What is Grief?

In brief, grief is our affective/emotional response to the feeling/experience that something is missing. In psychotherapy, grief is often understood as a multifaceted emotional response to loss, particularly the loss of a loved one; however, grief is not exclusive to the loss of a loved one, and can encompass the loss of an opportunity, a lifestyle, or the grief of “what could have been”. Grief involves a range of emotions, behaviours, and physical sensations that can vary greatly from person to person, which means that grief therapy needs to be tailored to the individual experiences of the person. As well, cultural, personal, and situational factors can influence how someone grieves, with no objectively “right way” to grieve.

Grieving individuals often experience a wide range of emotions, including sadness, anger, guilt, relief, and confusion. Therapists assist individuals in developing healthy coping mechanisms to deal with the intense emotions and stress that accompany grief.