Grief is an emotional response to an intensely distressing situation or prolonged suffering experienced by significant loss. It is complex and multifaceted, and one must learn how to navigate the non-linear journey through strong, and perhaps new, emotions, behaviours and thoughts that arise. There are many reasons to feel grief and being able to identify why you are feeling this way is imperative to learning how to navigate it.

Death of a loved one: loss can be deeply profound and impactful, affecting various aspects of our lives in significant ways such as difficultly coping with daily life, the loss of financial security or a change in role as a caregiver, employee, or other significant social roles. 

Anticipatory grief: A form of grief that begins before an actual loss happens, typically in situations involving the impending death of a loved one due to illness.

Disenfranchised grief: Not openly acknowledged, publicly mourned, or socially supported because the loss, or the way one expresses grief is not considered "valid" by society. Can lead to isolation and a difficulty processing emotions.

Health Loss: loss of physical/mental capabilities, independence, and identity or vision of a life that one wanted to live.

Estrangement: When a relationship is lost due to estrangement, not death. The person may still be alive, but the relationship is gone. This grief may not be supported by others, leading to feelings of shame, guilt, and isolation. 

Ambiguous loss: An unclear or unconfirmed loss, leading to feelings of confusion, anxiety, and chronic sorrow. It differs from traditional grief in that there is no definitive closure or confirmation of the loss, making it challenging to mourn and process. For example, when a loved one becomes psychologically absent through dementia or a traumatic brain injury, when a loved one is in active addiction or is incarcerated.

Financial loss: Triggers significant emotional distress, such as feeling overwhelmed by the loss something valued or the sense of safety. For example, the end of a career, cost of living crisis, or a change of circumstances due to one of the above types of loss

Examples of what we do in the room