Grief comes in many shapes and forms. If we define grief as what once was, but is no longer, the scope of grief opens.

First of all, we would like to extend our condolences. Grief is the emotion that goes with loss. Grief is a powerful emotion; it is the emotion you experience when someone or something that you love is no more.

experiences that may benefit from grief counseling:

Death of a loved one
Loss of a meaningful relationship
Loss of a friendship
Loss of a child
Miscarriage
Terminal Illness Diagnosis
Loss of health
Unemployment
Loss of financial stability
A miscarriage
Retirement
Death of a pet
Dreams not working out
Divorce/Separation
Acquired Disability
Moving
Loss of anything that you value

The greater the significance someone or something held in your life, the greater the grief will be. Everyone experiences grief in their own way. Grief is unique to the individual. Some may experience grieving close to the event and others may grief through waves over time when different feelings and memories arise.

Grief changes us. Loss changes us. Our lives are not the same as they were before the loss entered our life. That is worth sitting with and being validated.

What are some of the ways grief shows up?

· Feeling alone

· Wanting to isolate

· Mood changes

· Vacillating emotions

· Sleeping too little or too much

· Not wanting to be alone

· Headaches and tension

· Stomach discomfort

· Questioning the meaning of life

· Feeling angry that life keeps moving on

· Crying more often

· Difficulty making decisions

· Feeling angry and confused

· Irritability

· Denial

· Relief

· Acceptance

Experiencing grief impacts how you view and experience the world. When you grieve, you’ll experience a myriad of emotions. There is not right way to grieve and there is no timeline.

The more difficult the relationship was the more complicated the grief process is as well. There are relationships in our lives that are harmful and when that relationship is no more and/or the person has passed away there can be relief that the harm is no more. There is also grief that reconciliation and or healing of the relationship is also no more.

As we have navigated 2020, we have all been confronted with grief and loss in ways previously unimaginable. The pandemic has changed us and we are still walking through the effects and naming what we have lost and what we still have. There is much to be grieved as we move away from 2020 and all that the year held for all of us.

How does grief therapy help?

Grief is an ongoing process, there are times that we feel okay and then it all comes rushing back. Grief is a process of adjusting to the loss and making meaning out of life again. Grief is complex and touches every area of our lives. Experiencing grief impacts how you view and experience the world. By working with a counselor you can process how the grief is impacting the various areas of your life. We would love to sit with you in this process of grieving and loss. We invite you into telling your stories, experiencing your emotions receiving compassion, care and validation. You are worth grieving, you are worth acknowledging what once was is no more.

our grief and bereavement counselors in kirkland are available for in-person therapy. We also offer online grief and loss therapy for all of washington state.