Grief and Loss

Many life events lead us to experience grief, bereavement, and mourning. These include the death of a beloved family member, friend, or pet; the end of a relationship; the painful experience of watching a loved one as he or she battles a life challenging illness or traumatic injury; facing your own death or new disability, or the loss of a long held dream.

Helping bereaved persons as they navigate through the wilderness of grief is a priority at Navigator Counseling and Psychotherapy LLC.

Special Issues in Bereavement

Often bereaved people feel isolated and misunderstood. Friends and family want to help, but may not have the needed resources or abilities. At Navigator Counseling and Psychotherapy LLC, we work toward integration of loss and re-engaging in life at a pace that fits your needs while honoring the meaning and depth of your experience.

Complicated Grief and the Types and Means of Loss

No two losses are truly alike even though they may bear similarities. Different types of losses create different responses from grieving people. The type of loss and how it came about (the “means”) can significantly impact our journey through grief. Many losses create profound impacts on our lives and challenge our ability to cope. But, there is hope and healing.

At Navigator, we have great respect for each person’s unique experience of loss. We tailor our work to each client’s very specific and unique needs. We honor the meaning and depth of loss, and work to help clients integrate it into their lives in ways that promote reconciliation and peace.

Grief and loss have many faces. Below is a list of types of losses that we often encounter at Navigator Counseling and Psychotherapy LLC. This is not an exhaustive list, but it does demonstrate that loss has many manifestations. Whether you see your type of loss listed or not, we can help. Please know that you are not alone. There is hope and help.

Death of a Parent

• Experienced before birth
• Experienced as a child
• Experienced as an adolescent
• Experienced as an adult

Loss of a Child

• Loss during Pregnancy- Miscarriage
• Loss Due to Stillbirth
• Loss of a Child in Infancy
• Loss of a Child during Early Childhood
• Loss of a Child during Middle Childhood
• Loss of an Adolescent Child
• Loss of an Adult Child
• Loss Related to Termination of Pregnancy

Sudden/Traumatic Death or Loss

• Homicide or Suicide
• Accidental Death
• Sudden Death Due to Natural Causes
• Traumatic Death
• Multiple Deaths
• Protracted or Painful Death
• Death Involving Suffering

Complicated Grief

• Chronic Grief
• Delayed Grief
• Masked Grief
• Absent Grief
• Inhibited Grief
• Distorted Grief
• Conflicted Grief
• Unanticipated Grief

Loss of a Relationship

• Separation and Divorce
• Ended Relationships
• Broken Engagements
• Family Estrangements and Cutoffs
• Lost Friendships
• Loss of a Dream

Job Loss

• College or Job Application Rejection
• Physically, Emotionally, Psychologically, Socially, Cognitively, or Spiritually Limiting Life
• Change
• Loss of a Relationship
• Loss of a Home
• Financial Losses

End of Life Issues

• Hospice
• Palliative Care
• Life Review
• Anticipatory Grief
• Social, Psychological, Emotional, and Spiritual Needs of the dying and their loved ones

Pet Loss

• Sudden Death of a Beloved Pet
• Anticipated Loss of a Beloved Pet
• Euthanasia of a Beloved Pet
• Abandonment of a Beloved Pet