Grief and Loss Counseling in Raleigh, NC—Counselors and Therapists
Losing a loved one can feel like a devastating title wave that sweeps through all of life. One minute, the world is in its place—comfortable and normal. The next minute, grief is rushing through, knocking everything off-kilter.
Alex understands all too well. During a terrible accident, Alex lost his daughter. One week, they were talking about where she might go to college. The next week, Alex and his wife were facing a future without her. Since the accident, Alex feels like no one understands. He knows family and friends are trying to be helpful and supportive. But he keeps thinking no one gets how terrible this is. Alex and his wife are even having trouble connecting.
Alex is experiencing a normal reaction to loss—grief. Often, people associate grief with the death of a friend or family member, but grief can accompany any kind of loss. Because loss is common human experience, so is grief.
Grief is common, but it is also complex and overwhelming. To cope with bereavement, people often seek the help of a grief therapist to help then navigate these tricky waters.
Thriveworks Counseling in Raleigh, NC has grief therapists who have helped many clients regain balance after grief’s destruction has swept through their lives. Rebuilding after loss often takes a lot of support and guidance, and many people have found that a Thriveworks counselor was just who they needed as they healed from loss.
The Causes of Grief
Loss usually triggers grief. The loss can be of anything or anyone that is loved. Grief does not show prejudice: everybody experiences loss, and everybody experiences grief.
A list could never contain all the various situations when people may feel grief. A few of the circumstances that have led people to pursue grief therapy at Thriveworks Counseling in Raleigh are …
- Chronic health challenges
- Becoming an empty-nester
- Career change or job loss
- Death of a precious pet
- Loss of independence (especially with age)
- Divorce or break-up
- A disability or injury
- Moving
- Death of a family member, friend, or other loved one
- A natural disaster
Myths about Grief
Friends and family members usually have good intentions when they try to support the bereaved, but they can unintentionally cause more pain by perpetuating some myths and misunderstandings about grief. Unfortunately, misunderstandings about grief abound.
“Just give it time.”
Time is a key element for healing, but time alone does not heal the deep wounds loss can cause. The wounds need to be tended to and processed. Minimizing the severity of the wound might feel easier in the short-term, but proactively processing the pain is usually the healthier option.
“Maybe you could replace what was lost.”
While the desire to immediately fill a void is understandable, it is not always the right course of action. While there are many healthy paths forward, but in many ways, replacing what was lost is impossible.
“Do you still feel sad after all that time?”
People can try to put a timeline on grief; however, everyone heals at their own rate. Some need a few months. Others need years. Depending upon the loss, both are normal.
Therapy for Grief
Knowing grief myths and misunderstandings is helpful, but knowing how to work through grief is invaluable.
Thriveworks Raleigh, NC grief therapists tailor a treatment plan to each client’s needs. But generally speaking, grief counseling has two objectives: understanding the pain and working for the future.
- Understanding the pain: Most people probably think of grief as sorrow or sadness, but grief can incorporate many different emotions—anger, sadness, relief, confusion, relief, regret, and more. These emotions need to be understood and processed. Loss almost always involves pain, so coming to understand the loss is not always a pleasant process, but many people find healing through understanding.
- Accepting the future: After processing their emotions about a loss, many people are ready to accept the finality of the loss. With acceptance of the loss often comes to accepting a new but fulfilling future. Accepting the future often involves making room for new people or new routines or new perspectives, but it is also where many people find a new happiness.
Grief therapy is not a magical formula or an easy process, but it can be a key part of healing from a loss.
Making an Appointment for Grief Therapy in Raleigh, NC
Are you ready for a professional’s guidance and support as you process a loss? Many people find that reaching out for help is an important step for them to take. The therapists at Thriveworks Counseling in Raleigh have appointments for grief therapy available. If you call to schedule an appointment, here are a few things you can expect.
- Your appointment may be scheduled within 24-hours. If not the next day, you will not have to wait long to see your therapist.
- Weekend and evening sessions are available if you need one.
- We also work with most insurance providers.
Do not journey through grief alone. We are here to help. Call Thriveworks in Raleigh, NC.
