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Grief

Grief is a normal human response to loss, whether it's from the death of a loved one, or a major life change, such as a divorce. Everyone experiences grief in their own way, and it is not uncommon for a person to withdraw from their friends and family and feel depressed or angry. A wide range of emotions and behaviors are associated with grief.

Types of losses which may result in grief and mourning include:
  • loved ones
  • physical health
  • mental acuity
  • mobility
  • livelihood
  • personal relationships
  • pets
  • independence
  • personal abilities



Counseling for grief becomes necessary when you become overwhelmed by the loss to the extent that your normal coping processes are disabled or shut down. Counseling will encourage the expression of emotion and thought about the loss, including sadness, anxiety, anger, loneliness, guilt, relief, isolation, confusion, or numbness. It includes thinking creatively about the challenges that follow loss, and is highly important for people who suffer from unusually prolonged and complicated responses to bereavement.

Chronic or acute grief-related symptoms that may be helped by grief counseling include:
  • continuous crying
  • "heartache"
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • insomnia
  • loss of appetite
  • irritability
  • confusion
  • exhaustion
  • fear
  • anger
  • mood swings
  • apathy
  • pain



Call Carolyn to get help in transforming the unavoidable experience of loss into a less painful, manageable one. Both verbal counseling and experiential treatments, such as EMDR and Hypnotherapy, will greatly promote the healing process. In addition, Carolyn will educate you about the stages of grief, and teach you practical self-care techniques, which may minimize the potential for developing serious, long term disorders when grief is invariably experienced again.