We help people develop and grow with life's challenges

Grief & Loss

About grief and loss

Grief is a natural response to loss and can affect emotions, body, and relationships. In Australia, the ABS Deaths, Australia series reports well over 150,000 deaths each year, meaning bereavement touches many families annually (ABS Deaths, Australia).

How grief and loss can show up

  • Emotional waves: Sadness, anger, guilt, or numbness that can come and go.
  • Physical symptoms: Fatigue, appetite changes, or feeling physically heavy.
  • Cognitive changes: Forgetfulness, rumination, or difficulty concentrating.
  • Meaning and identity shifts: Re-evaluating life roles, purpose, or beliefs after loss.
  • Trauma responses: Intrusive memories or heightened anxiety after sudden loss.
  • Cultural and spiritual factors: Grief shaped by cultural traditions, faith, or community expectations.

Further information about grief and loss

  • Types of loss: Death, relationship breakup, health changes, miscarriage, job loss, or migration.
  • Acute and integrated grief: Intense early grief often shifts over time into a new pattern.
  • Prolonged grief: Grief that remains intense and impairing for an extended period.
  • Traumatic grief: Loss that is sudden, violent, or accompanied by trauma.

Self-help ideas for grief and loss

  • Allow space for feelings without judging the timeline.
  • Maintain gentle routines for sleep, food, and movement.
  • Create rituals or memorials that honour the loss.
  • Lean on trusted people and community supports.
  • Be patient with yourself during anniversaries or triggers.

When to see a psychologist or counsellor

Support can help when grief feels stuck or overwhelming.

  • Daily functioning remains difficult over time.
  • There are intense trauma symptoms or persistent distress.
  • You feel isolated or unable to connect with others.
  • Loss is affecting relationships, work, or health.

How we help with grief and loss

  • Compassionate counselling to process grief and emotions.
  • Support for meaning-making and adapting to change.
  • Tools for navigating anniversaries, triggers, or secondary losses.
  • Trauma-informed approaches when loss is sudden or complex.