Is There a Right Way to Grieve?

At one point or another, grief touches every person’s life. It’s a universal experience, but that doesn’t mean that each person will process it in the same way. If you are grieving and looking for a therapist in Philadelphia or wondering if you should begin grief counseling, Philly Family Life Counseling is here for you.

Debunking 4 Myths About Grief

1. Grief occurs during a timeframe. One of the biggest misconceptions about grief is that it occurs in five orderly stages. Denial, isolation, anger, and depression can overlap, occur out of order, and return in moments long after acceptance. It’s important to know that this is okay. Grief is complex: there are no quick-fix solutions, but processing carefully with a therapist can bring long-term benefits.
2. Moving on means “getting over it.” Sometimes well-intentioned friends see the crying, venting, grieving and suggest getting over it and moving on as a means to stop the hurt. These phrases too often seem like synonyms for forgetting. If you are a friend of someone who is grieving, the best thing you can do for them is continue to listen and seek to love them wherever they are each day. If you are grieving, know that moving forward does not require forgetting someone you loved. You can learn to continue living and discover new joys while honoring joys past.
3. Grief is only a response to a loved one’s passing. There is a pervasive idea that grief is only an appropriate response if it is to a loved one’s passing. This is false. All grief is different and if you are experiencing it, it is valid and worth taking the time to process. Grief can occur as a response to trauma, illness, the death of a pet, loss of a career, moving away from friends & family for school or a job, etc. Grieving for these things is not a sign of weakness. In fact, it is a normal emotional response.
4. After you grieve, things go back to normal. Re-discovering normal is something every grieving person goes through, and it’s essential to define what normal is and what normal isn’t. Normal isn’t returning to the exact same routines, perspectives, and daily emotions as before. Grief changes us. Trying to return to who we were before can only bring frustration because we are no longer the same person. With time, it is possible to discover a new, albeit different, normal. A therapist can help you reach a hopeful new normal.

Contact Philly Family Life Counseling for Grief Counseling in Northeast Philadelphia

Dr. Gene Devers and Associates at Philly Family Life Counseling provide grief counseling services in Northeast Philadelphia. To schedule an appointment with a therapist, call (215) 677-3810. We are here to walk alongside you in this journey.