“A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.” Old English Proverb.
Experiencing grief and loss is not just about the death of a loved one. There are so many types of grief that we all experience throughout our lifetime. The loss of a loved one, loss of a job, loss of our health, loss of the plans we had, loss of the life we expected, loss of fertility, loss of a pet, just to name a few.
The Grief Process
There are 5 stages of grief as established by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. This model was initially developed relative to the process associated with death and dying, but Kubler-Ross adapted the model to account for any type of grief we experience. Those stages are:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
Everyone experiences at least two of the five stages of grief, and we often revisit stages over the rest of our life.
Therapy is an effective way to identify, and then learn to cope, with your grieving process. Although the 5 stages of grief is a basic model, everyone experiences this process differently, depending on who we are, what we have previously experienced, and what type of grief we have.
Each experience of grief is unique, complex, and personal. As a Certified Grief Counselor I help those grieving identify what they are feeling, make sense of the process, and begin to heal. We will look at ways to maintain connected to what has been lost through memory, reflection, ritual, and expression.
Experiencing loss is a normal part of life, but there is a way to grow and use our grief in a positive way. I look forward to helping you do so.