Experiencing a major loss is hard. Working through your grief may be especially difficult when you’re juggling college studies, friendships and new responsibilities. Grief is different for everyone. Understanding your own grieving process can help you reach a place of acceptance. Mental health treatment may be needed to process emotions and heal. 

In some cases, grief can linger without getting better — you may even become more sad over time. When grief lingers or worsens over time, disrupting your ability to engage in your daily life and move on, it’s called complicated grief. Research shows that prolonged grief disorder, also known as complicated grief, affects up to 7% of bereaved individuals. (Please note that prolonged grief disorder is the official diagnostic term; “complicated grief” is an older, less formal term.)

Complicated grief can develop for many different reasons. While the death of a loved one is a common cause for grieving, death is not the only cause of grief. Other forms of loss can also lead to a grieving period. You may grieve your old home after moving. You may grieve a relationship that has ended recently. Whatever the cause for your bereavement, working through your feelings and making progress toward a more stable mental and emotional state is important. If you’re looking for help managing your grief, psychotherapy tailored toward grief and bereavement can offer major benefits.

5 benefits of grief and bereavement therapy for college students

• A safe space — It’s not always easy to talk about grief. If you feel like you can’t talk about your feelings, you’ll likely have a harder time processing them. Psychotherapy sessions provide a place where you can feel safe and speak freely. Working with a licensed clinical therapist, you can identify the thoughts and feelings that are keeping you from moving forward. You can then start building strategies oriented toward progress. In addition to one-on-one psychotherapy sessions, you may also benefit from group therapy. Group therapy provides a nonjudgmental environment for you to talk to and hear from others who have had similar experiences.
• Understanding — Understanding is a key part of effective therapy. Your therapist will ask questions to get to know you and learn more about your emotional state. Expert therapists know that everyone grieves differently and will seek to learn more about your specific experiences. Your discussions will help you and your therapist get a better understanding of your thoughts and feelings. A deep understanding of your situation can empower your therapist to provide highly targeted interventions.
• Coping tools — Complicated grief can make every aspect of your life more challenging. Your grief might get in the way of responsibilities like going to work, attending classes or even feeding yourself. Finding ways to manage your mental health can be essential for overcoming day-to-day challenges. During therapy sessions, your therapist can work with you to discover and practice effective coping strategies. These may range from time management strategies to self-care activities. The right coping tools can help you keep any mental health symptoms under control as you work through your grief.
• Connection — Feeling alone in grief is common; however, it doesn’t have to be this way. Finding connections with others can help you feel comforted and supported while experiencing bereavement. Comprehensive mental health treatment programs typically incorporate group therapy sessions and other peer support opportunities. These can have a major positive impact on your mood. Outside of intensive treatment options, you can also find connection through accessible resources like online mental health support groups.
• Restored sense of purpose — After a major loss, you may feel like your life has lost meaning. Activities that you used to enjoy may feel empty or unsatisfying. You may lose sight of your goals or feel like they aren’t important anymore. If you’re feeling a loss of purpose and direction, bereavement therapy can help. Your therapist can work with you to identify the things that bring meaning to your life. These might include relationships, goals and favorite activities. Through treatment, you can rediscover a sense of joy and purpose. This does not mean forgetting or avoiding your loss. Instead, therapy focuses on learning to accept losses as part of a life that still holds vast potential and bright possibilities.

Lightfully U can help you process your grief and experience long-term healing

At Lightfully U, we offer exceptional mental health treatment to college students who are grieving and managing mental health challenges. The framework of everything we do consists of data-driven, whole-person-centered care provided by knowledgeable and compassionate experts. Our psychotherapy treatment is rooted in our Precision Care Model (PCM). PCM is an approach that takes the best of cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and other modalities. Treatment is also fully personalized for each person. With our help, you can get care that’s right for you and work toward acceptance.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to start addressing your complicated grief, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.