Grief Counseling in New Haven, CT—Grief Therapists and Counselors  

Mandi’s sister had been dealing with cancer for over a year. Mandi went to her chemo sessions, helped her when she got too weak to move, and stayed by her side through thick and thin. When Mandi’s sister passed away a couple of months ago, she fell to pieces. She thinks about her sister all the time and she wears her old jacket daily. Mandi misses her sister so much that she feels like a 50-pound weight is just constantly sitting on her chest.

Have you lost someone you love and feel the same as Mandi? She’s experiencing grief, a common emotional reaction to loss. However, you can grieve more than just the loss of a loved one. Take Jared, for example.

Jared had been working at the same company for five years. He loved his co-workers and boss and frequently hung out with them outside of work. He planned on working at this company for at least another 10 years before he started to look for a managerial position. Unfortunately, Jared was let go due to the COVID-19 pandemic when his company was forced to downsize quickly. Jared feels like his whole world was just ripped from underneath of him. Now, Jared is forced to look for new jobs that don’t have the same great benefits or environment as his last job. He can barely find the motivation to stop watching TV and feels angry about his situation.

Losing someone, or something, is a normal part of the human experience. However, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t make us upset and sometimes angry. Grief is a peculiar process and it doesn’t happen the same way for everyone. Luckily, Thriveworks Counseling in New Haven, CT​ has a team of grief counselors who can help you navigate your emotions throughout the grief process and also work towards acceptance and a happier way of living. If you are interested in speaking with a grief counselor, just call (203) 586-4264.

Symptoms of Grief: The Grieving Process

Grief is a natural response to loss. There are different types of grief and feelings associated with it. There are five stages of grief that can explain feelings that someone may have. How you feel specifically, and how fast you go through the stages, are all unique to you. There is no right or wrong way to grieve someone or something. Here are the five stages of grieve and the symptoms associated with them:

1. Denial: In the first stage of grief, you will feel denial. You may not accept the fact that something has actually happened. For Mandi, she can’t come to terms with the fact that her sister is gone and still feels like she can drive to her house and see her. Jared doesn’t believe that he actually lost his job and thinks that after quarantine, he can just go back to his office.
2. Anger: The second stage of grief is anger. You might feel angry at the person who passed away or angry that you were let go from your job. No matter the situation, it can be hard to accept that this horrible thing happened to you. Some people may push away their loved ones.
3. Bargaining: The third stage of grief is bargaining. This stage is when people are usually the most vulnerable and need the support of their friends and family the most.
4. Depression: Depression is the fourth stage of grief and the stage where reality may really start to settle in. Depression can make everyday things like getting out of bed, going to the grocery store, or answering the phone hard. You have a heavy chest and are overcome with pain.
5. Acceptance: The fifth and final stage of grief is acceptance. This is when you finally can come to terms with the event that has happened, and you can start working towards living a happier life.

We understand that you can never just forget someone or something in your life that was once there. However, it is possible to come to terms with what happened and be able to remember, but still live a full life. When someone gets stuck in one of the stages of grief like depression, it can be hard to come out of it on your own. That’s why we offer grief counseling.

What is Grief Counseling?

As mentioned before, grief counseling is aimed at providing you or your loved one with the support and guidance needed to accept and move on from a loss. Once you have decided to work with a grief counselor at Thriveworks in New Haven, you will be provided with the tools, guidance, and support you need to process your emotions and come out of it feeling better and more at ease. If you have been grieving, you may also be struggling with things such as:

• Loss of appetite
• Anxiety
• Lack of focus
• Panic
• Moodiness/irritability
• Loneliness

You don’t need to go through any of this alone.

Work with a Grief Counselor at Thriveworks Counseling in New Haven, CT

A grief counselor’s mission is to help their client move through the different stages of grief and heal. If you think that you or a loved one could benefit from working with a grief therapist, reach out to Thriveworks Counseling in New Haven, CT.

To get started, schedule your appointment online or by calling (203) 586-4264. We look forward to helping you start working towards a happier life.