Grief and Loss
Grief & Loss
When we experience a significant loss, it’s natural to feel grief—not only for what we’ve lost, but also for what we hoped or imagined might have been. The pain can feel overwhelming, and it often brings a mix of emotions such as shock, anger, sadness, or even disbelief. Everyone grieves in their own way, and there’s no “right” timeline or process. Each person discovers what helps them cope, and honoring your own unique journey through grief is an important part of healing.
Coping with the loss of a loved one, a job, or a potential opportunity can be hard to go through. Intense feelings and emotions accompany the grieving process and disrupt your normal life. Working with mental health therapy professionals can provide compassionate support as you navigate the uncertainty of loss. Therapy for mental health can help you process what feels unmanageable and begin to regain balance in your life.
Grief Can Come From More Than Just Death
Any type of loss can come with grief. Multiple types of loss will result in the individual going through the stages of grief and set them back on their progress in life.
Other life-altering moments that can lead to grief include:
- Divorce
- Breakup
- Losing a job
- Financial strain or loss of a job
- Miscarriage
- Death of a pet
- Missed opportunity or loss of a dream
- Friendship breakup
- Serious illness (individual or in a family member)
- Selling your first home
- Retirement
- Graduating or ending of life seasons
This list of moments is not comprehensive, and no matter what situation you are going through, you should not feel ashamed for going through stages of grief. Coming to terms with a loss will take time, but there are healthy ways to cope. Red Willow Counseling and Recovery can help you determine how you handle situations and what coping mechanisms will work best for you.
There are also different types of grief that can occur. Anticipatory grief refers to grieving the loss before it even happens. Disenfranchised grief is when your loss is stigmatized, or cannot be openly discussed, which may make the grieving process much longer or more challenging. Complicated grief refers to long-term grief that has not eased over time. Complicated grief can be hard to determine, but extended feelings that life is not worth living are cause for concern. In such cases, therapy mental health services can be an important part of recovery.
For many, grief can also trigger complex emotions that feel overwhelming or confusing. You might experience guilt, relief, or even moments of laughter while grieving. These emotions are valid, and having a safe space to talk them through with a supportive professional can be healing.
The Grieving Process And Stages Of Grief
The five stages of grief are similar for everyone who goes through a large loss. Any of the following emotions are normal to feel after a life change, but if you are having trouble moving through the stages, therapists can help you work through the emotions that come with extreme loss.
- Denial: “This can not be happening.” “This doesn’t happen to people like me.”
- Anger: “It is all ___ fault!” “Why do bad things continue to happen!”
- Bargaining: “If only I could have…” “If you heal them I will do ____.”
- Depression: “Life isn’t worth it anymore.” “I am too sad to continue on.”
- Acceptance; “This is what was supposed to happen.” “I accept what has occurred.”
It’s important to remember that these stages do not always occur in order, and many people revisit stages multiple times. A person might move between anger and sadness or feel acceptance one day and despair the next. This fluidity is a normal part of grieving. Support from an individual or family therapist may help you understand your experience and feel less alone in it.
Healthy Ways to Cope with Grief
While grief may feel like something you have to carry alone, there are healthy ways to ease the weight of your loss. Taking small steps toward healing can help you feel grounded, even in the midst of pain. Simple practices like journaling, creating a daily routine, or spending time outdoors can offer moments of calm and reflection. Leaning on supportive friends, family, or community can also remind you that you don’t have to navigate grief by yourself.
Self-care is another important part of coping. Eating nourishing meals, resting when you can, and making space for both tears and laughter are all part of the healing journey. For many, mental health therapy provides a safe place to share difficult emotions and learn new ways to cope. Grief may never fully disappear, but with support and gentle care, you can find a path forward that honors both your loss and your resilience.
Grief Counseling With Red Willow
Our team of therapists and specialists understands how hard the loss of a loved one, job, or family pet can be. Moving forward with your life can seem insignificant when you have experienced a major loss. Sometimes talking about the grief with friends or a therapist can help ease the burden on you. The key to making it out of the darkest stages is to seek support and comfort from others.
Red Willow in Salt Lake City can help you work through complex emotions while helping you develop coping skills to use in the future. The loss of someone or something may affect you for the rest of your life, but learning to manage emotions or move forward after the loss is possible with consistent support.
For some, grief counseling with a mental health practitioner highlights how structured support can make a significant difference. Red Willow offers safe and non-judgmental spaces for clients to express their feelings, find meaning in their experiences, and build resilience. Through mental health therapy, you can learn grounding techniques, mindfulness practices, and new ways to cope with ongoing grief.
If your grief feels unshakable or is accompanied by hopelessness, know that help is available. Therapy focused on grief is not about forgetting or minimizing the person or opportunity you lost, but about learning to live fully while honoring your loss. With time, care, and compassionate guidance, it is possible to find hope again.
