Grief and Loss Therapy

Grief encompasses a range of emotions, including sadness, anger, guilt, and profound longing for what has been lost. It is a natural response to loss, but the intensity and duration of grief can vary greatly from person to person. When speaking of “loss,” it can mean the loss of a person, pet, relationship, health, job, home, or any significant life circumstance.

Understanding Grief and Loss

Grief is not a linear process with clear stages that you move through neatly. It’s messy, unpredictable, and deeply personal. Some days you might feel like you’re managing, and other days the pain feels as fresh as the moment of loss. This is all part of the normal grieving process.

In today’s fast-paced society, individuals may encounter additional challenges in processing grief, such as societal expectations to “move on” quickly, pressure to maintain productivity at work amidst internal struggles, or lack of understanding from others about the depth and duration of grief. At BeWELL Psychotherapy and Wellness, we provide a compassionate space where your grief is honored, not rushed, and where you can process loss at your own pace.

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Symptoms of Grief and Loss

Intense feelings of sadness, emptiness, or despair – Overwhelming emotional pain, crying spells that come unexpectedly, or a hollow feeling inside that nothing can fill.
Persistent longing or yearning for the deceased or the lost relationship – Physical ache to see or talk to the person again, constantly thinking about them, or momentarily forgetting they’re gone before the reality crashes back.
Difficulty accepting the reality of the loss – Feeling like the loss isn’t real, expecting the person to walk through the door, or struggling to believe this is your new reality.
Emotional numbness or detachment – Feeling disconnected from your emotions, going through life on autopilot, or being unable to feel joy or connection even when you want to.

Irritability, anger, or mood swings – Feeling short-tempered with others, angry at the person who died or left, furious at the unfairness of the loss, or experiencing unpredictable emotional shifts.
Changes in appetite or sleep patterns – Eating significantly more or less than usual, having no appetite, experiencing insomnia, or sleeping excessively as an escape from the pain.
Fatigue or lack of energy – Feeling physically and emotionally exhausted, struggling to complete basic tasks, or having no motivation to do anything that once mattered.
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions – Brain fog that makes focusing impossible, forgetting things constantly, or feeling overwhelmed by even simple decisions.
Physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, or digestive issues – Body manifesting grief through pain, tightness in chest, stomach problems, or feeling physically ill from emotional distress.

Types of Grief and Loss We Support

At BeWELL Psychotherapy and Wellness, our therapists understand that grief comes in many forms and provide specialized support for:

Death of a Loved One – Processing the loss of a partner, parent, child, sibling, friend, or other significant person in your life, including sudden deaths, anticipated deaths, and traumatic losses.
Complicated Grief or Prolonged Grief Disorder – When grief becomes stuck and intensely painful for an extended period, interfering with daily life long after the loss, or when the pain doesn’t seem to lessen over time.
Anticipatory Grief – Experiencing grief before a loss occurs, such as when a loved one has a terminal illness or when you know a significant change or ending is coming.
Disenfranchised Grief – Grief that society doesn’t fully recognize or validate, such as loss of a pet, miscarriage, estranged relationships, loss of a job or identity, or breakup of a non-marital relationship.
Ambiguous Loss – Grieving someone who is physically present but psychologically absent (dementia, addiction, estrangement) or physically absent but psychologically present (missing persons, deployed military).

Grief and Loss | BeWell Psychotherapy and Wellness

How Grief and Loss Affect Your Daily Life

Grief and loss significantly disrupt daily functioning in ways that others may not see or understand. At work or school, concentration becomes nearly impossible. You might find yourself staring blankly at your computer, unable to remember what you were doing, or feeling like tasks that were once simple now require enormous effort. Some people throw themselves into work to avoid the pain, while others can barely function enough to show up.

Relationships become complicated during grief. Some people want to talk about the loss constantly, while others can’t bear to speak about it. You might feel isolated even when surrounded by loved ones, or frustrated when people offer platitudes like “they’re in a better place” or “time heals all wounds.” The people in your life may not know how to support you, leading to further isolation during a time when you need connection most.

