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Grief is the natural emotional response we have to the loss of something or someone that has been important to us. This loss might be the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or any significant change where we feel the absence of living without something that was once a part of our everyday life. While the grieving process is a universal experience, it is also a natural process intrinsic to human experience, allowing individuals to confront emotional pain and adapt to loss.
Each person’s experience with grief is unique and influenced by many factors, such as their culture, support system and the nature of the loss. However, there are some common grief reactions which impact the way that people feel emotionally, physically, and mentally:
– Emotionally: Grief encompasses many different emotions, which can often feel intense and all-consuming. These intense feelings can include depression, sadness, anger, guilt, and fear, especially during events such as divorce or the death of a loved one. Sometimes, grief begins with shock and disbelief. Some may find it difficult to accept the reality of their loss, experiencing denial, numbness, and/or detachment from their surroundings. As time progresses, other feelings such as sadness, anger, resentment, guilt and even relief can emerge.
– Physically: Physical symptoms can also accompany grief. These may include fatigue, body aches, changes in appetite or disruptions in sleep. Grief can negatively impact physical health, leading to poor sleep quality, unhealthy dietary choices, and lack of physical activity. People experiencing grief are also more likely to become sick due to having a lowered immune system. Some people may also experience physical sensations associated with the fight/flight response (which occurs to prepare us for defence when we are faced with a stressor), with hyper-alertness, shortness of breath, feeling “frozen” and chest pain as some examples.
– Mentally: Cognitive impacts might involve difficulties concentrating or making decisions. Some people may also find that they react to information much slower than usual.
Seeking support from a mental health professional during periods of grief can be highly beneficial in helping you cope and adjust to the changes you are experiencing. Our clinicians can provide you with a warm, safe space to navigate the complex emotions associated with your loss, and can offer comfort, clarity, and practical strategies for managing your grief. Bereavement support helps individuals navigate their feelings of loss with tailored therapeutic approaches.
Our clinicians, who are experts in clinical psychology, will work with you in the initial sessions to explore your own understanding of your grief. Once a clearer picture of your main goals around healing and the grieving process are established, our clinicians will collaborate with you to create a plan for your sessions based on one or more evidence-based therapeutic approaches for grief and loss. This may include the following:
Complicated grief can develop if grief is not properly addressed, leading to negative mental health outcomes.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
While using CBT, your clinician may focus on supporting you in reframing any negative beliefs and thought patterns around the grief you are experiencing, and help you to foster a more balanced perspective on your loss. You may also learn coping strategies focussed on managing your emotional and behavioural responses towards grief in helpful ways.
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
ACT is based on promoting acceptance of difficult feelings rather than struggling against them. Guided by ACT principles, your clinician may work with you to recognise the responses that are associated with grief without judgment. Additionally, this therapeutic approach encourages living a meaningful life that is aligned with your personal values despite the presence of grief, and may support you in meaning-making after loss.
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)
Your clinician may use CFT to support you through the grieving process by focussing on building self-compassion, where you will be guided in developing an empathetic and forgiving attitude towards their own suffering. CFT also addresses feelings of guilt or self-criticism, and promotes self-care practices.
Mindfulness-based therapies
Mindfulness-based therapies assist individuals in managing grief by fostering present-moment awareness and non-judgement of their emotions. Your clinician may work through some different mindfulness techniques with you in session, such as meditation and breathing exercises. This approach helps to reduce stress and emotional reactivity, and allows individuals to sit with their grief without becoming too overwhelmed.
Our counselling services offer specialized support for dealing with grief and loss. Grief and loss counselling is crucial in helping individuals cope with the emotional turmoil associated with loss.
A grief and loss counsellor creates a supportive environment where clients can process their emotions related to grief and loss. A grief counsellor provides emotional support during the grieving process, helping to alleviate the burden of grief and aid in achieving personal growth after loss.
Life transitions, such as empty nesting or retirement, can also be addressed in therapy, providing support during significant changes.
Professional support is essential in navigating challenges like grief, anxiety, and relationship issues. There is no right or wrong way to grieve or seek therapy, as the process is highly personal and varies from person to person.
If you or a loved one might be experiencing grief and loss, especially after a significant loss, our Melbourne based psychologists and trauma therapists are here to help. Seeking support during such challenging times is crucial. Get in touch with our friendly reception team to book an appointment. Contact us by:
We are available for both face to face and telehealth sessions.
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Let’s discuss your needs and match you with the right Melbourne psychologist.
Let’s discuss your needs and match you with the right Melbourne psychologist
Acknowledgement of Country
Cova Psychology acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where our Melbourne CBD practice is located—the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong/Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, as well as the Elders of other Aboriginal communities in Melbourne and beyond.
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We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which the practice is located. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and the Aboriginal Elders of other communities who may be here today.
