Grief and Loss Therapy in Philadelphia, Ocean City, Mechanicsville

Grief Therapy in Philadelphia - Working Towards Healing After a Loss developing a plan of action

First and foremost, acknowledge your loss. Recognize that your life, your activities, your relationship with the person, pet, or position has now changed.

Allow yourself to cry and feel angry (as long as you don’t hurt yourself or any one else). Both are part of the grieving and healing process. Try to avoid placing blame, whether it be on yourself or others.

Unfortunately, your loss is what is, and blaming won’t change it. Holding on to blame will only make you feel bad and impede your healing process. Find a release that works for you.

Releases / working towards healing after a loss:

* Journaling write your thoughts and feelings in a notebook. Writing, using your own emotions, thoughts, and words, is a form of release and allows you to safely express all your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment.
* Exercise take a walk in a different place. Notice the scenery around you as you walk. Breathe in the fresh air on your walk. Really concentrate on what you are seeing as you journey.
* Join a gym or exercise class perhaps seek enrollment in a Tai Chi class or create your own strength training exercise program at home. The point is, exercise can be excellent way to release energy.
* Look to your local book store or online for programs to choose.

Make a list and check it more than twice. Identify and note the emotions and changes you are feeling. As you write each one think about how you can change it or make it better in a positive way.

For example, loss of a job

Feeling ——-Positive Intervention
* Angry———————-Workout more, relieve tension
* Sad—————————Play with pet, take a walk, talk with others
* Lonely————————Attend a support group, talk with a professional or supportive volunteer

Nurture your spiritual health, whatever your beliefs. Seek the guidance and support of those with similar beliefs. Read and study readings that support your beliefs and practices. Develop a sense of spirituality about yourself-concentrate and form a belief system that meets your needs.

Meditation/visualization can provide a healing experience when practiced regularly. Take a few minutes each day to “quiet yourself.” Choose a quiet place in your home or outdoors, one where you can minimize distractions. Sit or lie down, close your eyes, and begin to take slow deep breaths. Concentrate only on the rhythm of your breaths-slowly in and slowly out. Clear your mind of all thoughts by choosing a key word or phrase to focus on. For example, “I am worthy. I can do anything.” As you breathe and repeat your key words/phrases, try to see the words in your mind, think about what they really mean, and begin to see yourself doing, feeling, and saying positive things (refer to your lists). Focus on your strength and abilities, and “see” yourself accomplishing healing in your life. Make a memory. If your loss is a person or pet, you can create a special memory box, scrapbook, or photo album. Include special thoughts, tributes, or mementos. Write a letter to the person or pet, expressing your feelings about them and the joy they brought to your life. Remember-you will feel better. You may always feel a sense of the loss, but with time, the severity will lessen. You will heal.

Positive Self-talk phrases: below are some phrases to help you focus and begin to heal. You may use a combination of any/all of the list or create your own. The key to healing is to try to look at each

negative and create a positive response. It will take time, but you can work through your loss.

* I have lost_________________.
* I feel_____________________.
* I will _____________________.
* I will start_________________.
* I am feeling better.
* I can _____________________.
* I will feel__________________.
* I am______________________.

Remember working towards healing after a loss takes time. With some personal interventions you can help yourself towards the path of healing after a loss. Loss hurts and it can leave you with a myriad of physical and emotional feelings. Be gentle with yourself. Your life has changed. You need to allow yourself time to adjust. Overcoming loss/change can be accomplished with time, self-help, and perhaps the guidance of a professional. Be kind to yourself, you will heal.

You can call grief and loss therapists directly by finding their phone numbers on their profile, or you can bypass the wait time and self schedule directly online. If you prefer talking to a therapist first, you may call (215) 922-LOVE (5683) ext 100 to be connected with our intake department. Lastly, you can call our Director, “Alex” Caroline Robboy, CAS, MSW, LCSW at (267) 324–9564 to discuss your particular situation. For your convenience, we have five physical therapy offices and can also provide counseling and therapy virtually.

• Ocean City Therapy Office
  360 West Ave, Floor 1, Ocean City, NJ 08226
• Mechanicsville Therapy Office
  9044 Mann Drive, Mechanicsville Virginia, 23116
• Alpharetta Office
  
• Society Hill Therapy Office
  233 S. 6th Street, C-33, Philadelphia PA 19106
• Art Museum / Fairmount Therapy Office
  2401 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 1a2, Philadelphia PA 19130
• Santa Fe Therapy Office, 2204 B Brothers Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505
• Telemedicine: We have therapists who are licensed to work in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia New Mexico and Pennsylvania

Therapy Services Offered in Philadelphia, Ocean City, Mechanicsville, Santa Fe:

• Individual Counseling and therapy

• Couples Counseling and marriage counseling

• Teen Therapy and Adolescent Therapy and tweens and child counseling

• Family Therapy and multi-generational counseling

• Art Therapy and Counseling no art skills needed

• ADHD Therapyand ADD, Dyslexia, Autism, Tourettes counseling

• Anxiety, Panic, OCD Therapy and worry and fear support

• Breaking the cycle of Codependency and being your own person

• Overcoming Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain .

• Depression Therapy and sadness, gloom, and upset support

• Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Therapy is a particular style of therapy designed for people with problems affecting their nervous system, how the brain and body send and receive signals.

• Grief Therapy and loss, End of A Relationship, rejections, pregnancy and loss and therapy

• Mindfulness Based Therapy and spirituality based therapy

• Narcissistic Abuse Recovery child of, parent of, spouse of, sibling of a narcissist.

• Sex Therapy and sexual function & dysfunction, sex addiction, sexual orientation and gender identity support

• Shame and Blame

• Trauma Therapy both emotional and sexual abuse, complex trauma, PTSD counseling

• Divorce support

• Affairs, Infidelity, Unfaithful, Cheating counseling

• Parenting therapy

• Personality disorder treatments

• Anger Management Therapy

• Setting Boundaries and identifying ones own Core Beliefs

• Just name some of the Mental Health issues that we work with. Our goal is to help you Change and Achieve Your Dreams

COMPUTER GENERATED RESPONSE TO : WORKING TOWARDS HEALING AFTER A LOSS .......

Experiencing the loss of a loved one can be incredibly difficult, and the healing process can be a long and emotional journey. Here are a few tips that may help in working towards healing after a loss:

1. Allow yourself to grieve: It's important to allow yourself to feel and express your emotions, whether that be through crying, talking to a friend or therapist, or writing in a journal.
2. Take care of yourself physically: Eating well, getting enough sleep, and engaging in physical activity can help improve overall well-being and reduce stress.
3. Connect with others: Talking to friends and family can be a great source of support during this difficult time. It's also important to seek professional help, if needed.
4. Find meaning and purpose: Consider volunteering or participating in activities that align with your loved one's values and interests, this can help to keep the memory of your loved one alive and provide a sense of purpose.
5. Be patient with yourself: Healing from a loss is a process and it can take time. Be patient with yourself and allow yourself to heal at your own pace.
6. Create a memorial: Creating a memorial in honor of your loved one can be a meaningful way to remember them, it can be a physical object, a place, or an annual event.
7. Seek professional help: It's important to seek professional help, if you are struggling to cope with your loss or experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety. A therapist or counselor can help you process your feelings and provide tools and strategies to help you cope with your loss.

Remember that healing from a loss is a personal journey and there is no "right" way to grieve. It's important to be kind and compassionate with yourself as you work through this difficult time.