Bereavement and loss
Grief can feel overwhelming, isolating, and deeply exhausting. If you are struggling with the loss of someone or something important to you, you don’t have to face it alone. When you feel ready, I invite you to reach out for support.
How hypnotherapy can help with grief
Hypnotherapy can be extremely effective in helping people who are experiencing prolonged or unresolved grief. It offers a gentle, supportive way to explore and process emotions that may feel too painful, confusing, or overwhelming to face on your own.
Through hypnotherapy, you can:
- Begin to understand why you feel the way you do.
- Address unresolved or unexpressed grief.
- Safely express emotions that may have been held inside.
- Find moments of calm, peace, and emotional relief.
Sessions provide you with the time and space to process your grief at a pace that feels right for you. There is no pressure to “move on” or grieve in a particular way. Together, we work gently towards a place where memories of your loved one can be held with warmth and love, rather than overwhelming pain.
Understanding grief
Coping with loss is one of life’s greatest challenges. grief can affect every part of your life – emotionally, physically, and mentally. You may experience shock, anger, disbelief, guilt, or deep sadness. Sleep may be disrupted, your appetite may change, and even simple tasks can feel difficult.
All of these reactions are normal responses to significant loss.
There is no right or wrong way to grieve. However, there are healthy ways to cope that, over time, can ease the intensity of pain, help you come to terms with your loss, and allow life to feel meaningful again.
The grieving process
Grief is often described as lasting around two years, but this varies greatly. For some, two years may feel far too long; for others, it may not feel nearly long enough.
In the past, grief was openly acknowledged and socially supported. Today, expectations can feel very different. Compassionate leave is often limited, and many people feel pressured to return to “normal” life before they are emotionally ready. This can leave grief feeling unseen, unsupported, and misunderstood.
Being told “Don’t cry” can be especially painful. Crying is a natural and essential part of grief, yet it can make others uncomfortable. Often, this discomfort reflects their own fears or unprocessed pain – not anything you are doing wrong.
The different facets of grief
While grief is universal, each person’s experience is unique. That said, there are some common patterns.
Acute grief
Acute grief is typically experienced soon after a loss and can feel all-consuming. You may feel an intense longing for your loved one, alongside deep emotional pain. Physical symptoms are also common, such as heart palpitations, dizziness, fogginess, or a sense of unreality. Concentration and memory can be affected, and thoughts of your loved one may feel constant.
These are natural, adaptive responses to loss.
Integrated grief
Integrated grief develops gradually, as the reality and meaning of the loss are slowly accepted. Life begins to feel more manageable again, and pleasure and connection return. This does not mean forgetting your loved one or missing them any less. Instead, the loss becomes part of your life story rather than something that dominates it.
Memories can still bring sadness, and periods of acute grief may return – especially around anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, or times of stress. This is normal and does not mean you are “going backwards”.
Complicated grief
Complicated grief occurs when the natural grieving process becomes stalled. The pain of loss remains intense and persistent for months or years, without easing over time. This can significantly affect daily life and emotional wellbeing.
Hypnotherapy can be particularly helpful in supporting people experiencing complicated grief, by gently addressing the underlying emotional blocks that prevent healing.
A gentle way forward
Grief changes us – but with the right support, it doesn’t have to define or limit the rest of our lives. Hypnotherapy offers a compassionate space where your grief can be acknowledged, honoured, and slowly softened.
When you are ready, I am here to help you take the next step.