 Grief is complex and full of a multitude of emotions whether it be denial, shock, anger, sadness or even anxiety. As humans we will encounter some form of grief in our lifetime and experience grief in different ways with different losses. One’s loss will be different than another’s. Whether your loss was sudden or expected, grief will meet you in the process. The types of grief may be due to a death of a loved one -- friends, family and even pets. A loss of a marriage, business, friendship can all bring on the pangs of grief. Many women experience the loss of an unborn child during a miscarriage which also will put them into a grief process.
Your body and brain go through a major transformation during the grief process. While grief has no major timeline, there are stages of grief one can expect. The initial stage of grief occurs the first few weeks and months following the loss. This time is often filled with intense sadness, disbelief, shock, overwhelm and anger. It can include issues of fatigue, sleep disturbance and changes in eating habits. It is not uncommon one’s appetite reduces drastically or increases drastically during the acute grief stage. The following months are more adaptive or integrative. This phase of grief cycle lasts months to years. If integrated well, it introduces the acceptance of the loss. It typically includes one’s ability to re-enter life while still taking time to remember their loved one with sadness or memories. You may have heard the first year is the hardest, which it can be especially with all the firsts without your loved one, major holidays, anniversaries, birthdays and death anniversaries can be consuming mentally and physically. While grief’s waves may still be intense, they occur less often between the mile markers of life. Finally, Prolonged Grief Disorder is when grief persists beyond the first year for adults or 6 months for children. These symptoms are severe and impact the daily functioning of the individual. Some signs for prolonged grief include avoidance of accepting the loss, loss of identity or sense of self, and intense persistent emotional pain. We as humans can even encounter grief due to loss of our homes, finances and more. So it is very prevalent in our society and all the more needed support to help navigate the losses. Navigating these losses are not new to us at Transform & Renew Counseling, we are keenly aware and acquainted with loss and the grief process for our clients here in San Antonio and across Texas virtually. Signs You May Benefit from Grief Counseling While it is expected you to experience emotions and sadness during your grief process, there are some very clear signs that should signal you to seek additional support.
Grief impacts the body and the brain, shutting down the prefrontal cortex, slowing the decision making ability, and activating the nervous system and making you feel all the emotions even more than normal, while your neurotransmitters that bring peace and calm are dramatically lowered during this time. How Grief Therapy Helps Grief therapy can be helpful in many ways. It can help a client, like you, to process in a safe place and to avoid a prolonged grief process. It helps ease the pain and learn what to expect during the process and make meaning from the loss and pain. Facing these problems head on will give you guidance, a place to put the grief so that your body can return to its normal level of functioning reducing the brain fog, fatigue, building back your healthy habits of moving your body, sleeping soundly, and reconnecting with the world around you. Therapy for grief will help you to learn how to navigate the painful memories that come with grief and loss. There are many approaches that can support you in the grief process including EMDR, CBT, narrative and culturally sensitive approaches. Each tailored to your unique needs and help you find meaning to the loss you have experienced. What to Expect from Sessions For grief therapy you will work with your individual therapist for a determined treatment plan and set amount of time. The process will include a collaborative goal setting session and individualized pace. What one person completes in three months may be someone else’s six months. Your grief process is your own journey and should go at your own pace. When you identify the goals you will identify which goal you wish to work on first and the overall long term goals of therapy. Grief therapy sessions may include asking about your story, your experiences with the loss and your current state. It will also include talking about your loved one and the difficult decisions you may have been involved in during that season. We will ask questions about your loved one that help you to find rituals and positive memories when needed or even expressing harder and difficult emotions for when it was a loss but left you angry or numb. Grief is not one sized and looks different depending on the complex nature of how you experienced the loss. If you had multiple deaths, this would complicate the grief process and may take longer to work through. No matter how you are facing your grief, you do not have to face it alone. Our trained counselors are willing and ready to walk alongside you as you face the challenges of accepting the loss in your life. We will tailor our work to your unique needs and go at your own pace. Grief counseling is available in person in San Antonio at our Northwest office and Northeast office. Grief counseling can also be accessed online via our telehealth platform. Why Start Now? If you are still struggling with grief and loss and need help navigating these issues, please pick up the phone today and call us at 210-201-4578 to get you scheduled with one of our counselors in San Antonio Texas or online.  What to Expect in Your Child’s First Therapy Session
