Are you grieving a loss not related to death?
Therapy for living loss in PA and DE
Loss is present in big and small ways in every human experience.
While our society usually only thinks of loss as the physical death of someone, there are actually many losses that are ambiguous, continuous, intangible, or unclear, and create their own kind of grief experiences — even if the loss is something we expected, planned or hoped for.
These living losses are often unrecognized or unacknowledged by others, which can create a sense of isolation, confusion and sadness for grievers.
Living losses can be related to:
Addiction
Adoption
Chronic illness, including dementia and cancer
Divorce and relationship endings
Infertility and pregnancy loss
Job loss
Life transitions (such as, adjusting to an “empty nest” or retirement)
How is living loss impacting you?
When your life is changed by a living loss, grief can look and feel like many different things — not just sadness.
Sometimes grief shows up as anger or irritability. You may lack the patience you previously possessed, or you may resent others who are living their lives seemingly oblivious to how your world has changed.
Sometimes grief impacts your ability or interest in connecting with other people. It may feel as if you’re just going through the motions, feeling disengaged from life, or you may no longer feel as though you can relate to others.
Grief can also make you question your purpose or re-evaluate what life means to you.
Whatever grieving a living loss feels like for you now, I’m here to support you and help you find your way forward.
Therapy for living loss can help you…
Honor your unique losses
Understand the important meaning and impact of these losses in your life
Identify and name your feelings
Discover your emotional needs and how to articulate what you need at this time
Learn healthier ways to cope
Find new sources of hope
FAQs
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Sometimes unprocessed grief due to living losses can feel similar to depression or can “come out sideways” in unexpected ways like anger, irritability, or unhealthy ways of coping. It can help to talk about it. Learn more.
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As a licensed professional counselor, I can’t prescribe medication.
Please don’t be discouraged when I say, the only cure for grief is grieving. Medication can help with a multitude of ailments, but there is no pill to take away the experience of grief. While it’s uncomfortable and unpleasant and intense, and maybe even all consuming, there is nothing wrong with you when you experience the physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual aspects of grieving.
**Of course, if grieving is adversely affecting your appetite and your sleeping patterns, it’s always a good idea to talk with your primary care physician to see if medication would be appropriate to help you.
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The first step is to schedule a no-obligation, free 15-minute consultation to see how I might be able to help you at this time. Learn more.