What to expect from Grief Counseling Columbia, MO

You have probably thought about getting grief therapy, or your friends and family have mentioned Grief Counseling might help you.  It may be the time to decide if Grief Counseling is right for you.  Having the right therapist or counselor can make all the difference.  Columbia, MO, always has many options for help, and I know having those options can sometimes be overwhelming.  You probably want to know more about grief therapy and what to expect. 

You probably have researched therapists, and maybe one of them looks like the right fit for you.  Undoubtedly, you have more questions, and that is completely normal.  I want you to have all the information you need to make the best decision.

What you can expect from Grief Therapy:

Your own space to heal

Your counselor will make this your time and your space.  Counseling is your place to heal without judgment and without all the Shoulds and Oughts that may come up with friends and family.  You should just volunteer, get out of the house, and just do something.  You know it isn’t that easy.  Your loved one’s death has left you broken and unsure of what to do next.  The therapy room is your space to decide what fits for you and what you will do next.  

Your own timeline for healing

You may have felt many times since your loved one’s death that not many people understand how big of a mountain it is to make sense of your loved one’s passing.  People around you just want you to feel better and stop being alone and sad.  Others just don’t get it.  They may even compare you to someone they think got over a loved one’s death without much difficulty.  Down deep inside, you know it will take some time to heal.  Counseling is your place to take the time you need to feel and process what has happened and to heal in your unique way.  

A place where you are not alone.  

Many people going through grief begin to stop telling others what it feels like to be in pain.  After a few months of having others expect you to be over it, they just get tired of the judgment, and feeling judged often leaves the person in grief, feeling alone with the weight of all the emotions.  When you come to counseling, you have your counselor on your side.  Your counselor wants to hear your story and allow you to decide how to move forward.  Your counselor will become your biggest advocate.  Telling your story can help you not feel as alone, and it can change how much you can be in touch with yourself.  

A place to be understood

Sometimes, when you get the message that you shouldn’t feel the way you feel, it is easy to feel misunderstood.  Your counselor is the person who will be with you as you unpack all of your emotions - the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Having a person on your side and looking at your life from your point of view can help immensely.  Your counselor will help you know that your feelings are valid and real and that how you feel about them is not wrong.  It is your response to your loss.  You don’t have to hide them or make excuses for them anymore.  They are real.  

A place to decide how you want to stay connected with your loved one. 

So many times, the physical separation from our loved ones hurts so much.  You know, when you wanted to call them or ask them a question, are some of the most hurtful.  Deciding how you want to remember them and how you want to honor them is a big part of giving a place for your love and connection to be held.  Your counselor will usually start with how you want to experience your loved one and allow you to fill in the blanks of how you need that to look.  

A place to be compassionate to yourself.

After such a loss, it is not uncommon to feel very broken and super misunderstood.  You may even start to dislike how the emotions show up so much that you avoid any situation where they may bubble out.  You may even judge yourself and stop taking care of yourself as you did before.  Above all, you may feel guilty when you do something for yourself.  Being nice to yourself has probably moved way down the list.  Grief Counseling is a place to rekindle the self-compassion that you have inside of you and choose how you want to start doing things for yourself again.  Your counselor will help you remember what self-compassion feels like and how to use it to begin doing things that improve your life.  

A place to be in touch with all your emotions, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that sadness isn’t the only emotion that comes up after your loved one’s death.  At times, hard emotions like anger, guilt, frustration, and resentment also flood in.  It is easy to tell ourselves that we SHOULDN’T be feeling all the other negative emotions that come up.  But they are there nonetheless; if it was only sadness, grief might not be as bad as it is.  Often it is easy to hold the negative feelings inside and try to deny they are there.  Counseling is the place to think about how to give voice to all the emotions in your life. With understanding and connection that helps you not feel lonely, your counselor can provide a safe place to say what you need to say without being judged, shamed, or told how to feel.  Your emotions no longer have to be the 500 lb. elephant in the room. The confidential relationship removes the risk of discussing your feelings and makes it easier to discuss difficult things.

I want to help you get the help you need

Finding the right counselor can help you feel connected to someone on your side.  You will begin to feel less alone like you are understood and that all of your feelings are real and valid.  I want you to get the help you need as you look for a Grief Counselor in Columbia, MO.  

Call me for a free 15-minute consultation at 573-238-8575, and let’s talk about how you can begin your healing path in Grief Counseling today.  

Learn more about Jerry W. Kiesling, MSW, LCSW