


GRIEF&LOSS
IN D I V I D UAL & GROUP COUNSELING
Grief is a natural, though often deeply painful, response to loss. The death of a loved one is the most common way we think of loss, but many other significant changes in one's life including the loss of a job, divorce and even the loss of a role in life, such as being a father can create a significant amount of distress within us
THE BRIGHTEST
SKIES ARE ALWAYS FORESHADOWED
BY DARK CLOUDS ~HARRIET JACOBS
While there is no right or wrong way to
grieve, there are healthy ways to cope with the
pain that, in time, can renew you and permit
you to move on. Uncomplicated grief
generally resolves itself slowly over time and though the loss is never fully forgotten,
eventually the grieving person is able to think fondly of the lost person, situation or role
without significant pain or disturbance. Complicated grief occurs when an additional mental health issue such as depression or
anxiety develops in the setting of grief. In this setting, the normal slow healing process does not occur and instead symptoms of grief can
worsen over time. It soon becomes obvious
that a person with complicated grief is not
"moving on" nor healing. In this setting it is imperative to address the associated mental
health issues so that the natural healing
process of grief can occur.