The Best Therapy for Grief: A Complete Guide

For most people, grief is a difficult and deeply personal experience. It is a natural response to loss, but it can also be overwhelming and affect every aspect of your life. Many people going through this difficult experience want to know what the best therapy for grief is and how to begin seeking help.

In this blog, we’ll explain what grief is, the different forms it can take, and when professional support may be beneficial. We’ll also explore the evidence-based modalities commonly used by psychologists to support people experiencing grief.

What Is Grief?

Grief is a normal human experience that usually occurs in response to loss. While most people associate it with the loss of someone close, grief can arise from many other life experiences, including:

• The end of a relationship or marriage

• A chronic illness diagnosis

• Changes to a person’s role or sense of identity

• A major life change that feels irreversible

Grief is not a single emotion. It can involve sadness, anger, guilt, and confusion. It does not follow a predictable pattern. The experience of grief can change over the course of months or years.

Types of Grief

Grief can take many forms, and understanding these different experiences can help when seeking support.

• Acute grief refers to the immediate and intense period following a loss. It is characterised by severe emotional pain, disbelief, and difficulty with everyday functioning.

• Integrated grief refers to the process of adapting to a loss over time. The intensity of grief may decrease, becoming more manageable and less disruptive to daily life.

• Prolonged grief disorder involves persistent and intense grief that continues over time and significantly interferes with daily functioning.

• Anticipatory grief occurs before a loss, for example, when supporting someone with a terminal illness.

• Disenfranchised grief refers to grief that is not openly acknowledged or socially validated, such as the loss of a pet or a relationship that others did not know about.

When a Grieving Person May Benefit from Therapeutic Support

Grief affects everyone differently. While intense emotions are a normal part of the grieving process, professional support may be helpful if grief begins to interfere with your everyday life, relationships, responsibilities, or ability to cope.

Signs that additional support may be helpful include:

• Persistent difficulty sleeping, eating, or concentrating that does not improve after some time

• Withdrawal from work, social activities, or responsibilities that previously felt manageable

• Feeling stuck, unable to experience moments of relief

• Intrusive thoughts or images related to the loss that are difficult to manage

• Feeling that grief is affecting daily functioning rather than gradually becoming more manageable

The Best Therapy for Grief: Which Modalities Are Effective?

For those considering therapy for grief, the right approach will vary depending on the person, the nature of the loss they have experienced, and the support they need. At Adelaide Clinical Psychology, our team of warm and understanding psychologists is trained in evidence-based treatment modalities commonly used in grief therapy, including:

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, or CBT, focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. When applied to grief, CBT can help individuals recognise unhelpful thinking patterns and develop more balanced perspectives about the loss they have experienced.

It also supports the building of coping strategies that aid adjustment following a loss. CBT is a structured, goal-oriented approach that can be adapted to suit an individual’s needs.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based approach that encourages people to accept their experiences rather than fight against them. Instead of trying to change difficult thoughts and feelings, ACT helps individuals develop a kinder, more open relationship with them.

In the context of grief, this can help people acknowledge their loss while continuing to move forward in ways that align with their values.

Schema Therapy

Schema therapy is an integrative approach that combines elements of CBT, attachment theory, psychoanalysis, and emotion-focused therapy. It focuses on identifying and understanding “schemas”, which are unhelpful patterns that can develop earlier in life when emotional needs are not met.

In grief, schema therapy may be considered when a loss activates longstanding emotional patterns, attachment difficulties, or unresolved experiences from the past. It provides a framework for exploring these patterns and developing healthier ways of responding to emotional needs and distress.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) that focuses on helping individuals manage intense emotions, cope with distress, stay present in the moment, and develop healthier ways of responding to challenges.

DBT teaches four key skill areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. For individuals experiencing grief alongside overwhelming emotions or difficulty managing distress, DBT may provide practical strategies for coping, regulating emotions, and responding to challenging situations in healthier ways.

EMDR Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy focuses on helping individuals process distressing memories and experiences. It is based on the idea that the mind has a natural ability to process and recover from distressing experiences, similar to the body’s natural processes for healing physical injuries.

In grief, EMDR may be used when a loss involves traumatic or distressing experiences. It aims to help individuals process these experiences and reduce the emotional distress associated with them, so memories of the event may become less overwhelming over time.

Seeking Therapy for Grief: Key Takeaway

Grief is a natural response to loss, but the way people experience and process grief can vary. The best therapy for grief depends on the individual, the nature of the loss, and the challenges they may be facing.

At Adelaide Clinical Psychology, our team of registered psychologists uses evidence-based approaches to help individuals navigate the emotional impact of grief and loss. We work with you to explore emotions, thoughts, and behaviours related to your experience while developing strategies to adjust and cope over time.

Take the next step and contact us today to discuss how we can help you navigate the challenges of grief and loss.