Grief Therapy in Newport Beach

Different Types of Grief

Grief is the word we use to describe the deeply human experience of sadness and loss. It can arise from losing a loved one, but it also includes the loss of a part of ourselves, a role, or the vision we held for our future. Grief isn’t always about death—people grieve many kinds of losses: divorce, a sudden health change, loss of physical ability, pregnancy loss, job loss, forced moves, or even the impact of someone else’s grief. This list is far from exhaustive. Grief is both universal and uniquely personal, a natural response to life’s inevitable changes and endings.

What Are the Stages of Grief?

You may have heard of the “stages of grief.” These were first described by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, a pioneering hospice nurse. The stages include:

Denial: Avoidance, confusion, shock, fear
Anger: Frustration, irritation, anxiety
Bargaining: Struggling to find meaning, reaching out, telling your story
Depression: Feeling overwhelmed, helpless, and deeply sad
Acceptance: Exploring new possibilities, moving forward

But grief rarely follows a neat, linear path. People move in and out of these stages at different times, sometimes revisiting the same feelings over and over. Rather than a fixed sequence, grief is more of a winding journey.

To better guide healing, we prefer to use Worden’s Tasks of Mourning, which offer a more practical, directive approach:

Task 1: Accept the reality of the loss
Task 2: Work through the pain of grief
Task 3: Adjust to life without the loved one
Task 4: Find a way to maintain an enduring connection while moving forward

Many find this framework more helpful for understanding what needs to happen to move toward healing.

How Long Should I Mourn?

There’s no set timeline for grief. Everyone’s experience is unique. Grief can also stir up old wounds and past losses, so what feels like “new” grief is often layered with memories and feelings from the past.

It’s normal to question whether you’re grieving “enough” or “too much.” These doubts can add to your distress. Instead, allow yourself the space to feel what you feel, without judgment.

Research suggests many people begin to feel better within 6–8 weeks, but others may take 6 months to 2 years or more. Healing unfolds in its own time.

One patient shared, “Six months after my loss, I went to the movies and actually enjoyed my popcorn. It felt like a small sign that things were finally getting better.” Moments like these remind us to be patient and compassionate with ourselves.

Do I Need Professional Help for Grief?

Seeking professional support can be a crucial step in your healing. Therapy offers a safe, compassionate space to process your grief with guidance.

If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or are struggling with depression or anxiety following your loss—or if past mental health concerns resurface—reaching out to a psychologist experienced in grief can make a meaningful difference.

At Keil Psych Group, we help individuals navigate the complexities of grief. We can also connect you to community grief counseling groups and provide resources tailored to your needs. Even if you choose not to work with our team, we’re happy to assist you in finding the right support.

Remember, there’s no such thing as “too much” grief, and healing is a personal journey.

What Is Grief Therapy?

Grief therapy is focused psychotherapy aimed at helping you face, process, and integrate profound loss. Our team at Keil Psych Group is trained to support you through this challenging process.

Goals of Grief Therapy

Work through overwhelming feelings and acute bereavement
Express your grief fully in a safe, caring therapeutic relationship
Process and digest the loss in the present moment
Continue living while carrying the pain of loss
Find ways to honor the loss while embracing new life chapters

Benefits of Grief Therapy

Grief therapy can profoundly ease your burden. You’ll feel less alone and overwhelmed and have a dedicated time and space to bring your full experience. Our therapists are equipped to hold your grief without judgment, helping you process it healthily.

Research shows those who engage in therapy soon after a loss are less likely to develop depression or anxiety. When grief is met and tended to properly, it becomes a source of growth and healing.

Different Approaches to Grief Therapy

Individual therapy
Group therapy
Family therapy

We’ll help you find the approach best suited for you at this time. Contact one of our psychologists to explore your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between grief and depression?

