Find Grief Counseling

Grief counseling, also known as grief therapy, is a type of professional support that helps individuals process and adapt to significant loss. It's not about "getting over" your grief—it's about learning how to carry it in a way that doesn't overwhelm your life.

In grief and loss counseling, you might explore:

• The emotional, physical, and cognitive responses to loss
• How your specific grief journey is unfolding
• Unresolved feelings or unfinished conversations
• Coping strategies for managing triggers and milestones
• Ways to preserve connection to the person or thing you've lost
• The rebuilding of identity and purpose after loss

A skilled grief specialist provides not only emotional support but also structure, tools, and perspective to guide you through one of life's hardest seasons.

Grief is a natural response to loss, and everyone experiences it differently. Some people seek support immediately. Others may function well for months before hitting an emotional wall.

You might benefit from therapy for grief if:

• Your grief feels overwhelming or unmanageable
• You're struggling with daily tasks, sleep, or appetite
• You feel numb, stuck, or detached from life
• The loss has triggered anxiety, guilt, or anger
• You're having trouble accepting the reality of the loss
• You feel isolated and like others don't understand
• You're experiencing intrusive thoughts or intense longing
• You've lost your sense of purpose, identity, or faith

Whether your grief is fresh or years old, grief and loss counseling can meet you where you are.

The first session is about creating safety and connection. Your grief therapist will likely begin by asking about:

• The nature of your loss
• How you've been coping emotionally and physically
• What support systems you have in place
• Your goals or hopes for therapy

You don't need to have the "right words" or a clear narrative. Simply showing up is enough.

You may cry, you may feel numb, or you may talk around the loss at first. That's okay. Your therapist will guide the pace, offering validation and compassion—not pressure.

Yes. Different people respond to different formats and therapeutic approaches. Common options include:

Individual Grief Counseling

• One-on-one sessions with a grief counselor
• Focused attention on your unique story
• Private space to explore difficult emotions or trauma
• Often integrates cognitive behavioral therapy for grief, mindfulness, or narrative therapy

Group Grief Therapy

• A supportive environment with others who've experienced similar losses
• Reduces isolation and fosters shared understanding
• May be facilitated by a grief and loss therapist in person or online

Family or Couples Grief Counseling

• Helps family members or partners navigate grief together
• Supports communication, emotional connection, and collective healing

Therapy may also include art therapy, EMDR (especially for traumatic grief), or spiritual counseling—depending on your needs.

To find the right grief therapist:

• Search directories like MiResource.com
• Look for credentials (LCSW, LPC, LMFT, psychologist) and a focus on grief and loss counseling
• Ask about their experience with your type of loss (e.g., child loss, partner loss, suicide, ambiguous grief)
• Consider online grief therapy if travel, energy, or location is a concern
• Reach out for a consultation to see if you feel safe and understood

The right therapist won't rush or pathologize your grief. They'll walk beside you with patience and presence.

Grief affects every part of us—emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Common reactions include:

• Sadness or despair
• Shock or disbelief
• Anger or irritability
• Guilt or regret
• Relief (especially after a long illness or difficult relationship)
• Fatigue or sleep disturbances
• Loss of appetite or overeating
• Forgetfulness or confusion
• Social withdrawal
• Crying spells—or an inability to cry
• Questioning faith or worldview

There's no "normal" way to grieve. Your reaction is valid, even if it doesn't look how you—or others—expected.

There is no timeline for grief. Some people start to feel better after a few months. Others carry intense grief for years. Most people find that the pain softens with time—but the grief never fully disappears.

Factors that influence grief's duration and intensity include:

• The closeness of the relationship
• The circumstances of the loss
• Your personal history and mental health
• The support (or lack of support) around you

Therapy for grief and loss helps you move at your own pace—without rushing or getting stuck.

Absolutely. Some people don't realize they've been living in a state of complicated or unresolved grief until much later. Others may find that a new loss reactivates old, unprocessed pain.

