Grief & Loss

Losing a loved one can be a life-changing experience. At times, it can feel like a heavy weight that is too much to bear. Life might feel like it has been turned upside down making things that used to be easy to manage, overwhelmingly difficult. Perhaps you find yourself repetitively reviewing memories, yet still coming up short when it comes to finding understanding or being able to make sense of what has happened. Often unresolved matters, feelings, or problems can feel excruciating now that there is no way to communicate with the person that is no longer around.  It can be very hard to accept what has happened. It can even feel like a part of you has died, that you are no longer the same person, or no longer have the same life.

Unfortunately, the culture we live in does not prepare us to handle death and loss. As a society, we tend to turn away from death, only to be blind-sided when it inevitably happens. To make matters worse, others we may turn to for support may be unprepared to help because they haven’t learned to face their own issues around death and therefore aren’t comfortable in the face of our pain. It can feel taboo or we might worry that we will burden others if we share what we are going through. Having a space to be supported to feel the feelings and find new ways of looking at your loss can make all the difference.

Anticipatory Loss

If a loved one is dying, it might seem best to push away thoughts of their coming absence and focus instead on the time left with them. It is certainly understandable to want to be present in the time you still have with them. And it makes sense that you might be focused on being there for them or even busy responding to caretaking demands. But who is there for you in this time? Getting a head start with processing the loss can make a big difference in adjusting when it happens. Perhaps there are things left to communicate while your loved one is still here, and you might benefit from help sorting how to do this given the situation.  In general, people feel less broadsided when they have had a chance to work with feelings and important communications before the bigger reality of loss hits. I would be honored to help you in this time. Your needs are important in this difficult stage of life.