In Charlotte + Online Across NC & SC
Grief Therapy for Spousal & Partner Loss
No matter how much you tell yourself otherwise, there was no way you could have prepared for this—the shattered heart, crushed soul, & unrecognizable world.
Waking up each day means you’re forced to remember your other half is no longer here.
Maybe your loved one’s death was expected after a long battle with cancer, dementia, heart disease, or another chronic condition. Perhaps their death blindsided you completely, happening quickly and without warning.
Whether anticipated, sudden, or traumatic, losing your spouse or partner was never part of the plan. The moment they died, you were thrust into a strange new world.
You never expected grief would be this excruciating, exhausting, & overwhelming.
When you finally make it to the end of the day and attempt to sleep, you become flooded with thoughts and memories…
Seeing them that morning, wishing desperately you had known it would be the last time
Dreading how the roles shifted—from lovers & partners to patient and caregiver—far from the early days of spontaneity & possibility
Signing the final paperwork that, even if it was what they wanted, gave permission for the end to really begin
Reliving those final moments, days, weeks, or years, the ones that you can’t get back but you tightly cling to because at least it’s something
You’re not going crazy. This is actually as heavy and all consuming as it feels.
It seems like everyone you know has gotten the chance to “return to normal”, seemingly unfazed by what has happened. Meanwhile, grief has seeped into every part of your world…
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It’s frozen, painful, ever changing, & cruel.
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Sleep no longer equals rest, you constantly feel drained, & getting through the day feels like moving through mud.
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The comments, looks, questions, unspoken pressure, & unsolicited advice just keep comin’.
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What ifs, shoulda, coulda, wouldas, conversations being replayed, moments being relived, your brain just won’t stop!
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Your physical body & your heart are like cinderblocks, dragging you under water & away from everyone & everything.
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Each day the rug is pulled out from under you by something new, or the same thing yet again, leaving you unable to catch your breath.
Right now this place may feel unsafe, unfamiliar, & unwelcome. But you don’t have to exist within your grief like this forever.
Let’s journey together & find another way.
Imagine navigating grief with a roadmap molded by the unique journey of you & your loved one.
It’s infuriating to realize the darkest parts of life don’t come with an exit route. While this might feel cruel right now, as you continue to grieve you may feel differently. As women, we all remember that time we became obsessed with our best friend’s new outfit. We rushed to the mall (pre-online shopping, of course) with high hopes only to try on the exact same thing and immediately…hated it. “Ugh! What was I thinking!? It looked so good on her!”
What works for someone else may offer hope & inspiration but it doesn’t always lead to discovering what works for you.
Seeking out space and support that’s dedicated to you, your loved one, and your grief doesn’t guarantee you’ll immediately find that “perfect fit”. Grief isn’t one-size-fits-all. If it were, it wouldn’t reflect the unique story of you, your loved one, or your shared journey.
Unfortunately, many of us are not taught about this part of life. So if you find that, perhaps, you and those around you don’t know how to navigate all of this, it’s okay. I like to believe we are all just doing our best.
Grief is a natural response to losing someone you love. It might not seem like it, but what’s happening within you is normal and healthy.
HOW WE GET TO KNOW YOUR GRIEF, TOGETHER
Discover what it means to grieve your way.
Together, we create a safe, reliable, and validating space where you can grieve as your heart feels called to.
No minimizing, no censoring, no timeline.
In order to grieve your way, we have to get to know your grief. I’ll walk alongside you, supporting you to…
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That’s right! In our sessions, there’s no holding back necessary. The more honest you can be about your experience, your feelings, and the intensity of your grief, the more liberation you can open yourself up to over time.
Have you ever heard the phrase “name it to tame it”? Sounds simple, but naming what is, believe it or not, does make a difference. So many grievers are stuffing, simplifying, or contorting their grief in some sort of way—for themselves, others, or a little bit of both.
