Grief Counseling Near Me

Most people will experience feelings of grief in their lifetime, either as a direct result of a trauma that they experience themselves, or something that happens to another person or even a community. While grief is normal, it can be debilitating in some cases and inhibit a person’s ability to live a healthy and full life. At Life Insight, our therapists offer grief counseling near me that gets results and is personalized to clients’ needs. To learn more about grief counseling and how to get started, reach out to us directly by phone at your convenience or send us a message online. 

Common Causes of Grief

Grief is not the same in all cases, and what causes one person to have feelings of extreme grief may not affect another person in the same way. With that in mind, common causes of grief include:

• Severe illness or the severe illness of a loved one
• Death of a loved one
• Divorce or separation
• The loss of a child
• Traumatic events, such as natural disasters, accidents, or acts of violence or sexual assault
• Loss of opportunity
• Severe injury
• Loss of a friendship

The above list is not inclusive. In fact, even community-wide events can trigger grief, such as the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

Stages of Grief

Grief does not always present itself in the same way. While there are distinct stages of grief, not all people may go through each stage in the same order, or may skip a stage, or may have different experiences within a stage. There are five stages of grief that are typically recognized:

1. Denial, where a person is typically in a state of shock and numbnesses;
2. Anger, which is a necessary part of the healing process;
3. Bargaining, which occurs when a person tries to make deals or promises, or makes unrealistic negotiations with themself, in order to prevent the loss; 
4. Depression, which is one of the most challenging stages of grief and often the one that lasts the longest; and
5. Acceptance—the last stage in the process of grief. 

What’s Involved in Grief Counseling Near Me?

If you are suffering from loss and grief, grief counseling may help you to develop coping skills and new perspectives that allow you to take control of your reality. During grief counseling, you can expect to do the following:

• Work on expressing your feelings using a larger vocabulary and using more descriptive language;
• Explore the possibility of becoming open to new relationships;
• Start to view yourself in a new way—people view themselves through the relationships that they have, and losing someone close can mean having to reshape one’s own perception of their identity; and 
• Begin to feel empowered in your understanding of your emotions, your behavior, and your choices in life. 

Grief counseling does not mean that you will “get over ” your loss or that you won’t still experience feelings of sadness; instead, it is designed to provide you with tools for coping with your loss and still living a healthy life.

Learn More About Grief Counseling Today

If you are experiencing feelings of loss and grief, our grief therapists want to help you. To learn more, please explore grief counseling near me in Illinois today. You can schedule your first appointment or learn more by calling our office directly.