Overview of Grief & Loss Counselling
Grief & loss counselling focuses on supporting individuals through the emotional, psychological, and physical responses that occur after losing someone or something meaningful. Grief is a natural and deeply personal experience that can affect every aspect of life, from daily functioning to emotional wellbeing, relationships, and sense of identity.
People often associate grief with the passing of a loved one, but grief can also arise from many significant life changes—including relationship breakdowns, miscarriage or infertility, loss of health, loss of identity, job loss, pet loss, or major life transitions. No two people grieve the same way, and there is no “right” timeline or process.
Grief psychologists help individuals understand their emotional responses, normalise their experience, and develop tools to cope, adjust and move through their grief in a healthy and meaningful way.
How Grief Impacts Wellbeing
Grief can show up emotionally, cognitively, physically and behaviourally. Many people move through waves of sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, numbness or yearning. Others may experience changes to sleep, appetite, concentration, energy levels or motivation.
Significant loss can also challenge a person’s worldview, sense of meaning or stability. It's common to feel disconnected from others, question one’s identity, or struggle to “return to normal.”
These reactions are understandable and valid responses to loss—and counselling can help individuals make sense of them and adapt in ways that support long-term wellbeing.
Types of Loss We Support
People may seek grief counselling after a wide range of experiences, including:
- Death of a loved one (parent, partner, child, friend or family member)
- Miscarriage, infertility or stillbirth
- Loss of identity or role (e.g., retirement, end of a career, becoming a carer)
- Relationship breakdown, separation or divorce
- Loss of health or chronic illness diagnosis
- Loss of independence or functioning
- Major life transitions
- Pet loss
- Ambiguous or complicated loss (e.g., estrangement, missing family member)
Each person’s experience is unique, and therapy is tailored to your individual needs, culture, beliefs, and context.
Complicated, Prolonged & Traumatic Grief
While grief is a normal part of being human, some individuals experience prolonged, complicated or trauma-related grief. This may include:
- Feeling “stuck” in grief for an extended period
- Difficulty accepting the loss
- Intense guilt, anger or shame
- Avoidance of reminders
- Intrusive images or memories
- Feeling unable to function or reconnect with life
- Grief experienced alongside trauma (e.g., sudden death, violent loss, witnessing suffering)
Therapy provides a safe and supportive space to make sense of these experiences and move toward healing.
What Grief Counselling Helps With
Grief counselling can support individuals with:
- Managing overwhelming emotions
- Understanding grief responses
- Adjusting to life after loss
- Processing guilt, anger or regret
- Strengthening coping strategies
- Rebuilding identity after loss
- Navigating family or relationship changes
- Supporting children through grief
- Finding meaning and connection after loss
- Integrating the memory of a loved one
- Returning to life, work and routine at your own pace
We work collaboratively with you to identify what you need, where you feel stuck, and what supports your healing journey.
Our Therapeutic Approach
Our psychologists use evidence-based approaches to support grief and loss, which may include:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Grief-informed counselling
- Narrative Therapy
- Compassion-focused approaches
- Meaning-centred grief work
- Trauma-informed frameworks
- Emotion regulation strategies
We also understand that grief does not follow a linear path. Together, we explore your unique experience and help you navigate this period with care, support and practical guidance.
Supporting Children & Adolescents Through Grief
Children and young people grieve differently from adults. Their grief can appear through behaviour changes, withdrawal, regression, irritability, worry or academic decline.
Our child & youth psychologists focus on:
- Understanding the child’s developmental needs
- Helping children name and express emotions
- Supporting parents or caregivers
- Building routines and stability
- Providing practical strategies for home and school
- Creating age-appropriate ways to process grief
We ensure young people feel safe, heard and supported throughout their healing process.
You Are Not Alone
Grief can feel isolating, overwhelming or unpredictable, but you do not have to work through it on your own. Support can make a meaningful difference in helping you cope, honour your loss and rebuild your life in a way that feels authentic and sustainable.
If you or someone you know is experiencing grief or struggling after a significant loss, reaching out for support is an important step.
Contact Us
Find a psychologist at Drop of Life who can support you through grief and loss.
Call us on 07 5520 7705 or contact us to make an appointment or enquiry.
If you need immediate help, please call 000 or a crisis support service:
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467
- Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
