Online Therapy

Grief Counseling

Does this sound like you?

If you’re dealing with a loss, you know how hard it can be. While the emotional pain we experience after a loss is a natural response, it’s usually not easy to cope with. We’re often left feeling overwhelmed, alone, and uncertain about how to begin moving forward.

Working with a grief counselor can help. Your therapist will create a safe space for you to process your emotions and walk alongside you as you learn how to live with your loss. While grief counseling can’t remove your loss, it can ease the suffering and isolation that many grieving people experience.

Schedule a Free Consult
Contact Us
Image of a woman in a red dress, sitting gracefully outside, her eyes fixated on the sky above. Her thoughtful gaze upward suggests a sense of contemplation while managing her grief with Grief Counseling.
Image of a woman standing amidst the woods, her face lifted toward the sky. Her eyes are fixated on the sky above, the natural surroundings create a sense of tranquility while managing her grief with Grief Counseling.

Understanding loss & the grieving process

You are unique and your situation and grief are also unique to you. However, grief and loss are universal human experiences. Exploring your grief and loss can help you better understand your emotions and help you heal.

Schedule a Free Consult

What is loss?

For many people, grief is associated with the loss of a loved one. While death is certainly a major loss, it’s not the only kind we may experience. There are several other life experiences that can lead to feelings of grief. Here are just a few examples of the different types of loss.

  • Death of a family member, pet, or other loved one
  • A breakup or divorce
  • Losing a job or your financial security
  • Moving to a new home
  • Being diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness
  • Loss of a role or identity, such as parents whose children have recently moved out

 

Any form of loss can lead to a grief reaction. Even if the life change we experience is “positive” (such as moving to a new city for an awesome career opportunity), we can still experience grief.

When dealing with loss, it’s important to allow ourselves to embrace whatever emotions arise. Check out my blog post on coping with loss for more tips on how to take care of yourself during this challenging time.

Schedule a Free Consult
Image of a heartfelt side portrait of a woman embracing her dog in a tender hug, gently smiling, creating a moment of deep connection between them with a sense of comfort and solace in the presence of her loyal friend while managing her grief with Grief Counseling.
Image of a heartfelt side portrait of a black man, his face illuminated by the soft light, looking up to the sky with his eyes closed in deep contemplation while managing his grief with Grief Counseling.

What is grief?

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), grief is the emotional pain that comes after experiencing a loss. While this looks different from person to person, many people experience similar feelings, such as sadness, anxiety, and confusion.

While grief may never disappear completely, it tends to taper off after a while. However, some people experience something known as complicated grief. With complicated grief (also known as prolonged grief disorder), the intensity of grief lingers long after the loss has occurred. This can make it difficult for a person to live their daily life.

Schedule a Free Consult

Some symptoms of prolonged grief disorder include disbelief surrounding the loss, intense emotional pain, a sense of meaninglessness, and even suicidal thoughts.

If you are in severe emotional distress and need immediate assistance, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or visit your local emergency room.

No matter which type of grief you’re experiencing, know that you deserve support. Despite being part of the human experience, grief is still incredibly painful. Working with a grief therapist can help you make sense of your emotions and understand how to care for yourself as you navigate loss.

Schedule a Free Consult
Image of a woman standing in a field, holding up a plant with both hands. Her eyes are gently closed, and a serene smile graces her lips, reflecting while managing her grief with Grief Counseling.
Image of a side portrait of a man with his eyes closed, his face lifted toward the sky in a moment of deep introspection and contemplation while managing his grief with Grief Counseling.

Five stages of grief

Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross pioneered the theory of the five stages of grief. According to her theory, the stages of grief are

  1. Denial
  2. Anger
  3. Bargaining
  4. Depression
  5. Acceptance


This theory was originally created to describe the lived experience of patients who were diagnosed with a terminal illness. Some people find these stages helpful in understanding the grieving process. However, it’s important to understand that they were not intended to be a step-by-step formula for how to grieve.

Schedule a Free Consult

Our approach to grief counseling

Loss is often an incredibly vulnerable experience, and it can be difficult to reach out for support. Whether you’re coping with the loss of a loved one, a piece of your identity, or another form of loss, our therapists are here to support you.

Each person’s experience with grief and loss is different, and we want to help you grieve in your own way. Together, we’ll create a customized treatment plan that’s tailored to your unique situation in order to give you the most effective support possible.

Building a strong therapeutic relationship is another cornerstone of our practice. We want to help you feel safe expressing any emotions you have about your loss. Sadness, anger, confusion, relief, joy, and even numbness are all welcome in our virtual therapy room.

Grief counseling isn’t about forcing you to “move on” or “get over” your loss. Rather, it’s about understanding and embracing your feelings. By fully processing your emotions, you can learn how to live with your loss in a healthy, meaningful way.

Schedule a Free Consult
Image of a woman looking up towards the left with a gentle smile on her face. The soft light creates a rainbow glare on the lower left side of the photo, her eyes and expression express a moment of introspection while managing her grief with Grief Counseling.

FAQ

FAQs About Grief Counseling

Reaching out for professional help is daunting for many people. Here, we’ve answered some common questions about grief counseling in hopes of making the process feel more accessible. However, if you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us directly.

For those unfamiliar with the mental health world, it can be difficult to understand the different types of therapists and their qualifications. Here are a few examples of the kinds of mental health professionals who may provide grief counseling:

  • Licensed mental health counselor
  • Marriage and family therapist
  • Licensed clinical social worker
  • Psychologist

While the requirements for each professional are slightly different, all must meet rigorous standards in order to provide therapy. It’s best to check with your therapist to ask what training and experience they gave providing grief counseling.

Your therapist’s background and education are important, but it’s also essential to find someone who you feel comfortable talking with. The therapeutic relationship is one of the most important parts of counseling.

There are many different therapeutic approaches that can be used to help people cope with grief and loss. For example, we use emotionally-focused individual therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as other methods.

In one study with children, grief counseling was provided in a play-based format. Other therapists may use approaches such as narrative therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, or even art therapy.

Aside from individual therapy, some people also find benefit from group therapy or informal support groups. There is no singular way to heal from loss, so it’s important to find what works best for you.

Grief counseling can give you the support you need during this difficult time.

If you feel stuck after experiencing loss, know that you’re not alone. Many people struggle to cope with grief, and it is possible to heal. Our team of grief therapists in Orlando can support you in working through your feelings and learning new ways of coping.

We encourage you to reach out today for a free consultation. Together, we can help you find hope and meaning after loss.

Schedule a Free Consult
Image side portrait of a black woman, her head slightly turned, and her expression filled with hope while managing her grief with Grief Counseling.

OTHER THERAPY SERVICES OFFERED WITH ALIGNED SELF

Our team of caring therapists is happy to offer a variety of mental health services. We offer online therapy in FL, MI, TX and NY.

You can start your therapy journey alongside a trained grief counselor. Or, you can learn more about our other services, including anxiety therapy, couples counseling, relationship therapy, therapy for entrepreneurs, therapy for Black and Indigenous People of Color, and LGBTQIA+ Affirmative therapy.

We would be honored to support you in learning new coping methods empowering you to manage future grief symptoms. You can also read more by visiting our blog, FAQ, and our about page.

Schedule a Free Consult

How Can We Help?

Please share any questions or comments on the form below.