Asma's vision extends beyond traditional grief support, recognizing the complex nature of loss, whether it's the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or more nuanced forms of grief. Her approach is holistic and inclusive, ensuring that the Grief Recovery Center remains a cornerstone of hope and healing. Through her expertise and heartfelt dedication, Asma Rehman has established herself as a trusted authority in helping individuals heal and find peace amidst their most challenging times.
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During the mourning period after the loss of a loved one, grief is an extreme emotion that is difficult to overcome. As such, many individuals experiencing the pains of bereavement may seek professional assistance to manage the physical, mental, and emotional distress they may have after a loss. When it comes to the Grief Recovery Center, our trained counselors strive to provide assistance by having treatment goals for grief.
The grieving process can be both physically and mentally exhausting, therefore most grieving individuals may try to avoid the short-term work involved in working through their pain and heal from the feelings of loss. With deliberate effort and having treatment goals for grief, however, our clients can expect to find the necessary skills to move forward and grow towards a healthy new life. Although it may be harder to face the emotional ups and downs during bereavement, having the strategies and a plan to grief can help prevent or minimize future emotional illnesses. Here are 3 essential treatment goals for the grief that our therapists at the Grief Recovery Center in Houston, TX have utilized to help our clients progress despite having lost someone they loved.
Grief and loss can be tough, no question about it. Our therapists offer online grief counseling for residents in three states – California, Colorado, and Texas. They make it easy for you to take care of your mental health when you need support the most.
1. Validating the Past
Everyone grieves differently; the journeys can vary significantly because there are no right or wrong ways to grief. This is in part due to the unique nature of relationships, emotional capacity, and past experiences. During a grieving process, one of the treatment goals for grief is to validate the past and have the loved one remembered while forging new relationships and gaining further emotional support.
Our trained therapists in Houston aim to help the griever tell their story in a non-judgemental environment, where they can share the memories and history of their loved one that they lost. The bereaved individual, with the guidance of our counselors, can look at the events that led to the loss and examine the emotions during this time. If there are any areas of grievances or unfinished business, the client can then discuss with their counselor how best to resolve any significant issues of grief.
Another facet of this treatment goal for grief is to help the griever dispel any past beliefs and myths about grief and correct any kinds of irrational thinking that have to do with the loss itself. Our therapists will try to help our clients navigate through the emotions of what grief may feel like while challenging any rules that a griever may have about how they should grief. The grief process has no rules or any step-by-step procedures. It is fluid and ever-changing, which can be frustrating. Therefore it is crucial to validate the past and create new frameworks on how to effectively grief in a healthful manner.
2. Adjusting to the Present
The grief process has two aspects of loss that is ever present during the bereavement process. The first loss is the loss of the loved one, which can be incredibly difficult to process especially if there was a powerful bond or attachment to the lost individual. An essential treatment goal for grief at the Grief Recovery Center is to help our clients let go of those bonds while retaining the memory with respect and honor.
The focus can then turn to the second aspect of loss, which is the loss of identity due to the loss of the loved one. When we lose a family member or someone we love, we, in essence, is missing a particular role that comes with the relationship of our loved one. Be it the role of a wife, a son, or a father, the positions within the family will be restructured to develop a new identity based on a new life without the loved one.
The counselors at the Grief Recovery Center in Houston, TX will help the client become aware of how different life can be and the new responsibilities for change that comes with loss. There will be new skills and strategies to adjust to this new life to manage grief and change.
3. Redefining the Future
Lastly, grief counselors aim to help a client redefine their future without their loved one as a treatment goal for grief. Our experienced counselors will thoroughly discuss any dreams and aspirations the client may have and work with these ideas to create new opportunities despite the loss. The client may utilize the insights they learned from their grieving process to become hopeful and find purpose in these new opportunities in their lives.
As previously mentioned, the grieving process and the depth of the grief differs amongst every individual. Some people may have more severe grief reactions where they may need more assistance in identifying and solving the anxieties and depression they may have due to their loss. The grief that does not get resolved may develop into chronic illnesses down the road. If the damage from the loss was significant enough but does not get the attention it needs for mourning to occur, the future may be bleak as grief can turn into complicated grief. The emotional troubles can include guilt, self-blame, and isolation, which can develop into other complications such as depression and anxieties.
The treatment goal for grief is to help individuals normalize and embrace their emotions during the grief process. Professional strategies are suggested and practiced to help the bereaved have the tools and support they need to cope with their loss without feeling alone or emotionally distraught. A counselor will work with the client to see that the loss is irreversible, but that life does go on after mourning.
How Do These Treatment Goals for Grief Tie Into Your Grieving Process?
The Grief Recovery Center in Houston, TX aims to develop a working relationship with our clients to accept and express all the feelings related to grief. Grief therapy may offer the mourner a safe place to work through any anger, guilt, or other emotions that come along with losing a loved one. A bond will be developed to offer support to the bereaved as time passes. If you have recently experienced a loss that makes grieving challenging to cope with alone, you can contact us for more info today.
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[…] A. (2021). 3 essential treatment goals for grief. […]