Bereavement
The challenges of loss
Bereavement
Let's be clear: Bereavement is not a disorder. It can be tremendously painful, indeed more painful than many problems classified as real disorders. But it is a normal, natural process.
Some people benefit from seeing a counselor for bereavement-related issues for the additional support that can be provided. Others find that a counselor can be helpful in dealing with the myriad practical issues they now face.
Some people find that they experience a particularly intense or long-lasting form of bereavement. They feel unable to move forward in their lives, even years later. In cases of complicated bereavement such as this, a counselor can often help.
The videos below can provide a glimpse of how grief counselling can help. Every person is different, however, and the journey is extremely individual.
Note: Information on these pages is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be taken as a substitute for care from a qualified healthcare provider.
The work of grief
Grief is different for everyone. But there are some common challenges that often come up in therapy. These are not stages, per se: we can experience any issue at any time, and often switch back and forth between challenges. This video introduces the topic of grief and grief counselling.
The reality of loss
When a loss occurs, it can be hard to sense it as a real event. There is often a period of numbness that causes people to wonder if they are experiencing things normally.
The pain of loss
Grief can be a profoundly painful human experience. So painful, in fact, that it can be tempting to try to avoid. In this video we consider the effects of doing so, and whether grief is a process that needs to take place.
Adjusting to loss
Initially there are two worlds: The internal world including the person who has passed on, and the external world in which they are missing. Resolving this pull between two visions of reality can be a part of the work.
Reinvestment in the world
How do we go on? What does life look like now? How do we deal with the myriad of practical issues and find an existence in what remains? At some point we begin looking beyond the loss to a new world and a different life.