As a parent, it’s natural to feel distressed about your child's behavior and have concerns about counseling. You strive to raise your child well, teaching them right from wrong, how to manage strong emotions, and how to lead a happy, healthy life. Our trained child and teen counselors are here to support both you and your child in navigating emotional and behavioral health issues. Our goal is to help your child build resilience and learn how to manage their emotions, so they can handle life's ups and downs. You can trust our counselors to guide you through this process. How We Build Rapport A successful counseling session depends on establishing a trusting relationship between the counselor and your child. It's also important for you to feel comfortable with the counselor, as this is a team effort. During the first session, the counselor will engage both you and your child to understand your unique needs and foster a connection. This may involve asking exploratory questions and identifying common interests. Building rapport will continue over the first few sessions to ensure your child feels safe and encouraged to share their struggles. Rapport can happen through activities, games, and encouraging sharing about their likes, dislikes, interests and their world. Parent Involvement in the Intake Process We encourage parent involvement during the intake process and throughout the treatment plan. This allows you to express your concerns and highlight your child's strengths. The intake will provide a comprehensive history of your child, including the onset and duration of symptoms. While children may share only limited information, your participation in the intake process can help them feel at ease. The intake allows us to understand the bigger picture, guiding our approach in working with your child. Our clinicians will ask numerous questions to gather information about your child's history of behaviors, any past hospitalizations or treatments, and the family dynamics. They will also explain confidentiality and its limitations, ensuring you understand what can and cannot be shared. Trust between your child and the counselor is crucial. The counselor will keep discussions confidential, but your child can choose what to share. It's important not to pressure your child for information, as this can hinder their sense of safety during sessions. The counselor will collaborate with your child to disclose any information that might jeopardize their health or safety. Child-Friendly Activities Used in Sessions Counselors often use child-friendly activities to help children learn skills related to emotional regulation and to encourage participation. Activities may include playing games like Uno, coloring, or playing checkers. These games can help teach children how to tolerate frustration and manage emotions, especially when facing challenges such as losing a game. Other activities might focus on exploring their thoughts, feelings, and actions, or include prompts to discuss their experiences at home or school. Don’t be surprised if your child mentions playing a game or coloring during their session; they were learning valuable skills and may even have some homework to practice during the week. Parent Consultations Regular parent consultations are an integral part of your child’s treatment plan. These brief meetings serve to provide updates on your child's progress and identify any barriers to improvement. We schedule these consultations in person to maintain your trust and ensure we have adequate time to address any issues that may arise. While we cannot share specific details about your child's treatment, we will provide updates on their progress toward established goals and insights that may help facilitate your child's development between sessions. Common Questions Kids Ask Children often have many questions before and during their therapy sessions. Typical questions might include who the counselor is, how therapy works, when sessions take place, what happens during therapy, and why they are attending. It's beneficial to have conversations with your child beforehand to clarify that therapy is a supportive process, not a punishment. Counselors are there to assist them in working through their challenges related to behaviors, emotions, or past traumas. Children may feel anxious about discussing traumatic events. We will not force them to talk about such issues immediately; instead, this will occur naturally as they become comfortable over time. There are many techniques and activities we can use to support them without directly addressing the trauma at the outset. It's also helpful for your child to know who their counselor will be, and they may even help in selecting someone with whom they feel a connection. A child who is willing to attend counseling is likely to make more progress than one who feels coerced into it. Helping them understand the benefits of counseling can enhance their willingness to participate. Get your questions answered in a free discovery call. Our admin team can help you identify the best counselor for your child and get the appointment secured. |
AuthorsElizabeth Oldham is an LPC-S and co-founder of Transform & Renew, PLLC. She specializes in co-dependency, anxiety and OCD, depression and mood disorders. Archives
November 2025
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