Grief Therapy

Take the first step toward a healthier, more balanced life.

Astute • Evidence-based Care

GRIEF & LOSS THERAPY FOR ADULTS (18+)

Grief includes more than death. We support losses of people and pets, relationships, health, identity, jobs, fertility, home, and the life you imagined—at a pace that honors you.

Call 773-799-8966 New Patient Form

UNDERSTANDING GRIEF & LOSS

Grief is a natural response to change and disconnection—from a person or pet, a relationship or marriage, fertility or pregnancy, health, career, identity, community, home, or dream. It can look like sadness, anger, relief, numbness, guilt, confusion, or physical symptoms. There’s no “right” timeline. We help you name what’s changed, process what hurts, and carry love and meaning forward.

Types of loss: death of a loved one or pet, breakup/divorce, estrangement, infertility/miscarriage, health changes, job/role loss, relocation, identity shifts, and more.
Common experiences: waves of emotion, brain fog, sleep/appetite changes, “shoulds,” and anniversaries that sting.
Hope: healing isn’t forgetting—it’s learning to live with love and pain together, with less overwhelm and more steadiness.

WHAT IS HEALTHY VS. STUCK GRIEF? (PSYCHOEDUCATION)

Acute grief: early waves; focus on safety, sleep, nourishment, and small anchors.
Adaptive grief: emotions ebb/flow while meaning and routine slowly rebuild.
Stuck or complicated grief: persistent distress, avoidance, or self-criticism blocks mourning; therapy gently untangles what’s frozen (trauma, guilt, unfinished business).
Ambiguous loss: unclear endings (estrangement, dementia, missing info) need rituals, boundaries, and meaning-making.
Body & brain: grief stresses the nervous system; grounding and breath help you ride waves without shutting down.

THERAPY OPTIONS AT ASTUTE

Grief Counseling & Meaning Reconstruction: Honor the bond, process regret/anger/relief, and build rituals that fit your values and culture.
Trauma-Informed Care (when loss is traumatic): Stabilize the nervous system, process difficult images/memories, and reduce avoidance and reactivity.
CBT/ACT for Rumination & Guilt: Loosen harsh “shoulds,” shift unhelpful loops, and take compassionate, values-led steps.
Couples/Family Support (Adults): Navigate grief styles, boundaries, roles, and conflict spikes following loss or life change.

TYPES OF LOSSES WE SUPPORT

Death of a loved one or pet (companion animal grief matters)
Breakup, divorce, relationship estrangement, or friendship rupture
Infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy or birth-related grief, adoption/surrogacy complexities
Serious diagnosis, chronic pain, or changes in ability/health
Job loss, retirement, career identity shifts, financial upheaval
Relocation, immigration, cultural loss, community disconnection
Spiritual/faith changes, identity shifts, and “loss of the future I imagined”

COORDINATED SUPPORT

Collaboration with primary care and psychiatry when helpful
Referrals to groups, faith/spiritual supports, and community resources
Documentation for work/education accommodations as appropriate

WHAT TO EXPECT

Map: name your loss(es), values, culture, supports, and stressors.
Plan: right-sized steps for sleep, routines, boundaries, rituals, and meaning-making.
Practice: grounding, grief expression, and real-life experiments that honor your pace.
Maintain: create anniversary plans and future supports for tough seasons.

WHY CHOOSE ASTUTE

Adults-only (18+), inclusive, trauma-informed care
Evidence-based therapy that respects culture, faith, and identity
Practical tools + rituals that fit your life
In-person (Lakeview, Chicago) and telehealth for Illinois adults

SUGGESTED HOLISTIC SUPPORTS

Somatic movement for tension release and embodiment
Restorative yoga & breath for calm and sleep
Mindfulness for navigating waves without judgment
Sound bath or Reiki for deep nervous-system rest

Note: Holistic services complement therapy and do not replace medical care.

IN CRISIS?

If you are in crisis, please contact your nearest ER immediately.

National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988 • Text: HOME to 741741

Video Resource

THE PROCESS OF RECOVERING FROM GRIEF

Everyone grieves in their own way and in their own time. Some people recover from grief and resume normal activities within six months, though they continue to feel moments of sadness. Others may feel better after about a year.

Sometimes people grieve for years without seeming to find even temporary relief. Grief can be complicated by other conditions, most notably depression. The person’s level of dependency on the departed can also cause complications.

The grieving process often involves many difficult and complicated emotions. Yet joy, contentment, and humor do not have to be absent during this difficult time. Self-care, recreation, and social support can be vital to the recovery. Feeling occasional happiness does not mean a person is done mourning.

Grieving the loss of a loved one be a difficult process, whether the loss is due to death, a breakup, or other circumstance. One of the hardest challenges is adjusting to the new reality of living in the absence of the loved one. Adjusting may require a person to develop a new daily routine or to rethink their plans for the future. While creating a new life, a person may adopt a new sense of identity.

MOOD AND GRIEF

The DSM-5 does not define bereavement as a disorder. Yet typical signs of grief, such as social withdrawal, can mimic those of depression.

So how can one tell the difference between grief and depression?

Grief is typically preceded by loss. Depression can develop at any time.
The sadness present in grief is typically related to the loss or death. Depression is characterized by a general sense of worthlessness, despair, and lack of joy.
Symptoms of grief may improve on their own with time. Someone with depression often needs treatment to recover.

Despite their differences, depression and grief are not mutually exclusive. If someone is vulnerable to depression, grief has the potential to trigger a depressive episode. If someone already has depression, their condition may prolong or worsen the grieving process. A therapist can help a person in mourning recognize and manage any depressive symptoms.

https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/grief