Therapy can help even years after the loss by:

• Processing residual guilt, anger, or avoidance
• Reworking long-held beliefs about loss, worth, or abandonment
• Reconnecting with emotions you buried to survive
• Supporting new life stages (parenthood, retirement, dating again)

It's never too late to seek healing. A grief specialist can help you rediscover meaning and peace—even after time has passed.

Grief and depression can feel similar at times, but they're not the same experience—even though they may share certain symptoms, like deep sadness, sleep disturbances, or loss of appetite.

Grief is a natural response to loss. It often comes in waves and may be closely tied to reminders of the person or situation you've lost. In the midst of grief, you might still find moments of connection, meaning, or even laughter. You may feel sadness, but also gratitude, love, or hope. Grief is painful, but it's typically anchored to a specific event and tends to evolve over time.

Depression, on the other hand, tends to be more pervasive. It can feel like a heavy fog that lingers without clear cause. You might lose interest in nearly everything, struggle with a persistent sense of hopelessness or emptiness, and feel numb rather than just sad. Unlike grief, which often preserves your sense of identity and purpose, depression can make it feel like those things are slipping away.

That said, the two can overlap. Sometimes grief triggers depression—especially if the loss is traumatic, unresolved, or compounded by other stressors. This is where grief counseling or therapy for grief and loss can help. A trained grief therapist can support you in making sense of your emotional landscape, distinguishing between healthy grieving and signs of depression, and getting the care that fits your specific experience.

There's no shame in grieving—or in needing help when it becomes too much to bear on your own.

Yes—grief doesn't always look like sadness. You might feel:

• Numb
• Angry
• Distracted or "fine" some days
• Even joyful or peaceful at times

Grief is not linear, and you don't have to be crying or visibly devastated to be grieving. In fact, moments of relief or even happiness after a loss are normal and healthy. They don't mean you loved less—they mean you're human.

Therapy creates space for the full spectrum of your grief—not just the tearful moments.

Absolutely. Children and teens grieve just as deeply as adults, though their expression may look different—acting out, withdrawal, changes in sleep or school performance.

A grief and loss therapist can help young people:

• Understand and name their feelings
• Ask questions about death or change in an age-appropriate way
• Express grief through play, drawing, or storytelling
• Feel safe and supported in an uncertain world

How to Talk to Kids About Death or Grief:

• Use clear, honest language ("died" instead of "went to sleep")
• Let them guide the conversation with questions
• Validate all emotions, even if they come out as anger or confusion
• Be present—kids grieve in bursts and often revisit the topic over time

Early support from grief counseling services can prevent long-term emotional struggles in children and teens.

Supporting someone in grief requires patience, empathy, and presence—not fixing.

Here's how to help:

• Listen without trying to solve—grief doesn't need answers, just acknowledgment
• Avoid clichés like "everything happens for a reason"
• Say their loved one's name—it helps the person feel remembered
• Offer specific help ("Can I bring dinner Wednesday?" rather than "Let me know if you need anything")
• Be consistent—check in weeks and months after the funeral, not just at the beginning

Sometimes, suggesting grief counseling gently can offer permission for someone to seek deeper support without shame.

Loss often shakes our deepest beliefs—about meaning, justice, spirituality, and identity.

You might ask:

• Why did this happen?
• What's the point of anything now?
• Where is my faith, God, or source of strength?

These questions are not signs of weakness. They are part of the spiritual and existential dimensions of grief.

In therapy for grief and loss, you can:

• Explore your questions without judgment
• Reflect on what still feels true—or what needs to evolve
• Reconnect with purpose, even if it looks different now
• Grieve the loss of faith or worldview alongside your personal loss

Some grief therapists specialize in spiritual grief, while others integrate existential approaches into therapy.

You don't have to carry your grief alone. Whether you're newly bereaved or still feeling the impact years later, compassionate support is here for you. A licensed grief counselor or grief and loss therapist can help you process pain, find meaning, and begin to heal—on your terms, in your time.

Explore grief counseling services near you or try online grief therapy from the comfort of home. There is no wrong way to grieve—but there is help when you're ready.