Therapy for Grief and Loss

Grief is a natural, human response to loss, but it doesn’t always follow a clear path. At Beyond Measure, we honor the many forms grief can take, whether you’re mourning the death of a loved one, grieving a loss of identity or function, or adjusting to life after a major transition. Our work with clients who are grieving is gentle, spacious, and grounded in the understanding that healing is never linear.

Many people come to therapy for grief unsure of what to expect. You might be functioning “fine” on the outside but falling apart internally. You might have experienced a significant loss years ago but are only now beginning to process it. Or you may be overwhelmed by a recent death, separation, or change that has left you reeling. Whatever your experience, we’re here to support you in moving through your pain with compassion and care.

How Grief Can Affect You

Grief affects more than just your emotions— it can also impact your body, your relationships, and your sense of purpose. Many people who seek therapy for grief and loss feel a sense of numbness or disconnection from their own lives. Some describe feeling like they’re going through the motions. Others feel frozen in time or flooded with emotion that makes daily functioning difficult.

Because grief doesn’t operate on a schedule, it can also be hard to talk about. Well-meaning friends or family members may urge you to move on or “stay strong” without understanding what you’re really going through. In therapy, we make space for your truth, whatever it looks like.

Signs You May Be Struggling with Grief

You don’t have to have experienced a death to be grieving. If any of the following resonate with you, you may benefit from therapy focused on grief:

You feel numb, detached, or emotionally flat
You experience waves of sadness, anger, guilt, or confusion that feel hard to control
You’re struggling to sleep, eat, or take care of yourself
You avoid reminders of the person or thing you lost
You feel pressure to “move on” but don’t feel ready or able
You feel isolated and misunderstood in your grief
You find yourself reliving the loss or having difficulty accepting it
You’re dealing with anticipatory grief related to illness or ongoing loss

Types of Loss We Support

There are many forms of grief, and we approach each with sensitivity and care. At Beyond Measure, our therapists are trained to work with:

Death of a loved one, including sudden or traumatic loss
Loss of identity, community, or cultural belonging
Medical grief, such as being diagnosed with a chronic illness or losing physical function
Loss connected to pregnancy, fertility, or miscarriage
Grief following divorce, breakups, or estrangement
Having a loved one with dementia, addiction, or mental illness
Collective grief, including loss connected to systemic trauma or societal events

Grief is deeply personal. Our goal is not to rush you through it, but to walk alongside you as you find meaning and healing at your own pace.

What to Expect in Therapy focused on Grief

Therapy for grief and loss at Beyond Measure is not about “fixing” you. It’s about making room for all that you feel and helping you understand what your grief is asking of you. Some clients come to us in the immediate aftermath of loss, while others seek support months or years later.

Here’s what the process often looks like:

An initial intake session to explore your story and clarify your goals
Time to honor and name the loss, whether it’s recent or long past
Support in identifying and expressing complex emotions like anger, guilt, or regret
Psychoeducation around grief, including cultural and developmental differences
Exploration of how the loss is impacting your relationships, routines, and sense of self
Space for meaning-making, legacy work, or symbolic rituals when appropriate

We work with adults, children, teens, and families, including those facing intergenerational grief, secondary trauma, or complex relational dynamics around a loss.

When Grief and Trauma Overlap

Not all grief is traumatic, but some losses involve trauma, such as sudden deaths, suicides, or experiences of medical or relational betrayal. In those cases, we work gently and intentionally, helping you feel grounded and safe before exploring deeper layers of the loss.

When appropriate, our therapists incorporate trauma-specific approaches like Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Additional Challenges Grievers May Face

Grief often shows up in surprising ways. If you’re unsure whether grief is at the root of your struggles, you’re not alone. Many of our clients come to us with symptoms like anxiety, depression, or physical complaints, and only later do they identify grief as a core component.

You might be:

Struggling to function at work or school due to emotional overwhelm
Experiencing conflict with family members who grieve differently
Questioning your identity, faith, or worldview after a loss
Avoiding places, people, or activities you used to enjoy
Wondering if you’re grieving “right” or feeling stuck in comparison to others

In therapy, we hold space for all of it without judgment, and with the deep belief that there is no one right way to grieve.

Support for Children and Teens Experiencing Grief

We offer specialized therapy for young people navigating loss. Adolescents may feel confused, overwhelmed, or unsupported in their grief, especially when peers or adults don’t understand what they’re going through. Some teens may act out, isolate, or struggle with concentration, sleep, or academic performance.

We meet kids and teens where they are, providing a space that’s emotionally safe, culturally sensitive, and age-appropriate. We also explore how grief intersects with identity development, independence, and major life transitions.

We offer Multidimensional Grief Therapy (MGT), a strength-based approach that distinguishes between adaptive and unhelpful grief responses. MGT helps young people develop effective coping skills, reduce emotional distress, and build the foundation for healthy, fulfilling, and productive lives.

A Collaborative and Compassionate Approach

At Beyond Measure, we believe in meeting grief with both empathy and skill. You won’t be rushed to feel better, but you will be supported in feeling held, seen, and slowly, steadily able to live alongside your grief with more ease.

Our team includes therapists and dietitians who collaborate across disciplines when needed. If grief is affecting your physical health, your ability to eat, or your overall well-being, we can work holistically to address all aspects of your experience.

A Collaborative and Compassionate Approach

Take the Next Step Toward Healing

Grief may change you, but it doesn’t have to define you. If you’re ready to begin processing your loss in a supportive, affirming space, we’re here to help you move through the pain and toward a sense of peace.

📞 Call: (650) 332-9583
🖥️ Book Online: Free 15-min Consultation
📩 Email: info@beyondmeasuresfbay.com

Reach out to start
your healing journey today.

(650) 332-9583

Free 15-min Consultation