Grief and Loss Counseling in Traverse City, MI.

The old saying that "time heals all wounds" is not really true. If grief or loss is not processed, this means talking through the elements of what the loss involved and what areas it affects, then it can become a pocket of unresolved stuff that always pulls you back. "Processing" it allows one to acknowledge the loss, feel bad about it, but then move on. The benefit of doing this is that you can live in freedom, without the past intruding on the present and casting a depressive cloud on everything. Grieving losses is important in order to get back to a place where there is joy in life.

Grief is a natural reaction to any form of loss, especially someone’s death. It goes beyond mere sadness and often evokes feelings of confusion, doubt, guilt, anger, and other complex emotions. ​ There’s no right way to grieve — everyone reacts to loss differently and grieves in their own way. There’s also no normal duration for grief; it may take months or years to accept the loss of a loved one. Nonetheless, most people can indeed recover from loss with the help of a great social support network and healthy coping mechanisms. Grief counseling provides the necessary support for those finding it hard to recover.

Meeting the client where they are in the grief and loss cycle. We usually begin with an explanation into what that cycle looks like to validate and normalize what they are experiencing. From here we can create a safe place for them to move through the process using art activities/mindfulness/any other tools that may be useful to the client as needs arise.

Are you using alcohol, substances, or addictive behaviors to cope with grief and loss? Although they provide relief in the short term, their long-term effects on your relationships and health can make it even more difficult to cope. Through a compassionate non-judgmental approach, I help clients explore their relationship to grief and loss so that they can overcome addictive coping strategies. If you're looking for another way forward, feel free to reach out and we can set up a free consultation to discuss further.