Where Can I Find Grief Therapy Near Me?

Grief can be overwhelming, no matter what kind of loss a person has experienced. Some people may expect their grieving process to mirror the popular five stages of grief model, which includes denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. However, grieving can be different for everyone, which is why it may be beneficial to connect with a grief therapist who can provide personalized support and guidance. Understanding more about the grieving process and your unique experience with grief can help you find a therapist who specializes in treating the type of grief you’re experiencing. 

Acute grief

Acute grief, which is a part of complicated grief generally refers to the experience of grief immediately following a loss. Symptoms associated with this part of the grief journey are typically most intense for about six weeks after a loss occurs, although it is not unusual for them to persist for months or even a year.

Acute grief often begins with a sense of shock and an inability to accept what has happened, particularly in instances where the loss was unexpected. This shock and numbness may persist for up to two weeks after the loss occurs, although this can vary.

It’s not unusual for a grieving person to experience intense sadness and bodily distress that can happen in waves, which is why many people describe grief as intermittently “washing over” them. The physical sensations associated with grief can include an empty feeling in one’s stomach, shortness of breath, a lump in the throat, and a sense of overall weakness. 

Other potential symptoms of acute grief include the following:

• Restlessness
• Loss of appetite
• Disruptions in sleep patterns
• Crying, sobbing, and sighing
• Inability to concentrate
• Preoccupation with thoughts of the loss
• Pacing
• Loss of sex drive

A person may be moving out of the acute phase of grief once their grief no longer seems all-consuming (although it should be noted that grief symptoms can continue to arise without warning, and a grieving person can usually still connect to their grief at any time). If acute grief symptoms persist for more than a year after a loss, it could indicate that a person is experiencing complicated grief. 

Complicated grief

Complicated grief is a mental health condition known formally as prolonged grief disorder (formerly persistent complex bereavement disorder) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-V-TR). 

It may not be unusual for acute grief to negatively impact a person’s ability to function, particularly during the hyper-acute six-week period following a loss. However, after some time has elapsed, grief symptoms may no longer impede a person’s ability to take care of themselves, socialize, work, fulfill their responsibilities, and plan for the future. 

If these symptoms are still significant enough to prevent a person from resuming their typical pre-loss life a year after the initial loss occurred, they may have developed complicated grief. This type of grief is traditionally treated with therapy.

Traumatic grief

Traumatic grief can be categorized as a form of complicated grief in which a person experiences both symptoms of grieving and symptoms of a trauma response, similar to those associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Traumatic grief can be associated with the death of a loved one that was unexpected or violent, such as death by suicide, homicide, substance overdose, or car accident. However, traumatic grief has also been documented in cases where loss was anticipated, as in situations where an elderly loved one passes away after a terminal illness.

Symptoms of traumatic grief can include the following:

• Focusing on the manner of death, especially graphic or disturbing details
• Intrusive thoughts about the loss
• Avoidance of reminders of the loss and hypervigilant scanning of one’s environment to prevent encountering such reminders
• A sense of futility regarding the future
• Difficulty acknowledging or talking about the loss
• Impaired social function
• Detachment from others
• Anger and distrust
• Guilt and blaming oneself for the loss
• A sense that one’s worldview has been shattered

Where to find a grief therapist

In the throes of grief, it can be difficult to seek help. However, processing your symptoms with a grief counselor can be an effective way to regain a sense of normalcy after a loss. Breaking your search into smaller steps can make the process seem more manageable. 

Think about what you need from grief counseling

To find grief support that is best suited to your needs, it can be helpful to identify exactly what your needs are. Many people find solace in attending a grief support group with other people who are grieving, while others experience the most relief by attending individual appointments with a grief counselor. You can refine your search for either option by:

• Seeking support based on how long ago the loss occurred: If you are experiencing acute grief, it may be beneficial to focus on addressing your immediate symptoms, and you may need more intensive mental health intervention. If you are mourning a loss that occurred years ago, you may benefit from processing your feelings around the holidays or other times when grief symptoms are more likely to arise, but you might not need help returning to day-to-day function.
• Seeking support based on your relationship with the deceased person: For loss related to a death, it can sometimes be helpful to connect with other people who have experienced similar losses. Support groups for bereaved parents who have lost a child, adult children who have lost a parent, or people who have lost a spouse or sibling could be beneficial.
• Seeking support based on your specific kind of loss: You can connect with groups or grief counselors specializing in helping people work through a divorce, the loss of a pet, or the death of a loved one from a particular cause, like cancer or suicide.

For people experiencing traumatic grief, a combination of support groups and individual counseling may be most helpful. Support groups can provide validation from others who are going through similar experiences, and one-on-one counseling can address specific trauma-related symptoms. 

Consider online therapy

Grief counseling tailored to a person’s particular needs can often be the most effective option when addressing various grief symptoms. However, not everyone lives in areas with a wide range of grief counselors. 

If you are having difficulty connecting with an in-person grief counselor trained to address the specific symptoms you are experiencing, you may want to consider online therapy. With a service like BetterHelp, clients can browse a database of thousands of accredited therapists with a variety of specialty areas.

Research has indicated that receiving therapy online can be just as effective as attending traditional in-person therapy sessions, including when addressing symptoms of grief. A 2021 meta-analysis of several studies assessing the use of online therapy in grief treatment found that online intervention may have similar outcomes to in-person therapy.