Bereavement and Grief Counseling in Alexandria, VA (Franconia)–Counselors and Therapists
When a loved one passes away, the whole world can feel turned upside down. In an instant, everything changes. The grief often feels overwhelming and intense. Often, people feel isolated and alone, just when they need support the most.
Dan understands. During a horrible accident, his world changed forever as he lost his son. One moment, Dan and his son were looking at which college he might attend. The next moment, Dan and his wife were looking at a future without him. Friends and family, of course, mean well and try to say comforting things, but Dan cannot shake the feeling that no one understands. While he still loves his friends and family, these relationships have changed for Dan.
Dan, like many others, is going through grief, a normal reaction to losing someone or something they love. Grief often overwhelms people because it is a complex, even bizarre, experience, and many people find that grief therapy has helped them cope with their bereavement and rebuild a meaningful life after experiencing a loss.
Loss, unfortunately, is a normal part of the human experience, but everybody processes loss differently. Thriveworks Alexandria, VA (Franconia) grief counselors and psychologists understand. We have shepherded many clients as they find healing and rebuild a fulfilling life.
Understanding Grief
People often associate grief with the loss of a loved one, but grief can be triggered by any kind of loss. Unfortunately, loss is a normal human experience and very common. Every person experiences loss of something or someone they love. Some of the reasons clients have sought grief counseling at Thriveworks Alexandria include …
- Loss of a pet
- Break-up or Divorce
- Chronic pain or health challenges
- A disability (permanent or temporary)
- Life transitions
- Death of a loved one
- Loss of independence (especially with age)
- Job loss
Misunderstandings about Grief
Unfortunately, there are a lot of misunderstandings about grief. Well-meaning people may offer thoughts that are intended to help a loved one who is grieving, but often, these misunderstandings can be useless (at best) or hurtful (at worst).
“With time, the pain will ease.”
Healing does require time, but it also requires work and often, a grief therapist. Minimizing emotions, hoping they will go away without processing them may be easier in the short-term, but in the long-term, these feelings will resurface.
“The quicker you just get over this, the better.”
Grief is not something to “just get over.” Moving passed grief means moving through grief. An experienced grief counselor can often guide the bereaved on how to process their feelings in a healthy way.
What Is Grief Therapy?
Misunderstanding about grief are everywhere, but what does healthy grief therapy involve?
The particulars of grief counseling will look different for each person because no one experiences grief in the same way as anyone else. However, generally speaking, the goals of grief therapy are acknowledgment and acceptance:
1) Acknowledgment
In order to move ahead, people may need to step back first. With guidance from a grief therapist, people can reflect upon the loss, what the loss means to them, specify what was lost, and sort through their emotions.
The feelings that may arise during bereavement are usually intense. Grief is not a singular emotion, but it is a complex of feelings wove together. There is no normal emotion to feel during grief, so whatever you may be feeling, it’s ok. Anyone who has lost something or someone they love, may be feeling …
- Sadness
- Anger
- Helpless
- Loneliness
- Regret
- Apathy
- Fatigue
- Relief
- Shock
- Confusion
- Guilt
- Impatient
- Yearning
- Disoriented
- Restless
Acknowledging these emotions and processing them is a big step toward healing. With a grief counselor’s expertise, many people are able to discern what they are feeling and why.
2) Acceptance
The finality of loss is one of the most painful aspects of grief. Accepting reality takes courage, as does building a future in the loss’ reality. Re-establishing a normal life after loss scares many people. Thriveworks grief therapists understand this fear and have helped many clients navigate it and find a new, fulfilling life.
Grief therapy does not offer any magical solution or silver bullets, but many who have journeyed through grief are glad they had a caring and experienced guide who could help them navigate its challenges.
Appointments for Grief Counseling at Thriveworks Alexandria, VA (Franconia)
Would you like help and guidance on your grief journey? The counselors and psychologists at Thriveworks Alexandria, VA (Franconia) are ready to get started.
When people are grieving, everything feels harder, so we have worked to make scheduling grief therapy as convenient as possible. When calling to schedule an appointment, you will speak to a person who will take your information with sensitivity. Our clients can often schedule an appointment within 24 hours of their call. We also offer evening and weekend sessions and work with major insurance providers.
Do you want to process your grief and build a happier tomorrow? If so, the grief therapists at Thriveworks Alexandria, VA are too. Let’s get started.
