The Many Faces of Loss

Loss comes in many forms, and not all of them are immediately visible.

We often associate grief with bereavement, but loss can also show up in the quiet endings, the relationships that shift or dissolve, the identities we outgrow, the health we once relied on, or the dreams we’ve had to release. These experiences can carry deep emotional weight, even if they’re not named or recognised as “grief” by those around us. In therapy, making space for these kinds of losses is just as important as honouring the more obvious ones. Every loss deserves to be witnessed, and every person deserves a space where their grief is met with compassion, not comparison.

Unseen Grief: When Loss Isn’t Named

Some losses are hard to explain. There’s no funeral for the version of yourself you no longer recognise. No rituals for the friendships that faded without closure. No cards or casseroles when chronic illness changes your life overnight. These losses often go unacknowledged, not just by others, but by ourselves. We might feel we’re “overreacting” or “being dramatic,” when in reality, we’re grieving something deeply personal.

Naming these experiences as loss can be a powerful first step. It allows us to validate our pain and begin to understand why we feel the way we do.

The Emotional Impact: Loss and Identity

Loss doesn’t just take something away, it can reshape how we see ourselves.

• A breakup might leave us questioning our worth.

• A health diagnosis might challenge our sense of independence.

• A career change might stir up fears about purpose or stability.

These shifts can feel disorienting, especially when they happen all at once or without warning. Therapy offers a space to gently explore these changes, reconnect with your values, and rebuild a sense of self that meets both your past and your present.

Making Space for Grief in Therapy

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline, and it doesn’t always look like sadness. It might show up as irritability, numbness, anxiety, or even relief. At Therapy Moments through counselling, I create a safe space for all emotional responses, without judgment, without rushing. Emotional safety means you don’t have to explain or justify your pain. You’re allowed to feel what you feel, at your own pace.

If you’re navigating a loss that feels hard to name, here are a few gentle ways to begin:

• Journal prompts like “What have I lost that others might not see?” or “What part of me is grieving right now?”

• Body check-ins to notice where grief might be held physically

• Creative expression through art, poetry, or movement

• Therapeutic conversations that validate and explore your experience

You don’t have to have the “right words” — just a willingness to be curious and kind with yourself.

Closing Reflection

Grief is not a problem to be solved, it’s a process to be honoured. Whether your loss is visible or invisible, named or unnamed, you deserve support. You deserve space. And you deserve to know that your pain matters.