Grief & Loss
The death of someone important can affect many parts of life. Alongside missing the person themselves, you may be grieving the relationship you shared, the place they held in your life, and the things you had hoped to share.
Their absence can also be felt in new ways as life changes. You might find yourself wishing they were there for an important moment, wanting to share something with them, or thinking about the role they might have played in your life now.
Bereavement
Losing someone can bring significant changes to everyday life. You might notice their absence in familiar routines, family relationships, conversations, or the small moments you once shared. There can also be a sense of disbelief, loneliness or disorientation as you adjust to a life in which they are no longer physically present.
Grief is not always straightforward. You may experience sadness and longing alongside anger, guilt, relief or unresolved feelings about the relationship. There may be times when the loss feels very close, and others when you are more absorbed in everyday life. Particular memories, experiences or changes in life can bring the loss into focus again. These shifts are a natural part of the experience of grief.
Remembering and mourning
The relationship with someone who has died does not simply disappear. They may continue to be present in your memories, in the things they taught you, in the ways you think about the world, and in the moments when you wish you could share something with them.
In therapy, there can be room to return to these memories, speak about the person, and spend time with what their absence means to you. There may be memories you cherish, things you miss, and aspects of the relationship that are more complicated or difficult to express.
Sometimes it is simply important to have someone who can listen and stay alongside you as you remember and mourn the person.
How I work with grief
My approach to individual therapy is relational psychodynamic and attachment-informed. I see grief as something that deserves time and attention, rather than something to be hurried or resolved.
Together, we can think about what the relationship meant to you, what you miss, and how the loss is experienced in your life now. There is no expectation that you need to forget the person or leave the relationship behind.
Thinking about beginning therapy?
If you are navigating a loss and would like a space to think about it together, you are welcome to get in touch. The first few sessions give us time to understand what has brought you here and whether working together feels like the right fit.
Grief and Bereavement Therapy in East Melbourne
I offer individual therapy in East Melbourne and via telehealth across Australia for adults experiencing grief and bereavement.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Grief counselling can involve talking about the person who died, the relationship you shared and the memories that remain important to you. There may be space to revisit particular experiences, talk about things left unsaid, or explore feelings that are difficult to share with others. We might also think about the ways you continue to miss the person in your life now, including the moments you wish you could share with them and the role you wish they could still have. The work is guided by what feels important to you, rather than following a set process or timeline.
-
Relationships are rarely straightforward. You may be holding sadness and longing alongside anger, hurt, guilt or unresolved feelings. There is room to explore these different experiences.
-
There is no time limit on grief. The absence of someone can become more noticeable at different stages of life, or particular experiences may bring memories and feelings to the surface again.