Grief
When experiencing grief, feelings of depression, confusion, shock, and guilt, or a combination of all can be present. This pain can be felt after losing a loved one, such as a family member, significant other, friend, or even a pet, job, or significant possession. Grief may be experienced for a short period of time - also known as acute grief, but may also return after a long time.
When experiencing grief, it can overlap with symptoms of depression such as:
Loss of or increased appetite
Insomnia
Sleeping too much
Trouble thinking or concentrating
It’s important to learn how to cope effectively when mourning loss, whether it is due to death or the end of a relationship. Giving yourself time to heal and process your emotions is essential for being on track to recovery. There is no specific timetable for the grieving process. Speaking with a counselor can help you navigate through the challenge of overcoming grief.
Positive Directions’ Approach to Grief:
At Positive Directions, we know that Grief and Loss can have a wide-reaching impact not only on emotional but also on physical, social and spiritual wellbeing. Our approach in working with clients to address their symptoms is collaborative and client-driven, and we work to meet the client where they are at to tailor treatment to their individual circumstances and experience of loss. Upon admission, a comprehensive intake evaluation is completed to gather a history of the client and learn more about the loss they experienced and the symptoms they have been experiencing. This helps us to gather a comprehensive picture of the impact the clients’ symptoms have had on their lives and allows us to tailor our approach to the client’s needs.
Starting with this information, we then develop an individualized treatment plan for each client that is tailored to their needs and goals. The treatment plan is the guide-post for the work we do in session, and progress toward treatment goals is evaluated and measured during each counseling session. Additionally, we periodically review this plan with our clients to ensure that we are consistently working toward and updating goals and objectives as appropriate.
Based upon the treatment plan, services are provided to address individual needs and teach clients the skills and tools necessary to gain insight and understanding, provide psychoeducation, work through their grief, and improve their overall quality of life. Our counselors also work closely with family members as appropriate, educating them about grief and mental health, and supporting their involvement in their loved one’s treatment.
When providing these services, a variety of clinical techniques are utilized such as cognitive behavioral, motivational interviewing, narrative, solution-focused and dialectical behavioral tools. Our clinicians are trained in a variety of effective treatment modalities, and treatment is tailored to specific individual and family needs. Furthermore, our clinicians connect with outside providers as necessary, and are able to make appropriate referrals to additional providers should the need arise in order to collaborate and provide comprehensive treatment. Our approach is designed to assist people in improving the quality of their lives.
Resources: