Finding Support for Grief and Loss
Grief is a natural response to loss, bringing deep emotional pain that can feel overwhelming. Whether you have lost a loved one, experienced a life transition, or endured a significant personal loss, grief affects every aspect of your well-being. It can manifest as sadness, anger, numbness, or even physical symptoms like fatigue and headaches.
If you are struggling to process grief, therapy can provide the support you need to heal. As a licensed therapist specializing in EMDR therapy and traditional talk therapy, I offer compassionate, evidence-based approaches to help you navigate your emotions and find relief.
Understanding Grief & Its Impact
Grief is often associated with the death of a loved one, but it can also stem from other significant losses, such as:
- Divorce or relationship breakups
- Declining health or chronic illness
- Job loss or financial hardship
- Miscarriage or infertility
- Retirement or major life transitions
- Loss of a pet
- Moving away from home or changing careers
- Loss of safety after trauma
While grief is a deeply personal experience, common symptoms include:
Emotional Symptoms:
- Intense sadness, loneliness, or despair
- Anger, guilt, or regret
- Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected
- Anxiety or fear about the future
Physical Symptoms:
- Fatigue or exhaustion
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia or oversleeping)
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Headaches or body tension
Cognitive & Behavioral Symptoms:
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Persistent negative thoughts
- Social withdrawal or avoidance behaviorst
- Increased reliance on substances for coping
How EMDR Therapy Helps Process Grief and Loss
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a scientifically supported therapy that helps individuals process unresolved trauma and distressing memories related to grief. Grief can sometimes become "stuck," leaving individuals unable to move forward. EMDR therapy facilitates emotional healing by reducing the intensity of painful memories and negative beliefs.
How EMDR Works:
- Identifies grief-related triggers and unresolved emotions
- Uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds) to help the brain reprocess distressing memories
- Reduces emotional overwhelm and helps integrate the loss in a healthier way
- Supports long-term emotional resilience and healing
EMDR therapy is particularly beneficial for trauma-related grief, PTSD, and complicated bereavement. It allows you to release the emotional weight of loss while honoring your loved one’s memory.
The Benefits of Traditional Talk Therapy for Grief
While EMDR focuses on processing painful emotions, traditional talk therapy provides an ongoing space for support and emotional expression. Using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and insight-oriented approaches, talk therapy can help you:
- Understand and process your emotions in a supportive environment
- Develop coping strategies to manage grief-related distress
- Reframe negative thought patterns that contribute to prolonged grief
- Find meaning and acceptance after loss
- Adjust to life changes while honoring your loss
Talk therapy provides a structured approach to grief recovery, allowing you to navigate loss in a way that promotes healing and personal growth.
Who Can Benefit from Grief Therapy?
Therapy for grief and loss is beneficial for anyone experiencing:
- The death of a loved one or pet
- Prolonged or complicated grief
- A major life transition that brings feelings of loss
- Difficulty coping with emotions related to loss
- A sense of being "stuck" in grief and unable to move forward
Regardless of your loss, therapy can help you find clarity, relief, and hope as you navigate your grief journey.
What to Expect in Therapy Sessions
Each therapy session is tailored to your unique needs, but here’s what you can expect:
EMDR Therapy:
- Identifying grief-related distress and emotional triggers
- Guided bilateral stimulation exercises to process unresolved grief
- Gradual reduction in the emotional intensity of loss
- Strengthened emotional resilience and personal growth
Traditional Talk Therapy:
- Open discussions about grief, emotions, and challenges
- Exploration of personal beliefs about loss and healing
- Development of practical coping strategies
- Guidance in integrating grief into your life in a healthy way
Therapy is a safe, supportive space where you can process your emotions, gain insight, and rebuild your sense of peace and purpose.
Why an Integrative Approach Works Best
Combining EMDR and traditional talk therapy provides a comprehensive healing experience. While EMDR helps reprocess deep emotional wounds, talk therapy builds practical coping skills for day-to-day resilience.
- EMDR therapy heals unresolved trauma and emotional distress.
- Talk therapy supports personal growth and emotional stability.
- Together, they create a well-rounded approach to grief recovery.
Begin Your Healing Journey Today
If grief is making it difficult to move forward, you don’t have to go through it alone.
Whether through EMDR, traditional talk therapy, or a combination of both, I am here to help you navigate your loss and find healing.
Contact me today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward emotional relief and recovery.
Serving Walnut Creek, Danville, Lafayette, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Concord, and surrounding areas.
Choose the convenience of in-person or virtual sessions.
Reach out now and begin your journey towards a calmer, more confident life.
