Grief, Change, and Finding a Way Forward: Existential Therapy for Grief

Grief can touch every part of life. Whether it comes from the loss of a loved one, a relationship ending, a major life transition, or a quiet shift in identity, it has a way of reshaping how we see ourselves and the world around us. It can feel disorienting, heavy, and deeply personal and there is no simple way through it.

This is where existential therapy for grief offers something different. Rather than trying to fix or minimise your suffering, it provides a space to sit with your experience, explore what the loss means to you, and begin making sense of a world that may feel unfamiliar. It’s an approach grounded in presence, honesty, and gentle curiosity, supporting you as you navigate grief in your own way, at your own pace.

Understanding Grief from an Existential Perspective

What Grief and Change Can Feel Like

Grief isn't limited to the death of a loved one. It can arise from various forms of loss, such as the end of a relationship, a career change, or even the loss of a sense of identity. These life transitions can trigger feelings of disorientation, numbness, or being overwhelmed. It's important to recognise that these feelings are valid and a natural part of adapting to change. 

Navigating The Emotional Weight 

The emotional weight of grief can feel overwhelming, sometimes even impossible to hold. Sadness, anger, confusion, guilt, or numbness may surface in ways you didn’t expect. These feelings often intensify during major life transitions, when the routines and roles that once offered stability begin to shift. Existential therapy for grief recognises just how heavy these emotions can be. Instead of trying to minimise or categorise them, it offers a space where you can explore what you're feeling without judgment or pressure. In this kind of therapy, the focus isn’t on “getting over” grief, but on understanding what it means for you and how it shapes your experience of the world.

Allowing these emotions to be seen and acknowledged can be an important step toward emotional healing and toward slowly finding a way forward after loss.

Normalising Complex Grief Experiences

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to coping with loss, and everyone grieves in their own way and at their own pace. Complicated grief or prolonged grief disorder can make the search for meaning feel even more challenging. The existential approach recognises that grief is a deeply personal journey, and there's no right or wrong way to feel. Existential therapy offers support for grief, allowing individuals to explore their emotions and experiences without pressure or expectation.

How Existential Therapy Addresses Grief

Existential Themes in Grief Therapy

Existential therapy delves into fundamental questions about existence, meaning in life, freedom, and responsibility. When applied to grief, this therapeutic approach helps individuals explore existential themes such as the meaning of life in the face of loss, the inevitability of death, and the search for meaning amidst suffering. Existential concerns become amplified during bereavement, and existential therapy provides a framework for addressing death anxiety, existential isolation, and the struggle to find purpose after experiencing loss. Existential counseling can assist in exploring these profound aspects of the human experience.

Exploration vs. Stages: A Different Approach

Traditional grief models often outline specific stages of grief, but existential therapy offers a different approach. Rather than focusing on prescribed stages, existential therapy emphasises exploration and presence. It recognises that grief is a unique and individual experience that cannot be neatly categorised. Instead of trying to fit grief into a specific framework, existential psychotherapies encourage individuals to explore their emotions, thoughts, and experiences without judgment or expectation. The focus is on being present with the grief, allowing it to unfold naturally, and finding meaning in the midst of it. 

The Role of Meaning-Making in Therapy

Meaning-making is central to existential philosophy and existential theory, especially when working through grief. The existential perspective suggests that humans are meaning-seeking beings, and when faced with loss, it is natural to question the meaning and purpose of life. In therapy, meaning-making involves exploring values, beliefs, and relationships to find new meaning and purpose in the face of loss. Existential social work in coping helps individuals redefine their sense of meaning and integrate their loss into their life story. Meaning-making in therapy helps to find meaning with coping with death and grief and promote emotional healing.

Finding Support for Grief Through Therapy

Working Through Grief with an Existential Lens

Working through grief with an existential lens involves confronting profound questions about existence and meaning in life. The existential approach to grief therapy acknowledges the inherent challenges of the human experience, particularly when facing loss. Existential therapy invites individuals to explore their existential concerns, such as death anxiety and existential isolation, fostering a deeper sense of self-awareness and acceptance. By addressing these existential themes, individuals can begin to find meaning in life and integrate their grief into their personal narrative.

Coping with Loss: The Therapist's Role

In the realm of grief therapy, the therapist plays a crucial role in guiding individuals through the complex terrain of loss. From an existential perspective, the therapist acts as a companion, offering support for grief without imposing a predetermined path. The existential therapist helps clients explore their existential issues, encouraging them to search for meaning amidst suffering. This therapeutic approach emphasises the importance of presence and empathy, creating a safe space for individuals to process their emotions and find their own way forward.

Emotional Healing and Presence in Therapy

Emotional healing in grief therapy is a gradual process that requires patience, compassion, and a willingness to confront difficult emotions. Existential psychotherapies place a strong emphasis on presence, encouraging individuals to fully engage with their experiences in the here and now. In therapy, the focus is on creating a space where individuals can feel seen, heard, and understood, allowing them to process their grief in a way that feels authentic and meaningful. The existential perspective recognises that emotional healing is not about fixing grief but about integrating it into one's life story to find meaning.

What to Expect in Existential Therapy for Grief

Creating a Safe Space for Reflection

One of the primary goals of existential therapy for grief is to create a safe and supportive environment where individuals can freely explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This safe space allows for deep reflection on the existential issues that arise during times of loss. In the realm of grief therapy, this means providing a non-judgmental space to grapple with questions about meaning in life, the inevitability of death, and the search for meaning amidst suffering. This therapeutic approach encourages vulnerability and honesty, allowing individuals to confront difficult emotions and begin the process of emotional healing.

Gentle Guidance Through Ambiguity

Existential psychotherapy recognises that grief is often accompanied by ambiguity and uncertainty. There are no easy answers or quick fixes. The existential therapist provides gentle guidance through this ambiguity, helping individuals navigate the complexities of their grief without imposing a predetermined path. The therapist helps clients explore their existential concerns. Rather than offering solutions, the therapist encourages individuals to trust their own inner wisdom and find their own way forward. This approach emphasises the importance of self-discovery and personal agency in the grieving process.

No Pressure: Healing at Your Own Pace

Existential therapy understands that healing is not a linear process and that everyone grieves at their own pace. There is no pressure to conform to societal expectations or to move through grief in a specific way. The existential approach focuses on creating a space where individuals can feel accepted and supported, regardless of where they are in their healing journey. The process of healing and coping with death and grief can be enhanced with existential themes. The emphasis is on self-compassion, allowing individuals to honour their grief without judgment or expectation.

A New Beginning in Therapy

Reframing Grief as a Path to Understanding

Existential therapy offers a unique perspective on grief, reframing it not as an obstacle to overcome, but as a potential path to deeper understanding and growth. By exploring the existential issues that arise during times of loss, individuals can gain insights into their values, beliefs, and relationships. Grief can be seen as an opportunity to examine the meaning in life, to reconnect with what truly matters, and to find new meaning and purpose in the face of adversity, as well as dealing with prolonged grief from an existential point of view. 

Contact Badashian Therapy for Support

If you're struggling with grief and change, existential therapy may offer the support you need to navigate this challenging time. The existential approach provides a safe and supportive space to explore your emotions, thoughts, and experiences without judgment. 

At Badashian Therapy, we offer a calm, non-judgmental space to explore grief at your own pace. We understand that grief can be an isolating and overwhelming experience, and we are here to provide the support you need to navigate this challenging time. Our therapists are trained in existential psychotherapies and are committed to helping you find meaning and purpose in the face of loss. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you in your journey towards emotional healing and wellbeing.