What is Grief?
Grief is the deep emotional and physical pain that occurs after a major loss, often the death of a loved one. It can involve intense sadness, separation anxiety, confusion, longing, trouble concentrating, and worry about the future.
Although grief is a universal human experience, it affects each person differently and can impact mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Understanding what grief is—and how it shows up—can help individuals begin to navigate the healing process with compassion and clarity.
What are the Five Stages of Grief?
The five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—were first identified by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. This cyclical framework is meant to help people better understand their feelings and is not intended to prescribe how to grieve, what to feel, or in which order. While many people move through these stages, they are not always linear. People who are grieving may revisit or skip stages, or they may experience them in a different order.
1. Denial
Denial helps soften the shock of loss. It allows the mind to process overwhelming emotions gradually.
2. Anger
Anger may be directed inward, outward, or even toward the situation itself. It's a natural part of confronting reality.
3. Bargaining
This stage often involves “what if” or “if only” thoughts when trying to regain control or rewrite the loss.
4. Depression
Sadness, loneliness, and withdrawal are common as the loss becomes more deeply felt.
5. Acceptance
Acceptance doesn’t mean being “okay” with the loss—it means acknowledging the reality of it while learning to move forward.
Why Grief Needs Personalized Support
While grief is universal, each person’s experience is personal. Factors like age, health, support system, cultural background, and the nature of the loss influence the healing process. That’s why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.
Brave Health uses personalized, clinically informed strategies to support emotional resilience, healthy coping, and meaningful connection during the grieving process.
How Brave Health Can Help with Navigating Grief
We offer multiple pathways to support healing—each designed to meet people where they are.
Individual Therapy
Our licensed clinicians create customized care plans to help:
- Build emotional resilience
- Develop coping strategies
- Navigate loss and grief
- Repair relationships and strengthen mental well-being
Grief Support Groups
Guided by licensed clinicians, these groups offer a safe and understanding environment to:
- Process the loss of a spouse, friend, or family member
- Explore complicated emotions
- Develop coping strategies to combat isolation and loneliness
- Build connections with peers
Psychiatric Care
Our psychiatric clinicians collaborate with individuals, families and/or medical teams to:
- Prescribe and monitor medication for anxiety, depression, or mood changes
- Ensure compatibility with existing prescriptions
- Provide ongoing medication support
FAQs
What is the difference between grief and depression?
Depression is a feeling of sadness or a low persistent mood, lasting for some time. Grief is an emotional response to a loss that can result in symptoms that feel like deep sadness, or depression. Both grief and depression have overlapping symptoms, but depression is a clinical disorder.
Can there be more than 5 stages of grief?
Some people refer to seven stages of grief or more, which can incorporate additional feelings such as shock, disorganization, testing, guilt, processing, and reconstruction. All of these are valid feelings and experiences that may occur as a person grieves.
It is important to remember that everyone grieves differently. Stages of grief are a descriptive framework, not a rigid, universal prescription.
How does group therapy work?
Therapy groups meet via our secure telehealth platform. Group sizes range anywhere from 3 to 15 participants, and we offer groups to adolescents age 13+ and adults. The modality of group therapy sessions can range from supportive and psychoeducational to more skill-building or instructional.
What group therapy programs are available?
Our programs focus on a range of mental health stressors and challenging life experiences, ranging from anxiety, depression and stress management to relationships, life transitions and parenting. We also offer programs tailored to specific populations such as LGBTQ+, teens, parents, and couples. Explore group therapy programs.
How does someone get started in group therapy?
For new patients: If you’re new to Brave Health and interested in group therapy, request an appointment to get started. During your first appointment, you’ll complete a mental health assessment and can discuss group therapy options with a provider.
For existing patients: If you’re already receiving care at Brave Health, talk to your therapist or medication management provider about enrolling in a group.
For referrals: If you’re referring someone to Brave Health for group therapy, please submit a referral and include "group therapy" in the form notes.
In Short
Grief is a deeply personal journey, and no two experiences are alike. Understanding the five stages can help bring clarity, but true healing often requires compassionate support, connection, and professional guidance. At Brave Health, we meet each person where they are, offering therapy, psychiatry, and supportive group environments designed to nurture emotional resilience and restore a sense of hope.
