Grief is one of the most profound and painful experiences we can face. Whether you’ve lost a loved one, a cherished pet, a relationship, your health, a pregnancy, or a part of the life you once imagined, grief can leave you feeling overwhelmed, lost, and deeply alone.

At Healing Journey Therapy, we provide compassionate grief and loss counselling for individuals across Eastern Melbourne, offering a safe and supportive space to process your loss, make sense of your emotions, and find a way forward that honours both your grief and your life.

If you’re grieving, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

What Is Grief?

Grief is the natural emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual response to loss.

Many people think grief only occurs after someone dies, but grief can arise after any significant loss, including:

• The death of a family member, partner, friend, or child
• The loss of a beloved pet
• Separation, divorce, or relationship breakdown
• Miscarriage, infertility, or pregnancy loss
• Loss of health or physical ability
• Loss of employment or financial security
• Trauma or significant life changes
• Loss of identity, purpose, or future plans

Grief is not a problem to be solved or something to “get over.” Rather, it is an experience we learn to live with and integrate into our lives over time.

What Does Grief Feel Like?

One of the most common questions people ask is:

“Is what I’m feeling normal?”

The answer is almost always yes.

Grief can affect every aspect of your life and often feels unpredictable. You may experience:

Emotional experiences

• Deep sadness and sorrow
• Intense longing or yearning
• Anger or frustration
• Guilt or regret
• Anxiety or fear
• Numbness or emotional emptiness
• Relief (which can sometimes bring feelings of guilt)
• Loneliness and isolation

Physical experiences

• Fatigue and exhaustion
• Sleep difficulties
• Changes in appetite
• Difficulty concentrating
• Physical aches and pains
• Feeling restless or agitated
• Brain fog or forgetfulness

Behavioural experiences

• Withdrawing from others
• Crying unexpectedly
• Avoiding reminders of the loss
• Seeking constant reminders of the person or experience you’ve lost
• Difficulty returning to everyday activities

Some days you may feel relatively okay. Other days, the grief may feel as intense as it did at the beginning. This does not mean you’re “going backwards.” Grief is not linear.

The Myths About Grief

Many people place enormous pressure on themselves because of common myths about grief.

Myth: “I should be over this by now.”

There is no timeline for grief. Healing happens differently for everyone.

Myth: “Being strong means not crying.”

Expressing grief is not weakness. Allowing yourself to feel is part of healing.

Myth: “I need to move on.”

Many people don’t want to “move on” because it feels like leaving their loved one behind. Instead, grief often involves learning how to move forward while maintaining a meaningful connection to what or who you’ve lost.

Myth: “Others have it worse than me.”

Your grief is valid, regardless of the type of loss or how others perceive it.

When Grief Feels Complicated

While grief is a natural response to loss, sometimes it can become overwhelming, prolonged, or difficult to navigate without support.

You may benefit from counselling if you find yourself:

• Feeling stuck or unable to function in daily life
• Experiencing intense guilt or self-blame
• Avoiding reminders of your loss completely
• Feeling disconnected from others for a prolonged period
• Struggling with hopelessness or despair
• Using alcohol or other behaviours to cope
• Feeling that life no longer has meaning or purpose

Seeking support does not mean you’re grieving incorrectly. It means you’re recognising that you deserve care and support during one of life’s most difficult experiences.

Practical Ways to Cope With Grief

There is no formula for grieving, but there are gentle ways to support yourself through the process.

1. Allow yourself to grieve in your own way
You may cry every day, or you may not cry at all. You may want to talk constantly about your loss, or prefer quiet reflection.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve.

2. Lower your expectations of yourself
Grief requires enormous emotional energy. During periods of grief:

• Basic self-care is enough
• Rest is productive
• Saying “no” is acceptable
• Surviving difficult days is an achievement

3. Stay connected where possible
Grief can be incredibly isolating. While you may not feel like socialising, maintaining even small connections can help.

Consider:

• Sending a message to a trusted friend
• Joining a support group
• Spending time with understanding people
• Speaking with a counsellor

4. Create rituals of remembrance
Many people find comfort in maintaining a connection with their loss through rituals, such as:

• Creating a memory box
• Looking through photographs
• Writing letters
• Lighting a candle
• Planting a tree or garden
• Celebrating important dates and anniversaries

Continuing bonds with those we have lost can be an important part of healing.

5. Be patient with yourself
Grief often comes in waves. Anniversaries, birthdays, songs, places, and memories can unexpectedly trigger strong emotions.

This is not a setback. It is part of loving and remembering.

Pet Loss Grief: When Others Don’t Understand

The loss of a beloved pet can be every bit as painful as losing a human family member.

Pets provide companionship, unconditional love, routine, comfort, and connection. Their loss can leave an enormous gap in our lives.

Unfortunately, pet grief is often minimised or misunderstood by others, which can make the grieving process even more difficult.

At Healing Journey Therapy, we recognise that pet loss grief is real, significant, and deserving of compassionate support.

How Grief Counselling Can Help

You do not have to carry your grief alone.

At Healing Journey Therapy, we provide a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where you can:

• Share your story openly
• Process difficult emotions
• Explore feelings of guilt, anger, sadness, or regret
• Honour your relationship and your loss
• Understand how grief is affecting your life
• Rebuild your sense of identity and purpose
• Develop coping strategies for difficult days
• Find meaning and hope alongside grief

We understand that grief is not something to fix. Our role is to walk alongside you as you navigate your own unique journey.

When Should You Reach Out?

You don’t need to wait until you’re in crisis to seek support.

You may benefit from grief counselling if:

• Your grief feels overwhelming
• You feel isolated or misunderstood
• You’re struggling to function day-to-day
• You want a safe space to talk about your loss
• You simply don’t want to carry this burden alone anymore

There is no “right time” to seek grief support. Whether your loss occurred weeks, months, or years ago, your experience matters.

You Don’t Have to Walk Through Grief Alone

Grief changes us. It changes how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. But while grief may always remain part of your story, it does not have to define your future.

At Healing Journey Therapy, we offer compassionate support as you learn to carry your grief with gentleness, meaning, and hope.

If you’re ready to take the next step, reach out today to book a grief counselling session and begin your journey toward healing and connection.