Sometimes your grief hits you in waves.

One minute you’re fine, then the next it hurts to breathe and you feel a deep pit in your stomach. The memory of your loss or losses follows you around like a black storm over your head. Or perhaps, you worry about a future day where the tangible and painful awareness of your loss could possibly no longer be felt. But, you’re concerned that that would devalue the significance of the loss. Your grief, your loss, has changed the way you think, feel, and act.

Perhaps, you’ve tried to open up to your support system about the hurt you’re feeling.

But it’s raw and you are concerned that it will make you or others feel too uncomfortable. You wonder if others will be able to grasp the depths of the pain you feel and the very real impact of your loss. So, you may plaster a brave smile on your face and pretend you’re fine. But you feel very alone and broken-hearted.

You’re wanting to experience more happiness but your pain is holding you back.

You also don’t want to lose the connection you had to the thing or person you have lost. Writer Jan Glidewell said, “You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present.” Counseling can be a source of support during profound loss. You can find support, understanding, and listening ears here.

Common Situations That Bring People to Grief Counseling

There are many life situations that may cause feelings of grief and loss. However, common things that bring individuals to grief counseling include:

woman in a black dress and black boots sits on the sands at a beach near the water. She is experiencing grief after a painful loss. She gets grief counseling in Dallas, TX with a therapist at White Rock Therapy 75214

The anticipation of death or loss
Death of someone you care about
Community violence or chaos
Divorce, separation, or breakups
Health problems or the diagnosis of a chronic or terminal illness
Loved one’s illness or addiction
Infertility
Pregnancy, infant, or child loss
Job loss
Retirement
Major life transitions

At First It May Be Challenging to Talk About Your Loss

Sad man covers his face while sitting on the sofa after losing a loved one. He gets grief counseling in Dallas, TX with a skilled therapist at White Rock Therapy 75214

Grief is painful and unpredictable. It’s not something that can be defined by logic. Even if you try to push it away, it’s impossible to escape. This pain can feel very isolating. So, you stop talking about it. But, bottling it up makes it feel even worse. Perhaps, you’re concerned that talking about the loss you’ve experienced will lead to forgetting the person or thing that brought you joy. So, you’ve held onto your grief as a reminder of what you lost.

You may be experiencing some apprehension at the idea of talking about your loss and the grief you’re feeling, especially if you don’t know what to expect from counseling. Your cautiousness and desire to push your grief away is actually your brain’s way of trying to protect you. But, the fact that you are here looking for support and counseling shows your strength and courage to face these challenging feelings.

Our Approach to Grief Counseling

At White Rock Therapy, we understand that you’re dealing with a myriad of complex emotions. We want to honor your courage and resilience. Our therapists are committed to holding space for you to process your thoughts and feelings at a pace that feels comfortable to you.

We believe that grief is a normal response to a loss. But, we realize that this does not make it hurt any less. Our therapists are skilled at helping individuals navigate grief and loss and subsequent trauma. Your grief is unique to your situation, so we will tailor our therapeutic approach to meet your needs.

Trauma-Informed Grief Counseling

We take a trauma-informed approach to treating grief during counseling. This means when we’re working with you we want to understand your entire situation and how it’s impacted your ability to cope with the painful grief you’re feeling. Our primary goal is to create a safe and non-judgemental space for you to process your emotions surrounding the loss you’ve experienced.

We want to help shoulder the burden you’ve been carrying. We will walk alongside you by listening and supporting you as you process your loss. And, we will begin to reflect on what it might look like to incorporate your losses into the present and the future. To do this we want to build a positive therapeutic relationship with you. We care about what you are experiencing, we are doing in therapy feels honoring and provides comfort.

EMDR Therapy for Grief and Loss

One treatment approach we use in grief counseling is EMDR or eye movement desensitization reprocessing. We often use EMDR when a client feels stuck or unable to process and cope with their grief. EMDR is a relatively new therapeutic approach that uses a technique called bilateral stimulation.

Solution-Focused Therapy for Grief and Loss

In cases where you’re looking for specific ways to cope with a challenging situation like a holiday or a major life event following grief or loss, we may use a technique called solution-focused therapy. In this collaborative approach to counseling, we identify a goal, such as being able to enjoy a holiday after the loss of a loved one. Then, we identify the strengths you already possess that can help you cope with your distress and meet your goal.

Our goal for grief counseling is to help you walk in the present moment without letting go of the person or thing in your past. We want to help you acknowledge your loss and work with you to integrate your happy memories into your life in a way that honors that loss.

Begin Grief Counseling in Dallas, TX

woman with auburn hair stretches her arms out in the woods. She is able to move forward in life after receiving grief counseling in Dallas, TX at White Rock Therapy 75214

If you are having a hard time moving through your life after experiencing a loss, and if your grief feels overwhelming, then counseling can help. Our therapists would be honored to speak with you about the ways we can help you. To begin therapy in Dallas, TX or online therapy in Texas, follow these steps: