Mental Health Conditions | Grief

Grief

Grief is a natural response to loss—whether it’s the death of someone you love, the end of a relationship, a major life change, or even the loss of a dream or identity. Everyone experiences grief differently, and there’s no “right” timeline or way to go through it.

The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with a licensed mental health professional for advice specific to your situation.

What is grief?

Grief, while not a mental health condition in itself, is a natural emotional response to loss—often involving the death of a loved one, but also other significant losses like divorce, a job, health, or even identity. However, when grief becomes prolonged or significantly interferes with daily functioning, it may evolve into a diagnosable condition known as Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD).

If you have ever found yourself asking:

• Will this ache in my chest ever go away?
• Why does everyone expect me to “move on” when I’m still in pieces?
• Who am I now without this person (or identity) in my life?
• Why does the world keep turning like nothing happened?

Then your grief may need compassionate support to help you process the pain and begin to move forward in a way that honors your loss.

What are the signs someone may be experiencing grief?

Grief is often characterized by sadness, longing, anger, confusion, numbness, and many other emotional, physical, and cognitive responses. You may find yourself avoiding reminders of who or what you lost or feel stuck in the moment like your loss just happened.

When grief persists over an extended period and significantly impairs daily functioning, it may meet the criteria for a diagnosable condition known as:

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD)
Recognized in the DSM-5-TR, PGD involves intense, persistent grief that lasts longer than expected culturally or developmentally (typically over 12 months for adults), and includes symptoms like:

• Persistent yearning or preoccupation with the deceased
• Difficulty moving on or engaging in life
• Emotional numbness or identity disruption

In these cases, grief goes beyond a normal process and may require therapeutic intervention.

What are effective ways to treat grief?

I like to distinguish between grief and complicated grief (Prolonged Grief Disorder). Grief is a normal but challenging part of life. It’s painful, but over time, most people are able to adjust and begin to integrate the loss into their lives. Complicated grief is when grief doesn’t follow a healing path and continues to interfere with life long after the loss.

My approach is to help you process the pain of grief, re-establish your identity, and re-engage in your life. Together, we’ll gently explore your grief, the depth of your connection, and what’s keeping you feeling stuck. We’ll work toward finding meaning, making space for healing, and helping you move forward while still honoring your loss.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps you not be “stuck” in your grief and allows you to challenge any distorted thoughts you may have about your loss.
• Mindfulness: Skill-based interventions to help you gently navigate grief symptoms by promoting acceptance, grounding, and emotional regulation.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): A therapy specifically designed to help you reprocess traumatic memories in a less distressing way. This is a helpful method if your grief is from the result of a traumatic death.
• Narrative Therapy: Helps you reshape your grief story to allow for healing while still honoring the impact of your loss.