Grief & loss

Grief & loss

Grief can affect us emotionally and physically, and change how we see ourselves, others, or the world.

You might notice waves of emotion, numbness, changes in sleep or appetite, or a reduced capacity to engage with the things you usually enjoy.

Many people come to therapy worrying that they should be “over it” by now, coping better, or that they don’t want to burden others with their pain. Others find themselves unable to connect with their emotions at all.

Grief can come from bereavement, but also from trauma, attachment wounds, identity loss, or sudden life changes.

I work with grief in a trauma‑informed way — whether it’s the death of someone important, the loss of safety, or the loss of the life you expected to have.

What grief can look like

Grief shows up differently for everyone. For some, it comes in waves of sadness, guilt, anger, or regret. For others, it feels more like numbness or disconnection, a sense of withdrawing from people or activities, or difficulty concentrating. You might notice changes in sleep or appetite, or physical sensations that seem to come from nowhere. And some people don’t feel any grief at all, which can be confusing or worrying in its own way. However it appears for you, it is valid.

Why grief happens

Grief happens because something important has changed. When we lose someone or something that mattered, our whole system responds — emotionally, physically, and in how we make sense of the world. Grief is the mind and body’s way of adjusting to a new reality, one we didn’t choose and may not feel ready for. It can show us what was meaningful, what we long for, and what feels missing. Grief is our natural response to loss, and it unfolds in its own time.

What we may focus on in therapy

Grief counselling can support you to recognise and honour your grief as a natural process, adjust to life after what was lost or what has changed, give you a space to talk about difficult feelings and emotions, develop ways to navigate difficult or intense emotions, and reconnect with meaning, purpose, and what matters to you.

What may shift

You may begin to notice moments where things feel a little less heavy, and more space to feel your feelings. Waves of emotion may become easier to navigate, with moments of connection or meaning returning and a clearer sense of what you need day‑to‑day. You might also find yourself reconnecting with friends or the things you used to enjoy.