When to Start Grief Therapy: Trusting Your Timing and Your Heart

Grief is an adventure like no other. The process of moving through grief isn’t linear, and it doesn’t come with a clear roadmap. Managing grief is personal, tender, and sometimes overwhelming. Walking alongside individuals navigating the complexities of grief has highlighted one thing for sure - there’s no “right” time to start grief counselling. But there is a time that feels right for you.

So, when is the right time for grief counselling?

Perhaps you’re here because you’re feeling the weight of loss. Maybe it’s a recent loss, or maybe it’s one that happened years ago but still feels like it just happened yesterday. It could be the death of a loved one or a beloved animal companion, the end of a significant chapter in life such as a job or a home, or a relationship that no longer feels aligned. Loss also comes in more subtle but profound forms—walking away from a dream, the loss of a sense of self, changes in health or physical ability, the breakdown of a cherished friendship, or even the loss of a pregnancy or the dream of having children. Grief can also arise from unfulfilled expectations, career paths that didn’t unfold as imagined, or shifts in identity where you no longer recognize who you are or feel connected to the person you once were.

No matter where our loss stems from, it can linger in ways we never anticipated. Every form of loss carries grief, even when it isn’t connected to death. The heart feels what it feels, and sometimes we need support to navigate that pain and find meaning in it. The truth is, grief moves at its own pace. Some days, it feels like you can breathe again. Other days, it hits you like a wave within stormy seas, leaving you unsure of how to stay afloat.

So how do you know when it's time to start grief therapy? Here are a few signs that might gently guide you towards taking that first step towards grief counselling.

You Feel Stuck in Your Grief

A common reason people seek grief therapy is feeling stuck. Maybe you’ve noticed that the sadness doesn’t seem to lift, even after months or years. You might feel like you’re going through the motions of life, but not really living. Online grief counselling can be a space where you can explore why this might be happening, and gently start to move through it.

Your Loss Feels All-Consuming

If your grief is affecting your ability to function day-to-day, this could be a sign that therapy could offer some relief. Whether it’s difficulty concentrating, overwhelming emotions, or a constant sense of exhaustion, these are signals from your body and mind asking for extra support. You don’t have to carry this all on your own.

You’re Struggling to Find Meaning

Loss can shake us to our core. It can make us question everything—who we are, what we believe, and where we’re headed. Online grief counselling offers a space to sit with these questions, to reflect, and to slowly begin to integrate your loss into your life in a way that allows for growth, even in the face of heartache.

You Feel Disconnected from Yourself and Others

Grief can leave us feeling isolated or misunderstood, even when we’re surrounded by loved ones. It’s common to feel like no one else can fully grasp the depth of your pain. Therapy can provide a space where you are truly seen, heard, and validated, without needing to minimize or explain your feelings. It’s a way to reconnect with yourself and, in time, with others.

You’re Ready to Heal, but Don’t Know How

Sometimes, the hardest part of grief is knowing that you want to heal, but feeling unsure of where to start. Therapy can be a gentle guide, helping you to take the first steps toward tending to your inner garden, nurturing it with patience, compassion, and intention. It’s not about forgetting or “moving on,” but about learning how to carry your grief in a way that honors your loss while also allowing space for new growth.

At Adventuring Loss, grief therapy is about creating a space where you can explore your feelings, no matter how complex or overwhelming they may be. It’s about tending to your heart with care and gentleness, just like you would tend to a delicate flower. Grief may be woven into your story, but it holds the potential to nurture your growth, not limit who you can become.

So, When Should You Start?

Take a moment to check in with yourself. Do any of the signs above feel familiar or stir something within you? If so, it might be your heart’s way of gently nudging you toward healing—an invitation to explore how grief can begin to transform and shift in ways you never imagined.

There’s no rush, no pressure. The right time to start grief counselling is when you feel ready. Whether that’s right after a loss, months down the line, or even years later, trust your own timing. Your heart will tell you when it’s ready to be tended to.

Written by: Chelsea Banwell

Chelsea is a practicum student at Adventuring Loss with a focus on grief and anxiety. She's currently accepting clients for a reduced rate until Oct. 31st.

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