If you’re reading this, you may have just experienced a loss. Perhaps someone you love died some time ago and you are still processing. Or maybe a friend or family member is dying and you don’t know how to deal with what’s about to come.
Whether you’re dealing with a recent death, a terminal illness, or struggling with the pain of a past loss, grief counseling provides the guidance and support you need to start your journey toward healing.
The loss of someone we love is experienced personally. The individuality of your grief is as unique as the person you have lost and the relationship you had with them.
Our experienced grief counselors in Baltimore understand that everyone copes with loss in their own unique way. We want you to have the space and time to explore your emotions, process grief, and develop new and healthier ways to cope with your loss.
What is Grief Counseling?
Grief counseling — also known as bereavement therapy — is a therapeutic process tailored to help you cope with the emotional, psychological, and physical toll of loss.
Many bereaved people are hesitant to start grief counseling. “How can grief therapy help me navigate something that feels so insurmountable?” Grief counseling is simply not the same as psychotherapy; there is no “cure” for loss. And there is definitely no right or wrong way to feel.
When my partner died suddenly in a motorcycle accident, my grief counselor and fellow widow said: “Your grief journey is the final and longest act of your love for him”. As a grief specialist, I help the bereaved navigate this painful journey.
Above all, we want to work with you to explore your emotions, thoughts, and fears and find new ways to adjust to the loss of your loved one and your life without them.
Benefits of Grief Counseling
Research shows several benefits of working with a grief counselor. Here are some of the things you may focus on during your time in grief counseling.
Express how you feel
Heal at your own pace
Rebuild your identity
How Grief Counseling Can Help You?
While we most commonly associate grief with the death of a loved one, there are many forms we can experience loss through life. The end of a marriage, the breakup of a meaningful relationship, or the estrangement of family bonds can all evoke profound feelings of loss and sadness.
Understanding that grief takes different shapes allows us to appreciate the need for support during these times of emotional turmoil, regardless of the cause of our grief.
Grief is tricky, just when you think you understand it; it changes its form.
Grief counseling can help you deal with the aftermath of loss and navigate through the uncertainty that comes with it. Together, we will plan, prioritize, and effectively manage any painful decisions or daunting obligations and move forward in your journey toward healing. You don’t have to face it alone!
Hi! I’m Jill, the Care Coordinator for New Connections Counseling Center.
Symptoms of Grief
Grief is our natural response to loss. It can be experienced on every plane within our being. We experience grief physically, socially, and emotionally.
Physical
Lack of energy, extreme tiredness, or exhaustion.
Loss of appetite or eating more than usual.
Difficulty sleeping or falling asleep.
Physical discomfort, such as headaches, muscle tension, and chest pain.
Emotional
Shock, numbness, or apathy, especially as a first reaction.
Intense sadness and emotional pain.
Conflicting emotions like anger, guilt, frustration, and even relief.
Difficulty with concentration, memory, and decision-making.
Social
Withdrawal from social interactions.
Detachment from friends and family.
Lack of interest in doing things you used to enjoy.
Avoidance of situations or places that remind you of your loved one.
Grief counseling will help you build a new connection with the person you lost and process any unresolved issues that are affecting your physical and mental health.
Our Approach to Grief Counseling
Companioning Grief Model focuses on creating a supportive and empathetic environment through active listening, giving you the space to express your emotions. This model encourages you to explore the meaning behind your loss and prioritizes your own pace through the process of healing by recognizing that each person’s grief journey is unique.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps you recognize and challenge unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors associated with your grief. It involves addressing guilt or self-blame and developing effective coping skills. CBT-based grief counseling empowers you to reevaluate your responses and gradually confront and process your loss.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages you to accept your grief experience through mindfulness techniques. With ACT grief counseling, you will become more aware of your negative thoughts, clarify your values, and commit to goals and actions that enhance your well-being. This approach helps you foster your emotional awareness and resilience.
Begin Grief Counseling in Baltimore, MD
Our Baltimore-based experts provide online individual grief counseling sessions, as well as, phone and virtual mini-sessions. We’re experienced in supporting our clients’ grieving processes and working with them to manage loss in a healthier way.
1. Contact us using our appointment request form.
2. Start meeting with an experienced online therapist.
3. Get the support you deserve to navigate this painful journey.
Other Services at New Connections Counseling Center
The therapists at our therapy practice located in Baltimore, MD are passionate about helping you meet your mental health goals. Whether you are interested in men’s therapy, counseling for women, or more issue-specific help, like anxiety treatment or therapy for depression, we can help.
Furthermore, we provide online therapy for marriage counseling as well, so everyone can access it regardless of where they are. Whether you’re looking for online therapy from Howard County, Montgomery County, Columbia, Ellicott City, Silver Spring, Olney, or Easton, our therapists are ready to meet you and provide support.
Blog Posts for Grief and Loss
Life in a Box: Jack’s Personal Experience with Traumatic Loss
Our therapist and grief expert, Emily Scheer, shares Jack’s story and how his experience with traumatic loss has influenced every aspect of his life up to the present moment.
4 Unusual Tips for Coping with Grief During the Holidays
Navigating the holiday season while grieving can be a particularly painful experience. As family and friends gather to celebrate the festivities, it’s more than natural that all those memories of Christmases past come rushing in, and the loss of your loved one feels even more present. Explore 4 unusual ways to honor your loved one and find solace in grief during the holidays.
What the Titanic Teach Us about Grief: Insights from a Grief Counselor and Widow
Most of us think about the movie Titanic as a beautiful love story or as a tragic story based on the true sinking of the RMS Titanic. But, have you ever thought about the Titanic as a widow’s story? What can the Titanic teach us about grief and loss? Check out this moving reflection from our grief counseling expert and widow.
Looking for Grief Counseling in Baltimore?
We’re here to help! Lot’s of ways you can reach us: call 410-801-9700, email us at info@