Death & Bereavement

Grief Is Not a Problem to Fix

Bereavement is the state or period after losing someone, grief is the internal emotional response (feelings like sadness, anger, numbness), and mourning is the outward, cultural expression of that grief (rituals, crying, talking). These are important distinctions.

Here is an analogy that may be helpful (I love analogies and use them frequently with clients!)

  • Bereavement is like being in a dark room (the loss)

  • Grief is the feeling of being lost and scared in that room.

  • Mourning is lighting candles (rituals) or calling a friend (talking to a therapist ) to navigate the darkness. 

As you move through this painful time, you may feel misunderstood by those around you. People may expect you to be strong, stay busy, or be grateful for what you do have. Though they may mean well, advice like this can leave you feeling unseen, unheard or pressured to grieve in silence as you may feel you are not “doing grief right”.

The pain of loss can be magnified by feeling alone in your grief, not having a place to mourn.

Grief is not something to get over. It is something to be carried, understood, and integrated.

Grief is not for fixing.
Grief is for feeling.

A Gentle Place for Grief

Grief can feel overwhelming, isolating, and impossible to explain, especially when life no longer looks the way it once did. Whether you’re grieving the death of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, divorce, illness, infertility, or a major life transition, you are not alone.

How Bereavement Counseling Can Help

Bereavement counseling offers a steady, compassionate space where your loss is honored without expectation or agenda.

In counseling, we can focus on:

  • Making room for grief without being overwhelmed by it

  • Speaking openly about the person you lost and what they meant to you

  • Processing complicated emotions such as anger, guilt, or relief

  • Understanding how grief shows up in your body, thoughts, and relationships

  • Learning how to stay connected to what was lost while continuing to live fully

The goal is not closure. The goal is meaning, integration, and support.