What You Should Know About Grief: Types, Stages, and Healing Needs
Grief is an unavoidable part of the human experience. Whether through the death of a loved one or a major life transition, grief touches everyone. While it's often associated with loss, grief is more nuanced and can arise from a variety of experiences—including ones that are joyful or socially unrecognized.
Understanding the types of grief, the stages you may go through, and what you need to heal can transform grief into a source of deep connection, self-awareness, and meaning. In this blog, we’ll explore the forms grief can take, how it shows up emotionally, and how support can make a life-changing difference in the healing process.
The Many Forms of Grief
Grief Isn’t Just About Death
The most familiar form of grief is bereavement, which is the sorrow following the death of a loved one. But grief can take many shapes. Some forms are harder to recognize, especially those that accompany change, unmet expectations, or non-death losses.
Examples of Non-Death Grief:
A college graduate grieving the transition into adulthood
A new parent mourning the loss of independence
A family member watching a loved one fade due to dementia
Losses that are socially stigmatized, like pet loss, suicide, or trauma-related grief
These lesser-recognized experiences often fall into categories like:
Symbolic Grief: Losses related to identity, freedom, or expectations
Anticipatory Grief: Grieving someone before they are gone
Disenfranchised Grief: Losses that aren’t acknowledged by society
Why This Matters
Many people don’t realize that these subtle but powerful losses are valid sources of grief. Without awareness, people may feel ashamed or confused by their emotional responses. Recognizing the full range of grief can bring relief and clarity—and open the door to healing.
Understanding the Stages of Grief
Grief Is Not Linear
Originally introduced by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, the five stages of grief were designed to describe the emotional journey of those facing terminal illness. Over time, these stages have been applied to grieving loved ones, with additional stages proposed by other thought leaders.
Stages of Grief Include:
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
Other models add stages like:
Anxiety
Finding Meaning (as suggested by David Kessler)
A Common Misconception
People often assume these stages happen in order. In reality, grief is a fluid process. You may move through several stages in a single day—or revisit the same stage years later. The stages simply represent common emotional experiences in grief.
What Matters Most
Rather than trying to “complete” each stage, the most healing approach is to name what you're feeling and give yourself permission to feel it fully. Therapy provides a safe space to do just that.
What You Need to Heal from Grief
The Six Needs of Grieving (David Kessler)
The need for the pain to be witnessed
The need to express feelings
The need to release the burden of guilt
The need to be free of old wounds
The need to integrate the pain and the love
The need to find meaning in life after loss
Why Support Matters
Grief does not need to be processed alone. In fact, trying to carry it solo can lead to unresolved emotions, chronic sadness, or even health issues. Healing often begins when someone else compassionately witnesses your story—listening without judgment, validating your pain, and helping you find meaning through it all.
What Therapy Offers
Safe space to explore and express your grief
Guided tools to release guilt and process old wounds
Support in integrating love and loss into your life story
A pathway to meaning and resilience
Grief Needs Care and Connection
Grief is universal—and yet deeply personal. Whether you’re grieving the death of a loved one, the loss of a dream, or a painful life transition, you deserve space to process and heal.
It’s powerful to be cared for in your grief. And it’s equally powerful to care for others in theirs. If you’re navigating a loss and want support, therapy can offer the presence, validation, and tools you need to move toward healing.
If you're in need of grief counseling in Phoenix or seeking a therapist to help you through a season of loss, reach out today to schedule your free 15-minute consultation.
