Grief will eventually happen to all of us. Whether you’ve recently lost a loved one, ended a relationship, developed a chronic illness, or experienced another significant life change, the hole left by that loss can feel all-consuming.
Many people feel isolated by their grief and that they can’t really talk to anyone else about what they’re going through. Grief counseling can change that. Here are four benefits of grief therapy.
1. It provides a safe space for emotional expression.
When you’ve suffered a loss, you might feel uncomfortable sharing your true feelings with the people around you. Maybe you don’t want to trauma dump or put too much emotional pressure on other loved ones. You might also be feeling emotions other than sadness—anger, guilt, shame, frustration, or even relief—that someone not in your position can’t fully understand.
Grief counseling gives you the opportunity to talk freely about your loss without worrying about judgment. Your grief counsellor is trained to listen empathetically and encourage you to process your feelings. This space for emotional expression helps you feel less isolated and alone.
2. It helps normalize the grieving process.
Grief has no blueprint. There’s no easy linear path to “getting over” the loss of a loved one. You might feel expectations from yourself or others that your grief should pass quickly and that if you have bad days, you’re the one to blame. You might also cycle through your emotions and thoughts—one day, you feel completely normal, and the next, you’re grief-stricken and stuck inside bad memories.
A grief counsellor can help you understand that your grieving process is unique to you. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve—it’s a deeply personal experience. Grief counselling also helps you recognize that intense feelings of loss may come and go over time. These “grief waves” are a normal part of healing, and understanding this can help you feel less frustrated or confused. Through grief counselling, you can embrace your grief rather than fight it.
3. It teaches healthy coping strategies.
When you’re grieving, it might feel easier to turn to food, substances, or other self-destructive behaviours instead of dealing with your feelings. Over time, these maladaptive coping mechanisms will only delay the grieving process (or make it worse). A grief counsellor can guide you through different coping techniques, including mindfulness exercises, journaling, deep breathing, or creative outlets like art and music.
These tools help you manage overwhelming emotions in a healthy, productive manner. Counsellors can also give you cognitive-behavioral techniques that challenge the negative thought patterns often associated with grief, like feelings of guilt or self-blame. By reframing these thoughts, you can develop self-compassion and move forward.
4. It encourages resilience.
The grieving process is a painful experience. That said, ideally, you’ll come out of the other side a stronger person. Grief counselling gives you the opportunity to examine your relationship with your lost loved one and how they’ve changed you. You’ll also explore your own identity: who were you before and after the loss? Who do you want to become as a result?
Answering these questions will help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and what really matters to you. Your therapist will encourage you to make meaning out of this pain. Healing from grief doesn’t mean forgetting about the person you’ve lost—it’s about learning to carry them with you in a healthy way.
Are you grieving?
If you’ve recently lost a loved one, it’s time to talk to a grief counsellor. No one should have to work through grief on their own. Grief therapy can help you navigate one of life’s most difficult experiences.
To find out more about how grief counselling can benefit you, and to book a session with an experienced and compassionate therapist, please reach out to us at Onyx. We can support you through your grief experience.
