Grief fact sheet
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If you have clients asking questions like “What is grief?,” then this grief fact sheet can be a valuable tool to use in your private therapy practice.
Grief is a natural response to loss that impacts everyone differently. It can take time to process, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a pet, or a major life change.
In this article, we'll explain grief, outline its stages, and share strategies for supporting clients. We will also provide a free downloadable grief fact sheet that you can use during sessions as a psychoeducational tool or store in your electronic health record (EHR) for future reference.
What is grief?
Grief is the emotional suffering and distress that people experience when they lose something or someone important to them.
Understanding grief facts and sharing a grief fact sheet with clients can help therapists support clients in working through and processing their emotions.
Grief is deeply personal and can show up in different ways, including symptoms like sadness, anger, confusion, guilt, or even physical symptoms like fatigue.
The American Psychological Association (APA) notes that while grief can feel overwhelming, the sadness typically eases with time, and grieving is necessary for healing to take place.
While most people can heal with support from others and by developing healthy habits, some may struggle with grief for a longer time.
Those with complicated grief, which is stronger and lasts longer, will likely need help from a mental health professional.
What grief isn’t
Now that we’ve answered the question, “What is grief?,” let’s talk about what grief is not.
The idea that “time heals all wounds” is a common myth when it comes to grief.
While it is true that the intensity of grief may lessen over time, simply waiting for time to pass isn’t always enough to heal the pain clients feel.
Grief requires active coping, meaning clients need to take intentional steps to deal with difficult emotions rather than ignoring or avoiding the pain.
That said, time alone doesn’t automatically lead to healing. It’s the actions we take, the support we receive, and the way we process our emotions that help us heal over time.
Another thing to keep in mind is that grief isn’t something that follows a set timeline or predictable stages. People don’t always experience grief in the same order. It doesn’t mean that clients are “stuck” if their grief feels different from others.
It’s also important for clients to know that it’s OK to express their emotions and not hide their feelings.
Stages of grief
In 1969, Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, MD, introduced the five stages of grief to help explain how people emotionally respond to loss.
These stages help explain the grieving process and are usually included in resources like a stages of grief fact sheet for clients and clinicians alike.
The five stages Kübler-Ross identified are:
- Denial: Not believing the loss has happened.
- Anger: Feeling upset or frustrated about the loss.
- Bargaining: Trying to make deals or changes to avoid the loss.
- Depression: Feeling very sad and overwhelmed by the loss.
- Acceptance: Over time, clients learn to come to terms with the loss.
Before Kübler-Ross’s work, death was considered a difficult topic that people often avoided. Her research shifted the conversation around death by putting focus on the patient’s feelings. She also stressed that people don’t always follow the stages in order or experience all of them.
Tips for clients experiencing grief
If you're supporting clients who are grieving, along with providing them with a grief fact sheet, here are some helpful tips you can use to guide them through their grief:
Give yourself permission to grieve
One way to help clients allow themselves to grieve is to remind them that feeling their emotions does not mean they’re “weak.” Rather, feeling emotions fully is healthy and necessary.
Some clients might find it helpful to dedicate a certain part of their day to sit with their grief, reflect, or write in a journal.
Others may find that simply acknowledging their emotions as they come up throughout the day can also be healing.
Try to focus on the present
Some clients experience anticipatory grief, which arises when they foresee a significant loss (such as a terminal illness diagnosis or an impending separation).
To help them, you may suggest using an anticipatory grief fact sheet as a resource for understanding and coping with their feelings.
Mindfulness can also be effective in providing moments of relief. Simple actions like savoring a cup of tea, walking outdoors, or noticing nature promote mindfulness.
Clients may also start each day by setting a small, positive intention, such as “I’ll be kind to myself today.”
Practice self-compassion
Another tip, which is included in the grief fact sheet, is to practice self-compassion.
Grief can be exhausting both emotionally and physically. Clients may feel like their mind is in a fog and that they’re “spent” at the end of the day.
Remind clients to treat themselves with the same kindness and understanding they would offer a close friend who is going through a tough time.
Sometimes, it helps to talk through these emotions with a trusted friend, family member, or therapist. Asking for help in processing feelings is a form of self-compassion because it shows self-awareness and care.
Create a ritual of remembrance
Honoring a loss is not about forgetting, but about finding a way to incorporate the memory of a loved one into one’s life in a way that feels healing.
Explain to clients that engaging in activities to honor the memory of their loved one can provide an opportunity to reflect and process their emotions. Guide them in creating a ritual that feels personal and meaningful.
For example, light a candle on special days (birthdays, anniversaries, or significant dates) or find comfort in activities that were shared with the lost loved one, like cooking their favorite meal or listening to their favorite music.
With our grief fact sheet, therapists can help clients who are wondering “What is grief?” and teach them to accept their emotions as normal. Remind clients that there’s no set timeline for grief, and however they feel is OK.
Sources
- Nordal, KC. (2020). Grief: Coping with the loss of your loved one. American Psychological Association.
- Tyrrell P, Harberger S, Schoo C, et al. (2023). Kubler-Ross Stages of Dying and Subsequent Models of Grief.
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