Therapy for Grief in Los Angeles
Therapy for Grief
Grief is an unavoidable part of being human and something we all experience from time to time. Grief is the name for the emotional response we experience in response to any kind of significant loss in our lives. Unfortunately, because our culture is not great at discussing loss and encourages people to “get over” difficult emotions, it can be hard to cope and see a way forward (not “over”) when you are grieving.
Death is the main type of loss that people are aware of and certainly it can be extremely difficult to lose someone you love. Each type of death is unique depending on the type of relationship you had with the deceased (relative, partner, friend, etc.), the quality of the relationship (very close, complicated, strained, etc.), the length of time you knew the person, the age of the person (an older adult, a peer, a child, or a baby), and the manner in which they died (suddenly, accidental, traumatic, prolonged, terminal illness, etc.).
However, there are many additional kinds of losses that deserve to be recognized, honored, and supported, including:
pet loss
loss of a relationship (breakup, divorce, loss of friendship, familial estrangement, etc.)
the loss of what could have been (what your life might have been like had you not been traumatized for example)
loss of a way of life (due to illness, injury, economic circumstances, moving, etc.)
loss of an opportunity or a dream
What to expect after loss
Grief is a set of unpredictable, ever changing waves of emotion. Some feel like a tsunami, others barely a ripple.
Sometimes it is acutely painful. You might wonder how you will go on and lack the will to eat or get out of bed. You may not be able to stop crying.
Other times it is common to feel numb. You might feel nothing or like you are moving in slow motion or unable to feel. You might wonder what is wrong with you or if it means who/whatever you lost didn’t mean as much to you as you thought it did, not realizing feeling numb is normal.
You might feel shock, denial, or rage. You might laugh inappropriately.
Other times, grief can be like a warm hug in a moment of sadness as you remember the wonderful parts of who/what you lost.
It is common to struggle with daily tasks after a loss, to feel as though others don’t understand, to feel disconnected from others, and either want to be alone or avoid being alone. There is no one way or right way to experience grief.
The truth is, most people cycle through these feelings and ALL of them are normal and deserve to be held with softness and care. Sometimes grief hits them when they least expect it and sometimes moments you anticipate being hard are easier than expected. Grief also tends to surface at times like the anniversary of the loss, the birthday of the deceased, or other times of year or places that remind you of the loss. Whatever holidays and birthdays you celebrate might become impacted by grief, especially the first year after the loss.
Grief therapy after divorce or a breakup
The end of a relationship is a difficult thing to grieve, even if you know it’s for the best. The reason we experience grief in this situation is because the end of a relationship means the loss of a relationship. Even if you eventually become friends with your ex, or if you continue to co-parent, the romantic relationship is no more and this loss must be honored and grieved.
Grieving the end of a relationship can be especially complicated when there is an element of betrayal trauma, such as infidelity or discovering some other kind of significant dishonesty.
It’s also common to feel a mix of emotions, such as relief for an end to the conflict, fear about starting over, sadness about the end of the relationship, and excitement about the future.
Grief therapy for pet loss
Losing a pet can be just as painful, if not more so, than losing a human in your life. For many people, pets have been the sole source of unconditional love and these relationships are pure and far less complicated than human relationships.
And yet this type of loss is often not recognized as being as painful as it is. People who haven’t had a close relationship with a pet may not understand and it’s common to hear messages to the effect of “it was just a pet.”
But “just a pet” can leave a huge hole in your heart and you deserve to be supported in your grief process, the same as a person would who has lost a human family member. As a person who has loved dogs all my life, I understand this, and will walk with you through your grief process in a way that honors your furry (or feathered or scaled) friend.
Therapy for estrangement
Being estranged from a family member is a taboo topic, and yet, a common experience. Unfortunately, we do not get to choose our relatives and sometimes choosing to create distance or leave a relationship with a family member is the only way to protect yourself from harm. And yet, even if you are relieved to get away and know it was the right decision, it is still a loss.
In my experience, the most painful part of this type of loss is the loss of the mother/father/sibling/etc. that you never had, but always wanted, needed, and deserved, and grieving that you never will have this type of relationship with the estranged family member. It is the closing of a door, which always involves grief, even if it also brings peace and safety. There may also be parts of the relationship or the person that you desperately miss, even if you know the relationship was not good for you, similar to the end of a romantic relationship.
Choosing to end a family relationship to protect yourself is a brave and very difficult thing to do, and those who have not witnessed this up close do not understand that it is always a last resort, only done after years of trying to find other ways to survive or fix the relationship. I can support you through this complicated experience with compassion and understanding.
Grieving miscarriage, pregnancy loss, or infertility
The loss of a pregnancy or a baby is a uniquely painful kind of loss. It complicates women’s feelings about themselves as women and their bodies and is a profound loss of something wanted so very badly.
Many women who have a miscarriage or pregnancy loss go on to have children, but it doesn’t erase the loss. Other women experience multiple losses and never have their happy ending. Still others never make it to the stage of having a pregnancy, and have to grieve the loss of the possibility of having a child with their own bodies alone.
You deserve space to grieve these unique and painful losses with a therapist who understands. Reproductive health challenges like these types of loss are one of my specialities.
How can therapy for grief help?
When you are grieving, no matter if the loss was last week or a decade ago, you deserve compassionate care, gentle support, and a safe space to process your feelings without judgment or pressure to move on.
Therapy for grief can help you find meaning in the loss and make sense of it, even if the way you end up making sense of it is that senseless, unfair things happen and it stinks. You will also learn tools to grieve in a healthy way, taking care of yourself as you go. You will be supported in finding ways to honor the loss and learn to give yourself permission to feel your full range of very natural feelings. And, you will find a way to process loss and move forward, not “get over it.”
My approach to therapy for grief is one of empathy, compassion, and dignity. I will help you process your loss in a way that honors it and your emotions and help you develop tools to allow yourself to grieve in a healthy way while also finding a way to continue. As a therapist for women, I have extensive experience in guiding clients through their grief process, no matter the kind of loss you have experienced. I am here for you and can help support you through your unique situation.
Start Therapy for Grief in Los Angeles, CA
Whether you are searching for therapy for grief Well Woman Psychology is here to provide you with a safe, nonjudgmental place. We can help you learn what to expect after an abortion and guide you through any emotions that may arise. As a therapist for women, I am here for you no matter what your circumstances may be. In order to get started it just takes three steps.
Reach out for a free consultation with a Los Angeles grief therapist.
Schedule your first appointment at Well Woman Psychology.
Grieve your loss with guidance, support, and understanding.
Other Services I Offer in California
At my Manhattan Beach, CA-based therapy practice I am dedicated to supporting women and their unique mental health journey. Through online therapy, I provide support to anyone in Washington, Illinois, California, and New York. The mental health services I provide include body image therapy, sex therapy, EMDR, trauma therapy, and PTSD treatment in addition to therapy for relationship issues, miscarriage, pregnancy, and new moms. I look forward to connecting with you as an online therapist and helping your life a healthy and happy life.