Grief Counseling & Therapy

Grief Therapists in Westchester, NY

Most people will experience grief at some point in their life. It happens when they lose someone, or something that is important to them. If you’re struggling with grief, and these feelings are affecting your life, support is out there.

Grief and loss affect people in different ways. It’s important to know that there is no right or wrong way to feel – everybody experiences it differently. Common symptoms of grief include:

• Fatigue and exhaustion
• Anger or rage – this can be towards the reason for your loss, or the person you’ve lost
• Overwhelming sadness 
• Numbness and shock – you may feel as though you’re in a daze
• Guilt – you could feel guilty about being unable to stop your loved one from dying, or something you did, or did not, say before their passing

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The Stages of Grief

According to well-documented research, there are five stages of grief:

Denial

Known as the initial stage of grief, you are likely to experience feelings of confusion, shock, disbelief or panic. You may have thoughts like “this isn’t happening to me,” or “he isn’t gone. He’s going to call me tomorrow.”

Anger

The second stage of grief comes with feelings of blame – perhaps blaming yourself or others. You may have thoughts like “this is all her fault,” or “what did I do to deserve this?” You could be angry or frustrated and feel the need to make sense of what’s happened. 

Depression

The third stage of grief often comes with feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and fatigue. You may feel isolated or like you have lost direction. You may have thoughts like “I don’t know how to move forward from here,” or “why should I go on at all – what’s the point?”

Bargaining

The fourth stage of grief usually comes with guilt. These feelings of guilt often raise questioning thoughts, like “I wish I could have been there” or “if only I had done more.” You may feel you need to act or behave in a certain way to feel normal again. 

Acceptance

This is the fifth and final stage of grief. Acceptance isn’t about liking the situation – it’s about accepting the loss you’ve experienced and feeling ready to move forward. 

Important: You may not experience all of these stages, or they could occur in a different order. Healing from grief is not always a linear process, and it’s unlikely to be a smooth journey.

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Should You Seek Therapy for Grief?

Most people are likely to benefit from therapy when they’re facing grief. It’s an experience that, sadly, most of us will face in our lives. And for some, it leaves them unable to function. Having a therapist to guide you through the grief process can help you to reconnect with the world and process your emotions in a safe and healthy way.

For some, leaving grief untreated can lead to feelings of seemingly endless pain or withdrawal from their life, friends and family. In such circumstances, therapy can help a person to reclaim their life.

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Take Our Quiz - Find the Right Therapist for You

At Westchester Therapy Match, we want to make sure that you’re matched with the right therapist for your needs. If you’re wondering “is there grief counseling near me?” Let us help you find the best local therapist for your needs. 

We have created a simple quiz that takes less than five minutes to complete. We will use your answers to better understand who you are and what you are looking for so we can match you with a top-ranked grief therapist in Westchester, NY. Click here to take the quiz. 

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