Grief Counseling

Grief Counseling services offered in Berwyn and West Dundee, IL

Since each person grieves in their own way and at their own pace, it's hard to know when it's time to seek grief counseling. The team at Associates in Behavioral Science understands that it’s hard to reach out for help when you’re grieving. But if you’re stuck in grief, it feels like grief is overpowering your life, or maybe you haven't been able to grieve, you should consider grief counseling. To schedule an appointment, call the office in Berwyn or West Dundee, Illinois, or book an appointment online today.

Grief Counseling Q & A

When causes grief?

Grief is a natural emotional response to any type of loss. Though the death of a loved one causes deep grief, you can grieve for many reasons, including:

Loss of a relationship
Loss of your health
Loss of your job
Loss of financial stability
Loss of a friendship
Loss of a pet
Loss of safety after a traumatic event

No matter what causes your grief, everyone works through it in their own time. Some feel better in weeks, while others can take a year or longer to overcome their grief.

When should I seek grief counseling?

There's no specific timetable telling you when to begin grief counseling. However, you may want to consider counseling after some time has passed but you still feel stuck in grief, become depressed, or isolate yourself from family and friends.

Grief counseling is also a good choice when you feel overwhelmed by your feelings or believe you should feel better than you do.

What type of grief always needs counseling?

You may experience two types of grief that need the support of grief counseling:

Intense grief

Many people experience intense grief. This type of grief is all-encompassing. The grief is so painful you can’t bear to recall happy memories, and you do little more than think about the loss.

Over time, it should get easier to remember your loved one and recall happy moments with less pain. It’s time to seek counseling when your intense grief continues indefinitely, disrupts your sleep, or leads to thoughts of suicide.

Inability to grieve

Some people have the opposite problem: they can't cope with grief. If they don't seek counseling, they push their feelings down and go on as if nothing happened.

All your feelings remain trapped in your subconscious mind. Without therapy, the feelings will one day surface, causing a sudden and often intense emotional reaction. This could happen years later when you may not associate your burst of anger or sadness with your earlier loss.

What should I expect during grief counseling?

Grief counseling is never about speeding up the grieving process. Instead, your therapist supports you, helping you experience your emotions and move through grief at your own pace. They guide you as you talk about overwhelming feelings and suggest small steps you can take to cope with your pain.

To learn more about grief counseling or schedule an appointment, call Associates in Behavioral Science or book an appointment online today.