Grief is Necessary

By Mary Keogh, Registered Psychotherapist

“Grief is not a disorder, a disease, or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, spiritual, and physical necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve.” 
Earl Grollman 

What can cause grief? 
Grief can be triggered by any meaningful loss—not just death. Changes in relationships, health, identity, routines, job loss or life circumstances can all lead to grief. Grief arises when we experience the loss of someone, something, or a way of life that holds personal meaning and significance. Grief is a universal human experience, deeply personal yet inevitable. 

How it may feel: 
Grief can feel like sadness, numbness, anger, confusion, or even relief. It affects everyone differently and often comes in waves rather than a straight line. Grief can bring a mix of emotional, physical, and mental reactions, including sadness, exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, and a sense that life has changed. 

How therapy can help: 
Therapy provides a supportive space to process emotions, make sense of your loss, and develop personal coping tools, so that the grief feels less overwhelming over time. Grief can be very isolating, and we can often feel people don’t get it, or we do not want to overburden others with the emotional pain we are experiencing.

Grief therapy can help you feel supported, less alone in the loss and with the compassionate support you can receive it can help you heal and learn how to live with the loss.  

Potential therapeutic goals: 
When seeing a therapist for grief therapy, some common goals might include: 

• Processing and expressing emotions related to the loss  

• Understanding your unique grief experience  

• Developing healthy coping strategies  

• Adjusting to life changes after a loss  

• Managing feelings of guilt, anger, worry or even regret  

• Strengthening support systems and relationships  

• Finding ways to maintain a meaningful connection with what was lost  

• Rebuilding routines and a sense of stability  

• Navigating anniversaries, holidays, and other grief triggers  

• Exploring meaning, purpose, and hope moving forward  

Because ultimately, the goal isn’t to eliminate grief or pretend the loss did not happen but about learning to carry the loss while continuing to engage in life.  

Want to know more about how Psychotherapy can assist you?   

If any of what I have said in this blog resonates with you, please know that you’re not alone, and it’s okay to ask for support. If you have been thinking about therapy or are simply looking for a safe place to talk and be heard, I would welcome the opportunity to support you. I am here.   

Book a 15-minute complimentary consultation with Mary Keogh and start the conversation on how she can support you today. 

About the Author  

Mary Keogh is a Registered Psychotherapist who practices at the Adelaide Health Clinic. She sees individuals aged 18 and older in her practice. Mary specializes in helping individuals manage stress, emotional challenges, complicated relationships (romantic, workplace, friendships or family of origin) grief and difficult life transitions. 

A quick note on this piece: 
The content here is for educational and informational purposes only. It’s not medical advice (I am not a GP) or a diagnosis (that is outside my scope of practice). Think of this as a gentle guide: helpful, but not the whole map.