This ultimately results in things being left unnamed, therefore untamed, and eventually trapped inside or coming out sideways. This tends to work in the short-term but in the long-term it can grow your grief into a pretty nasty beast. I imagine it feels intense enough as is, so maybe, together, we can find some other options.
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If you feel any ounce of repulsion to the idea of being with your grief right now, or don’t even know what this means, that’s okay. In early grief especially, a little distraction, ignoring, or distance will help you survive. And survival is incredibly important. We want you on this planet! The kicker: over time, this may not help you in the same way it does right now.
A big piece of grief work is about learning how to live with what cannot be changed. To move from wrestling with grief to the possibility of something different, requires time, presence, exploration, and breathing room.
Although you probably want certain things to stop, ultimately we’re not here to fix this. Being with means that, together, we get to know your grief, little by little, inch by inch, minute by minute. Digesting slowly so, hopefully, grief can become more of a friend than an enemy, less overwhelming, and something you begin to gradually weave into your journey.
And no, because I know you’re worried about it, your person will not be forgotten, lost, let go of, or ignored in order to live again.
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You know from experience, if grief had a superpower, it would be its devilish way of sneaking into every nook and cranny of your life. More than likely, you already know some of its patterns, tricks, and triggers. Other times, it comes flooding in quickly, taking your breath away, leaving you feeling helpless and in an uncontrollable fit of tears.
Grief is experienced on every level: emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, relational, cultural, and the list goes on. You probably won’t want to hear this but I bet you know it deep down…Since its reach is wide, its roots run deep, and it's uniquely designed to reflect you, your person, and your life’s journey, it’s only natural that grieving is a process that takes time.
But time alone doesn’t actually heal all wounds. With our time, attention, and care we can get to know your grief—its unique quality, flavor, needs, energy, pain points, & rhythm. With understanding, familiarity, and space, your grief can breathe a little, so you can breathe a little. With each breath, you, your body, your heart, and your spirit can get the oxygen needed to live and grieve. Not one or the other.
Grief therapy for spousal & partner loss can empower you to:
Mourn your loved one—openly, honestly, & without a timeline attached
Uncover tools, resources, & people that help ground you along the way
Feel steadier & safer within your grief while gaining clarity, to support you now & in the future
Slowly build a practice of turning towards your grief in order be with it while accessing permission to turn away as needed—learning your unique ebbs & flows
If willing, explore how to live with this loss as a part of your story—even if every fiber of your being is raging against this right now (gentle reminder: no rushing this, no timeline here)
Discover how to stay connected to your person, even here, on this side
Even if it doesn’t feel like it, you’re already walking on your own path.
Let’s walk together from here so you can keep uncovering how to grieve your way & discover your way through this.
Frequently Asked Questions about Grief Therapy for Spousal & Partner Loss
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Yes, I have a lot of experience with this specific type of loss and working with women around this type of loss. If you have any questions specific to you, your journey, or your loved one, please bring them to the consultation call or send me a message.
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Yes, yes, and yes. All your feelings belong in our sessions. I’ll be honest though, I will probably encourage some grace with yourself along the way, but only if you’re willing to try and you’re beginning to feel ready for it. You get to say, “Nope Anna, not today”!
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Support systems are incredibly important! I’m not here to take the place of others in your life. My hope is that I can be another person in your corner. Folks often come to me feeling as if they’re a burden to others or can’t share openly. Yet, they’re trying to sift through SO much change.
Fortunately, therapy can be a safe, confidential, and reliable space where you can bring any aspect of your grief. What I hope may make me a little different is my ability to be with you in whatever you’re in. My training, along with my personal and professional experiences, assist me in being able to remain present and connected with you in your grief. Being witnessed where you are and having permission to feel what you feel, are essential. This can be strengthened with therapeutic support—intended entirely for you and your grief.
More questions? Check out my FAQ page.
walk the path of your grief journey
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walk the path of your grief journey —