Grief and depression can sometimes feel the same but they are very different states. It is important not to pathologize your grief and it’s even more important to work towards opening up to and allowing the pain, sadness, and loss. Any therapist or mental health professional should be able to help you determine which place you might be in. It’s not always obvious and in fact the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has wrestled with this for ages. In fact, acute bereavement was recently removed from the diagnostic criteria of depression, demonstrating just how blurry the line is can be between grief and depression. However, the diagnosis of depression includes many features that are often not present in grief. This includes loss of pleasure in activities previously enjoyed, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, indecisiveness and concentration difficulties and suicidal thinking. Shared elements of grief and depression include depressed mood, irritability, fatigue, changes in sleep, and changes in appetite.

Although both states include profound sadness, those with depression report that the experience of sadness is more of a numbing, consistent, sedative type sadness (“sunny days always feel gloomy”) as opposed to the waves of a very activated sadness that accompany a state of grief. In grief, there are still sunny days (or moments, at least). The sadness one experiences in grief is also typically directed at the specific loss as opposed to a more general, consuming state as seen in depression. Grief also includes more tearfulness than depression, neglecting routines and self-care, and anger tends to be more prominent (at the self, the person lost, or god).

It’s our experience that grief has a tendency to turn into depression when people are unable to open to and allow the full experience of loss. Ironically, resisting grief is a frequent cause of depression. Getting stuck in anger, neglecting to find meaning within your personal view of life, incessant questioning, Monday-morning quarterbacking the loss (e.g. “If only I would have stopped by their house last week like I wanted to” or “If I had just texted them this morning”) and isolation can take healthy grief and transition it towards depression.

How long does grief therapy usually last?

There isn’t a specific length of time that is best. The decision about how long to be in therapy for grief is one of your own intuition and a collaborative decision with your therapists feedback. People often find it helpful to engage in less frequent, group therapy following individual therapy aimed at processing a loss.

How much does grief therapy cost?

Fee’s vary by clinician. The cost per session may be different in the case of individual versus group therapy. Our grief groups run based on need and are not always available. In the event we are not currently running a grief group we will make sure to connect you with another in the area. We have resources and referral networks available for our grieving patients. We want to make sure you find the right fit, both personally and in consideration of finances. Please give us a call to discuss the various options.

Is grief therapy covered by insurance?

Frequently, it is. We offer our patients a document called a “Superbill” that you are able to submit to your PPO insurance company for reimbursement. We do not work with insurance companies directly but we can show you the easy steps involved in submitting an insurance claim.

What should I do to help me come to terms with grief and loss?

Here are some helpful ideas we have come up with over the years:

-Individual and Group Therapy for Grief. Use therapy to open up fully to your grief/loss. There is something about moving into the feelings, rather than out and away from them that is incredibly healing and even transformative. We know how hard it is but there is a realistic hope for healing and growth if you work through your loss in the right ways. Google the research on “Post Traumatic Growth” its actually pretty amazing what we have come to understand about bearing the unbearable and coming out better on the other side.

-Spending time with others (even when it feels counter-intuitive)

-Connect to other people that knew and loved the person or who can understand your situation

-Spend time outdoors

-Reconnect to activities that bring you joy

-Meditation

-Journaling memories of the person or journaling your experience through a loss

-Adopting a pet. Obviously, if you are up for the work that goes into a new best friend.

-Starting a small outdoor garden. There is something about new life that makes loss more digestible.

-Grieve. Don’t push back on it. Create some space and time in your life to do this. If you need to take time off of work, we suggest 1-2 weeks. It is important to return to your normal routine as soon as possible.

-If your loss is about another person, create a memorial-type space in your home that has important pictures, memories, possessions, flowers, etc. Having it all in one space rather than spread throughout the house has consistently been reported as a helpful step to take when you are ready.

-Go for a walk, get exercise as much as you feel you can. Exercise helps to support mood and research shows can be just as effective, if not more, than antidepressant medications.

-Make sure you are eating. Even if it’s only a little bit, keep up with the routine of regular meals and self-care if possible.

Grief doesn’t have to be the end of your joy. Many who use therapy as a way to navigate their grief come out feeling like they personally grew in processing their loss. With the right approach it becomes an opportunity to evolve into the next version of yourself. We would love help you get there.