Grief & Loss

Healing & Growth Counseling offers in-person therapy for Grief & Loss in Massapequa Park, NY,
​and online therapy for Grief & Loss in NY
Loss is unfortunately a common experience throughout life. The most common loss we think of is the death of a loved one, such as a family member, friend, or pet. Another common loss is that of a relationship, such as a friendship that drifts away or a romantic relationship that ends.

​Other losses can include the loss of a job, or a loss of an aspect of a job, such as the loss of certain work relationships as you are moved from one department to another. One who has suffered an illness or injury may notice short-term or permanent loss of an ability that you valued or a lifestyle that you enjoyed.

Life transitions can also include losses. You may experience the loss of your childhood home as you move to a new area. Graduating high school includes the loss of the daily structure and support of the school system you have known. Milestones in the aging process may leave you with a notice of loss of younger years.

All of these losses can trigger feelings and symptoms of grief. Not everyone experiences losses in the same way. The feelings and order of these feelings are different from person-to-person, which is why the individualized nature of counseling and therapy can be helpful during these times.

How does Grief affect you mentally and emotionally?

Grief and loss can cause waves of many emotions. They can come suddenly at times, and at others may feel like they linger for what seems like forever.
Come common feelings that you may experience include:
  • Sadness
  • Anger
  • Emptiness
  • Guilt
  • Yearning​​
  • Fear
  • Anxiety
  • Shock
  • Disbelief​​
  • Hopelessness
  • Numbness
  • Confusion
  • Helplessness
The impact of grief can also also impact you mentally. Concentration may become difficult, you may have trouble following a conversation with a friend, or you find that your mind goes "blank" sometimes. This can be due to having overwhelming feelings coming up, experiencing intrusive thoughts about your loss, or lack of sleep, self-care, and/or proper nutrition. 
It's important to recognize that these are all normal effects of grief and loss. At times, however, the symptoms worsen and can lead to a mental health condition. See below for more information.

Is grief a mental health condition?

Grief alone is not a considered a mental health diagnosis. The effects of loss and grief can lead to diagnosable mental health conditions. Many of the emotions listed above can occur in waves, which is normal and expected in the grieving process. However, if one begins to feel stuck in feelings, and they begin to impact their daily life, then a more concerning mental health condition may develop.

Here are some concerns to look out for:
  • Inability to get out of bed
  • Calling out of work/school
  • Decreased appetite/rapid weight loss
  • Binge eating/rapid weight gain
  • Desire to hurt yourself or others
  • Isolation from your support group
  • Use of drugs and alcohol to cope​
Prolonged Grief Disorder is a diagnosable mental health disorder in the most recent diagnostic manual. It can be diagnosed in cases where the death of a loved one occurred at least 12 months ago (for children and adolescents, at least 6 months ago). Symptoms experienced must include a "persistent grief response" and factors of daily life that are impacted by the grief.

What is Grief & Loss Counseling?

Counseling for grief and loss focuses on meeting the individual where they are in their grieving process and supporting them through the journey of loss, grief, and healing. The Five Stages of Grief (Kübler-Ross Model) are defined as Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. The process through these stages are rarely experienced linearly, and counseling for grief and loss can help you to navigate the ups and downs, twists and turns, of this journey.

Counseling for grief and loss includes emotional support provided in a non-judgmental and supportive manner. A therapist is also likely to assist with incorporating coping skills and strategies into your daily life to help support you through your day-to-day activities. Adjusting to a new reality can be difficult, and may require work towards acceptance, adhering to new practices, and integrating the loss into daily life. 

If the loss was caused by a traumatic event, then a counselor can help you to process the memory of the event in a safe environment. The loss may also trigger traumatic memories of the past, which you may benefit from further exploring and reprocessing.

Experiencing a current loss can trigger feelings from past losses, which can make the healing process more complicated. A counselor can help you to navigate through these feelings and process them so that you can feel ready to move forward.

Online Therapy in NY for Grief & Loss

Online therapy in NY for people who are experiencing grief and loss can be just as effective as in office therapy. Online therapy in NY allows you to engage in sessions from the comfort of your home or another location that feels safe and private enough for you. Online therapy can be helpful if you have a busy schedule or a schedule that often changes. It can also be helpful if you feel that being in the office could be overwhelming for you, or that you are better able to focus on the therapy session from another location.

Our online therapists are here to help people with grief and loss to work towards their therapy goals in the ways that work best for them. 

Questions about Therapy in NY for Grief & Loss?

Call us at (516) 406-8991 to speak with a therapist to answer your questions about therapy for grief and loss.

Ready to schedule an appointment?

Fill out our Contact Form, or use our online portal to check availability in real time and request an initial appointment.