Los Angeles Grief Therapy
Exploring Grief
Grief is an inherent part of the human experience and a natural response to death, loss and major changes. Even positive changes, like getting married or having children, can trigger feelings of deep sadness as we grapple with the sacrifices inherent in facing these decisions. Perhaps the most common misunderstanding about grief therapy is that it’s only appropriate after the loss of a loved one; the reality is that grief therapy may be helpful during any major transition.
Although grief is usually most severe in the first few months following a loss or major change, everyone experiences these feelings differently. While many have heard of the idea of stages of grief, psychologists now know that the emotions felt during grief vary widely. It is not uncommon for grief to worsen around holidays or important anniversaries that remind us of the people, opportunities, or animals we have lost. It’s also important to know that, although the pain of loss can be agonizing, grief can include profound experiences of meaning, hope, and even joy.
Getting Support With Grief Therapy in Los Angeles
I offer grief counseling in Los Angeles, at my therapy office in Playa Vista, for clients experiencing the pain and confusion of loss. But how do you know if you need counseling, and how does a therapist help with grief?
Grief is a natural process that is experienced differently across cultures and across individual personalities. If you have social support, and find that you’re able safely to move through the pain of grief, you may not need counseling.
But if you have support and are still struggling, you’re not alone. Grief counseling can help you understand and respond to the intense emotions of early, acute grief. And it’s important to reach out for help when dealing with complicated grief–a term that describes experiencing the symptoms of grief for over a year in a way that negatively impacts your everyday life.
Really, the point is this: if you feel like you are in need of outside help, therapy is probably right for you.
Erik Anderson Therapy for Grief in Los Angeles
Drawing from my professional experience offering counseling for life transitions, trauma therapy, and grief counseling in the Los Angeles area, I utilize research-backed techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic psychotherapy to support clients moving through their grief. These techniques aim to help a person acknowledge the significance of their loss and learn to accept the changed world. Focus is placed on recognizing emotions as a natural response to loss and processing them directly rather than suppressing negative feelings.
How does a therapist help with grief?
Of course, no therapist can make the pain of loss simply go away. Instead, the goal of grief therapy is to help you achieve integrated grief, where you can tolerate the reality of the loss, potentially find meaning in your grief, and become able to enjoy your life and relationships again.
My goal in grief therapy sessions in my Los Angeles practice is to help clients safely explore their emotions, and gradually make changes that will allow them to adjust and grow resilient in their life after loss. One common challenge is the fear that “moving on” will betray the person, place, or pet they have lost. Together, we can address that question, and find a version of moving forward that feels right for you and honors your loss.
Moving Forward with Therapy for Grief in Los Angeles
If you are experiencing ongoing guilt, sorrow, or yearning after a loss, you may benefit from grief counseling in the Los Angeles area. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with experience helping clients work through relationship issues, anxiety and depression, and many other circumstances that may complicate grief.
Schedule a Session Today
I serve the greater Culver City and Mar Vista areas through my office in Playa Vista, but I also offer teletherapy to all California residents. Reach out to Erik Anderson Therapy to find out how you can get counseling for various concerns.