Grief Work
You are not alone
Grief and loss can present itself in many ways— bereavement, terminal illness, miscarriage, loss of cognitive/physical abilities, big transitions in life. The list goes on. Sometimes, it is a physical loss of a person, and sometimes, it can be an inner loss or shifting of identities, something not physically tangible. The truth is that elements of grief permeate most of our experiences through life, and many times it does not fully “leave us” but, instead…
grief becomes a part of us,
a part of our story.
When uncovering or working with grief, in however that shows up for you, I will help to facilitate understanding with the grief process and normalize the experience. Many emotions will arise during the work- sadness, shame, anger. For most clients it can be an uncomfortable process in the moment, but the integration that usually follows after many sessions can give clients a sense of relief and calmness.
Grief and loss permeate most of our experiences and accompany us throughout our lives
“Can I use art when working with grief?”
Short answer: Yes.
Making the Unconscious Visible
Long Answer: Art in grief work can be many things: It can be a reminder of the life lost, a way to honor a loved one. The art can be a way to “move” your emotions to something outside of yourself, to create space between you and the feeling, in order to reflect and feel the emotion without becoming overwhelmed. It can be something to create and then destroy as a symbolic way to “let go” of the past. It can also be a tangible object to hold when experiencing a wave of grief, to reassure and ground you in the present moment. Art is there to hold you in your sorrow.
In our sessions, you and I will find the most helpful way for you to explore and process your loss.
“Grief is not a disorder, a disease or sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve.”
— Earl A. Grollman
“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.”
— Fred Rogers