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​Grief Counseling and Grief Coaching​​
​ Anne@Annesbereavementhaven.llc
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide grief counseling outside of Virginia?
No, I do not. I am a licensed clinical social worker and I am licensed in Virginia.
How long does grief last?
Grief has no timeline. As much as we would like the pain of grief to go away, the reality is that as long as we love we will have some measure of grief.
Are there different types of grievers?
Yes, some grievers emote; other grievers are do-ers; and others think about grief and have a need to understand their grief. Every grieving style will want to find meaning in their grief.
What tools exist to deal with grief when everyone else appears to have moved on?
The tools will depend on your grieving style. Feelers/Emoters do best to tap their best friends, their cleric, or their therapist to process their grief. Feelers do well with journaling. There are several grief journals available through Amazon or your local bookstore.
Do-ers do best in finding a project that is meaningful to them and honors their loved one. Planting a tree is an oft chosen project, donating a bench to a favorite park is another. Cleaning out the attic or setting up an endowment in honor of their loved one is another way of processing their grief.
Thinkers do best by reading books on grief and possibly joining a grief support group or seeing a bereavement counselor. Journaling might be useful as well as long as this focuses on understanding their grief.
Does grief ever end?
Grief becomes less intense over time although grief burst with intensity are not uncommon decades after the loss of a loved one. Grief lasts as long as love lasts. The loss cannot be undone. However, as time goes on a grief burst is more quickly followed by feelings of joy of having known the person and being enriched by the person and the meaning you have gained from having loved and grieved.
I am confused by people saying I have to let go.
Letting go is not a question of forgetting the person you loved, it is a matter of letting go of the pain as a result of the loss. The goal is to let go of the pain and to retain the love you have for your loved one.
How do I support my children after loss of their father/mother?
The four pillars in supporting young children and teenagers are 1) love; 2) routine; 3) security; 4) honesty.