Therapy for Prolonged Grief Disorder

If you’re grappling with intense feelings of loss, isolation, or disinterest in things you once enjoyed, it might be time to seek professional help. We offer specialized therapy to support you through the grieving process, helping you navigate the complexities of loss and find ways to reconnect with your life and move forward.

Are You Feeling Preoccupied with Thoughts of a Lost Loved One?

Feeling disconnected and losing interest in activities after a loss are common reactions. These signs can indicate prolonged grief, which can persist and impact daily life. Through therapy, you can work through these intense emotions, gradually adapt to the loss, and start finding joy again.

Intense fixation on loss

You might notice that you’re preoccupied with memories of your loved one, unable to stop thinking about them, or feeling trapped in an emotional haze. This can lead to difficulties focusing on daily tasks and an overwhelming sense of longing.

Persistent emotional numbness

Alternatively, you may feel disconnected from activities and relationships that used to bring you joy. You might find it hard to engage with others or derive satisfaction from once-enjoyed pursuits, signaling a deeper struggle with grief.

Therapy can help

Regardless of your struggles, you may be considering that it’s time to talk to a therapist.

What is prolonged grief?

Prolonged grief, sometimes called complicated grief, happens when something gets in the way of adapting to the loss of a loved one. There are some thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that can make it harder to accept the reality of a loss and keep you feeling stuck. For example, second-guessing if the loss could have been prevented or intensely trying to avoid reminders of your loved one can interfere with mourning.

Prolonged grief disorder is a persistent type of grief that interferes with functioning. It involves intense yearning or longing for the person who died and preoccupation with thoughts and memories of your loved one most of the day, nearly every day for at least one month. You may have prolonged grief disorder if it has been at least 12 months since you experienced death and you are having trouble re-engaging in your life, feel extended numbness or loneliness, and/or have difficulty imagining a future that does not feel empty. You may continue to experience disbelief about the death or have intense emotional pain most of the day related to the loss.

What is prolonged grief therapy?

Prolonged grief therapy helps you to get unstuck, mourn your loss, and continue your relationship and connection with the deceased. Prolonged grief therapy allows you to grieve and imagine a future with happiness. Grief does not disappear. It comes in waves and can easily be triggered in more difficult times. This is normal. People with prolonged grief disorder have trouble truly grieving and mourning the loss most of the day nearly every day, not just during difficult times. Sometimes the circumstances around the death are hard to understand and can get in the way of remembering positive times and grieving the person who died. Therapy will help you to process your thoughts and emotions about the death, find comfort, and reconnect with your life.

Navigating grief can be overwhelming, especially when traditional coping methods don't seem effective.

If you find yourself stuck in a cycle of persistent sadness, struggling to re-engage with daily life, or feeling consumed by thoughts of your loved one, you’re not alone. Therapy for prolonged grief is designed to help you process these intense emotions, gain clarity, and find a path forward while maintaining a meaningful connection to your loved one.