Your sense of identity can feel shattered, especially if the loss was central to how you saw yourself. Losing a partner, a parent, a job, or your health can leave you wondering who you are now without that role or relationship. The future you imagined is gone, and you have to rebuild a vision of life that feels impossible to imagine right now.

Physical symptoms of grief often surprise people. The exhaustion is profound, your body aches, you might get sick more frequently, or experience panic-like symptoms when grief waves hit. Sleep becomes disrupted either through insomnia or sleeping too much. These physical manifestations of grief are real and valid, not signs of weakness.

Everyday activities lose their meaning. Things you used to enjoy bring no pleasure. Holidays, anniversaries, and milestones become painful reminders of the loss. You might feel guilty when you do experience moments of happiness, as if joy betrays the person or thing you lost.

When Grief Becomes Depression

While grief and depression share some symptoms, they are distinct experiences. Grief typically comes in waves, with moments of relief, fond memories, and even laughter mixed with the pain. Depression, however, tends to be more constant and all-encompassing, characterized by persistent feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and inability to imagine feeling better.

Sometimes grief can develop into clinical depression, particularly when the loss is traumatic, when you lack support, or when the grief becomes complicated. Warning signs that grief may have shifted into depression include persistent feelings that life isn’t worth living, inability to function in daily life for extended periods, severe guilt unrelated to the loss itself, or complete emotional numbness that doesn’t lift.

If you’re experiencing both grief and depression, specialized treatment can address both. Our therapists understand the overlap between these conditions and provide integrated care that honors your loss while treating depressive symptoms. You don’t have to navigate this alone, and getting support for depression doesn’t mean you’re grieving “wrong” or dishonoring your loss.

How BeWELL Can Help You Navigate Grief and Loss

At BeWELL Psychotherapy and Wellness, our licensed therapists in Manhattan, Hoboken, and online provide compassionate, specialized support for individuals navigating grief and loss. We understand that grief is not something to “get over” but rather to move through and integrate into your life.

Evidence-Based Grief Counseling Approaches

Grief Therapy and Bereavement Counseling provides a safe, validating space to express your grief without judgment or pressure to “move on.” We help you process the loss, honor your relationship with what was lost, and find ways to carry the loss forward as you rebuild your life.

Complicated Grief Treatment (CGT) is a specialized evidence-based approach for when grief becomes stuck or overwhelming. This treatment helps you process the loss, address avoidance, and gradually re-engage with life while maintaining a healthy connection to what was lost.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps you manage difficult thoughts related to grief, such as guilt, regret, or “what if” thinking. You’ll learn to challenge distorted beliefs and develop healthier ways of thinking about the loss and yourself.

Narrative Therapy helps you tell the story of your loss and the relationship you had. This approach allows you to honor what was lost while also recognizing that your story continues beyond the loss.

Mindfulness and Somatic Approaches help you stay present with grief waves as they come, rather than avoiding or being overwhelmed by them. These techniques support you in processing grief through the body and nervous system.

What Grief Therapy Looks Like

Grief therapy begins with simply being heard and validated. There’s no timeline for your grief, no “right way” to grieve, and no expectation that you’ll “get over it” by a certain point. We create a space where all your emotions, including the difficult ones like anger, guilt, or relief, are welcome.

Throughout therapy, you’ll explore your relationship with what was lost, process difficult emotions, address any complicated aspects of the grief, and gradually find ways to integrate the loss into your life. This doesn’t mean forgetting or “moving on,” but rather finding a way to carry the loss with you as you continue living.

We’ll also address practical challenges like returning to work, handling special occasions, managing relationships with others who are grieving differently, and rebuilding a sense of meaning and purpose. Grief therapy isn’t about returning to who you were before, but discovering who you are now and how to move forward.

Flexible Support Options

In-person grief therapy in Manhattan (Flatiron District) and Hoboken
Online grief counseling throughout NY, NJ, CT, PA, RI, and CA
Individual therapy tailored to your specific type of loss
Flexible scheduling for difficult days
Support during anniversaries and triggering times
Free 20-minute consultation

There is no “right” way to grieve, and there’s no timeline for healing. With compassionate support, you can navigate this painful journey, honor what you’ve lost, and eventually find meaning and connection again, even while carrying the loss with you.