Grief Counseling & Grief Therapy in Portland, Maine

Grief can change the way the world feels.

After a significant loss, things that once felt ordinary may suddenly feel unfamiliar. You may find yourself moving between sadness, anger, numbness, guilt, relief, confusion, or moments when you feel almost normal—and then wonder whether you should.

There is no single right way to grieve.

I provide grief counseling in Portland, Maine for people who are trying to make sense of loss, adjust to what has changed, and find a way forward without feeling as though they have to leave an important part of their experience behind.

Grief Can Take Many Forms

We often associate grief with the death of someone we love, but grief can emerge around many kinds of loss.

You may be grieving the death of a family member, partner, friend, or other important person. You may be coping with the end of a relationship, a change in health, a major transition, the loss of a role or identity, or a future that no longer looks the way you expected.

Sometimes grief begins before a loss has fully occurred. Anticipatory grief can arise when someone you love is seriously ill or when you know a major change is coming.

Other times, grief feels less clearly defined. You know that something has changed, but it may be difficult to explain why it continues to affect you so deeply.

Therapy can offer a place to slow down and make room for that experience.

When Grief Feels Difficult to Carry Alone

Grief does not follow a predictable timeline.

For some people, the intensity gradually changes over time. For others, grief continues to feel close to the surface or begins affecting work, relationships, sleep, concentration, motivation, or the ability to participate in everyday life.

You may feel pressure—from yourself or from other people—to be doing better by now.

You may also find yourself avoiding reminders of what happened because the emotions feel too painful, while another part of you worries that moving forward somehow means forgetting.

Grief counseling is not about convincing you to “get over” a loss.

Instead, therapy can help you understand what you are experiencing, make space for emotions that may be difficult to carry alone, and begin finding ways to live alongside what has happened.

What Does Grief Counseling Look Like?

There is no formula for grief therapy because every relationship, loss, and person is different.

Our work may involve talking directly about the person or experience you have lost. At other times, we may focus on what the loss has changed—your relationships, routines, sense of identity, beliefs, plans, or understanding of yourself.

We might also explore feelings that can be difficult to acknowledge openly, such as anger, guilt, relief, resentment, fear, or unfinished conversations.

The goal is not to force a particular emotional process.

Sometimes grief needs to be talked about. Sometimes it needs to be felt. Sometimes you need space from it.

Therapy can help us pay attention to what you need rather than trying to make your grief conform to someone else's expectations.

Making Space for Different Parts of Grief

Grief can bring up conflicting feelings.

One part of you may want to move forward while another feels afraid of letting go. You may feel grateful for memories and angry about what happened at the same time. You may want support while also wanting everyone to leave you alone.

These contradictions do not necessarily mean something is wrong.

I often use Internal Family Systems (IFS) in my work, which can be particularly useful when different parts of us seem to be responding to a loss in different ways.

Instead of deciding that one reaction is correct and another needs to disappear, we can become curious about what each part is carrying and what it may need.

For some people, this creates a gentler way of approaching grief than trying to think or behave their way out of it.

Grief, Anxiety, and Depression

Grief can sometimes overlap with experiences that look like anxiety or depression.

You may have trouble sleeping, feel less interested in things you used to enjoy, find it difficult to concentrate, become more aware of your own mortality, or worry about losing other people you care about.

Part of therapy can involve making sense of these experiences in the context of your loss and considering what kind of support may be helpful.

Grief itself is not something that needs to be eliminated.

But you also do not have to assume that ongoing suffering is simply something you are expected to tolerate.

When Should I Consider Grief Counseling?

There is no specific point when someone is “supposed” to begin therapy after a loss.

Some people seek support soon after something happens. Others come to therapy months or years later when they realize the loss is still affecting them in ways they had not expected.

You might consider grief counseling if you feel overwhelmed by the intensity of your emotions, find yourself avoiding reminders of the loss, feel increasingly isolated, are struggling to function in everyday life, or simply feel that you need somewhere to talk openly about what happened.

You also do not need to be in crisis for therapy to be useful.

Sometimes having a place where you do not need to protect other people from your grief is enough of a reason to begin.

Does Grief Therapy Help You “Move On”?

I do not think of grief therapy as helping someone forget, detach from, or “move on” from an important loss.

A more useful goal may be learning how to carry the relationship or experience differently.

Over time, grief can change. The loss may remain significant without occupying every part of your life in the same way.

Moving forward does not have to mean leaving someone or something behind.

It can mean finding a way to make room for both what you have lost and the life that is still unfolding.

Grief Counseling in Portland, Maine

I provide grief therapy for adolescents and adults in Portland, Maine who are navigating loss, change, and the emotional experiences that can follow.

My approach is collaborative and individualized. Depending on what is most helpful, our work may draw from Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, and other forms of psychotherapy.

You do not need to know what kind of therapy you need before reaching out.

We can begin with what happened, how it is affecting you now, and what you would like support with.

If you are looking for grief counseling in Portland, Maine, you are welcome to contact me to learn more about my practice or schedule an initial consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grief Counseling

How do I know if I need grief counseling?

There is no threshold you have to meet before seeking support. Therapy may be useful if grief feels overwhelming, isolating, difficult to talk about, or continues to interfere with relationships or daily life. It can also be helpful simply to have a space where you can talk openly about your loss.

Is there a normal timeline for grief?

Grief does not follow a fixed schedule. Its intensity often changes over time, but reminders, anniversaries, relationships, and life transitions can bring feelings back unexpectedly. Therapy is not about getting you through grief according to a particular timeline.

Can therapy help after the death of a loved one?

Yes. Grief therapy can provide space to process the loss, understand difficult or conflicting emotions, adjust to changes in your life, and explore how you want to carry the relationship forward.

Can grief counseling help with losses other than death?

Yes. People can experience significant grief after divorce, the end of a relationship, illness, changes in family relationships, loss of identity, career transitions, or other meaningful changes.

Do you provide grief counseling in Portland, Maine?

Yes. I work with adolescents and adults seeking grief counseling and psychotherapy in Portland, Maine. Contact me to learn more about current availability and whether my practice may be a good fit.