages, skip others, or move back and forth between them.

Types of Grief

Everyone’s grief is unique, and it can show up in different ways:
  • Anticipatory Grief: Grieving in advance for an impending loss, such as a terminal illness diagnosis.
  • Complicated Grief: When grief is prolonged or particularly intense, sometimes leading to challenges in daily life.
  • Secondary Losses: Experiencing grief for the multiple ways life changes after a loss, such as financial or social implications.
  • Disenfranchised Grief: When society may not recognize the loss, such as in cases of miscarriage or the end of a relationship.​

Understanding the type of grief you’re experiencing can be helpful in navigating your path to healing.

How Grief Counselling Can Help

Grief counselling offers a safe, supportive space to process your emotions, remember your loved one or loss, and discover pathways to healing. At True Living Counselling & Coaching, our grief counselling approach is compassionate, non-judgmental, and personalized to meet your unique needs. Here’s how grief counseling can support you:
  1. Providing a Safe Space to Express Emotions
    Grief can bring up complex emotions, and it’s common to feel a mixture of sadness, guilt, anger, and even relief. In counselling, you have a space to express these feelings without fear of judgment.
  2. Guiding You Through Your Unique Grieving Process
    We understand that everyone grieves differently, and there’s no “right” way to experience or express loss. Our therapists work with you to explore your feelings, memories, and experiences while helping you move forward at a pace that feels right for you.
  3. Offering Tools to Cope with Difficult Days
    Grief often comes in waves, sometimes when you least expect it. Through counselling, we help you build coping strategies to handle these challenging moments, from grounding exercises to mindfulness techniques that can bring you comfort.
  4. Rebuilding Your Life
    Loss often reshapes our lives in unexpected ways, and grief counselling can support you in finding new meaning and purpose as you navigate these changes. This doesn’t mean “getting over” your loss but rather learning to live in a world that has changed.

When to Seek Grief Counselling

Grieving is natural, but there may be times when additional support is beneficial. Consider grief counselling:
  • You feel “stuck” in your grief and unable to move forward.
  • Grief interferes with daily activities, relationships, or physical health.
  • You find yourself avoiding reminders of your loss or becoming isolated.
  • You’re struggling with complicated or prolonged grief.
  • You feel guilty, hopeless, or experience other emotions that are hard to process on your own.

Grief counselling provides a space to honour your experience, helping you cope in healthy ways and allowing the pain to gradually soften as you find new ways to engage with life.

At True Living Counselling & Coaching, we’re here to guide you with compassion and understanding through the grieving process. Our experienced therapists are trained to help you navigate complex emotions, honour your loss, and find hope in the midst of pain.