Grief Counseling in Lanham & Wheaton, MD

Some losses are recognized by everyone. Others, like a miscarriage, the death of an ex-spouse, or a parent with dementia who is still alive but no longer the person you knew, can leave you grieving without the support or permission others receive. We take all of them seriously, and you never have to justify why something hurts as much as it does.

The death of a parent changes your place in the world, even when you’re an adult with children of your own. You may suddenly be the oldest generation, managing an estate, caring for a surviving parent, or holding a family together while you’re quietly falling apart. If the relationship was complicated, grief can tangle with guilt, relief or old hurt. Counseling gives you room to hold all of it, including the parts that don’t fit in a eulogy.

People are often surprised by how physical grief is. You may feel bone-tired yet unable to sleep, lose your appetite or eat constantly, get sick more often, or feel a heaviness in your chest that comes and goes. Concentration can disappear for weeks. You might reach for your phone to call the person, set an extra plate, or hear their voice. These experiences are common, and naming them can make them less frightening.

Grief can also strain relationships. Friends may say the wrong thing or stop calling after the funeral. Partners may grieve on different schedules, one wanting to talk while the other goes quiet. Workplaces often expect you back to normal within days. Counseling gives you a place to sort out what you need from others, how to ask for it, and how to let go of expectations that aren’t helping.

Holidays, birthdays and anniversaries can reopen a loss you thought was starting to settle. An empty chair at Thanksgiving, the first Christmas without Mom’s cooking, a Mother’s Day ad on your phone. We help you plan for these days ahead of time: which traditions to keep, what to change, who to be with, and how to give yourself permission to leave early when it becomes too much.

For some people, grief stays intense and doesn’t soften over many months. You may feel unable to accept the death, avoid anything that reminds you of the person, or feel life has no purpose without them. This is sometimes called complicated or prolonged grief, and focused therapy can help. If grief brings thoughts of wanting to die or to be with your loved one, please call or text 988 right away. That’s a signal to get support now.

Grief counseling is gentle and paced by you. Early sessions are often about telling the story of the loss and of the person. Over time, we work on practical things like sleep, decisions and returning to work, and on deeper questions of meaning, identity and faith. Your therapist may use existential or Gestalt approaches, or art therapy when words aren’t enough. If you’d like to bring your faith into the process, Christian counseling is available on request.

Grief also lives in families. Children grieve differently than adults, and siblings can disagree about everything from the funeral to the house. Family therapy can help everyone grieve without turning on each other. When grief has slid into ongoing depression, we treat that too. We accept Maryland Medicaid, Medicare and most major plans, and self-pay sessions are $150 with a sliding scale by application.