Grief can feel overwhelming and unpredictable at any age. But for many adults cope, the experience of losing a loved one often comes with added responsibilities, social expectations, or even silence. Adults are often seen as the ones who need to stay strong for everyone else. Whether it’s caring for a family, managing a job, or handling estate matters, there’s often little room left for fully grieving. At Amy Brown Counseling, we understand how deeply grief can affect your daily life and overall well-being, even when it’s not always visible to those around you. Our virtual therapy services for adults in Missouri and Texas offer a supportive and secure space to process loss at your own pace.
Grief in Adulthood: Complex and Layered
As an adult, you may have experienced other losses before, but each one is unique. Grief isn’t something we “get better” at over time—it’s something we carry differently depending on the relationship, timing, and our life circumstances. Losing a parent, a partner, a sibling, a child, a friend, or a colleague can bring up different kinds of pain, confusion, and questions.
Many adults try to compartmentalize their grief to keep functioning in daily life. They may push through work meetings, show up for their kids, or put on a brave face for friends. But inside, they’re exhausted or stuck. Virtual therapy offers a chance to step away from those expectations and connect with someone who can meet them in their grief, without judgment.
Using Alan Wolfelt’s Approach to Support Grieving Adults
At Amy Brown Counseling, we integrate the grief philosophy of Dr. Alan Wolfelt, a nationally recognized expert in bereavement. He emphasizes that grief is not a problem to be solved, but a process that deserves time, space, and validation. His model promotes the concept of “companioning” rather than fixing. That means walking alongside someone in their grief—not trying to pull them out of it.
Dr. Wolfelt also outlines six essential “needs of mourning,” which include accepting the reality of the death, working through the pain of grief, remembering the person who died, developing a new self-identity, searching for meaning, and receiving ongoing support. These needs form the foundation of the work we do with grieving adults cope, helping them move through the experience with greater compassion for themselves.
The Advantages of Virtual Grief Counseling for Adults
Many of our clients in Missouri and Texas choose virtual therapy for grief support because it provides flexibility, privacy, and access. Here’s how it can help:
Convenience without disruption: Adults cope often juggle work, caregiving, and other obligations. With virtual therapy, there’s no need to rearrange your entire schedule or commute to an office. You can log in from your home or office for a session that fits within your day.
Privacy and comfort: Some people find it easier to talk about loss from the comfort of their own environment. Whether you want to cry freely, speak softly, or light a candle during your session, virtual therapy gives you full control over the space.
Accessibility from anywhere in Missouri or Texas: Our secure, HIPAA-compliant client portal allows you to receive high-quality grief counseling no matter where you live. Whether you’re in a large city or a rural area, virtual therapy brings support directly to you.
How Grief May Show Up in Adults
Grief doesn’t always look like sadness. It can show up in ways that take you by surprise, such as:
- Fatigue or insomnia
- Changes in appetite
- Forgetfulness or trouble focusing
- Physical symptoms like headaches or body aches
- Irritability or mood swings
- Avoidance of places, people, or memories
- Feelings of guilt, regret, or unfinished business
- Disconnection from others or feelings of loneliness
- A sense of emptiness or hopelessness
These reactions are normal responses to loss, even though they may feel confusing or distressing. Virtual therapy gives adults a space to explore these experiences, connect them to their grief, and begin the healing process.
Navigating Responsibilities While Grieving
One of the hardest things about grieving as an adult is the pressure to keep everything running smoothly. You may still be expected to meet deadlines, care for others, and show up in your usual roles, even when you feel like you’re unraveling inside.
We help adults create space for their grief without feeling like they’re letting everything fall apart. That might mean carving out intentional time to mourn, learning how to say no to certain responsibilities, or communicating with others about what you’re going through. Therapy can help you find a balance between honoring your loss and continuing to live your life.
Complicated and Disenfranchised Grief
Some losses are accompanied by complicated emotions—anger, relief, confusion, or guilt. You may be grieving someone who you had a difficult relationship with, or you may be mourning a loss that others don’t understand or acknowledge. These experiences are sometimes called “disenfranchised grief”—when your pain feels invisible or invalidated.
In virtual therapy, we hold space for those layers of grief. You don’t need to justify your feelings or explain why a particular loss hits so hard. Whether the loss was expected or sudden, recent or long ago, we help you make sense of it in your own way.
Using Ritual and Memory to Support Healing
Alan Wolfelt emphasizes the importance of creating rituals and continuing bonds with the person who died. Adults cope sometimes feel unsure about how to remember their loved one in an ongoing way—especially if they worry that holding on to memories might prevent them from moving forward.
We encourage clients to develop personal rituals that support their grief, such as:
- Lighting a candle on meaningful dates
- Journaling letters to the person who died
- Creating photo albums or memory boxes
- Listening to music that connects them to memories
- Visiting a special place or planting a tree
- Sharing stories with trusted friends or family
Grief doesn’t end, but it evolves. These rituals provide a framework for staying connected to your loved one while also continuing to grow.
Finding Meaning and Purpose After Loss
Many adults begin to reexamine their values, relationships, or life direction after a significant loss. It’s not uncommon to ask: What matters now? What legacy do I want to carry forward? What has this loss taught me?
These questions aren’t easy to answer, and you don’t have to rush toward meaning. But in time, therapy can help you reflect on how your grief experience is shaping your identity, perspective, and future. This is what Dr. Wolfelt calls “reconciliation”, a process of integrating your loss into your life story, rather than “getting over it.”
Why Grief Counseling Matters
It’s a myth that grief simply gets better with time. Time alone doesn’t heal, it’s what we do with that time that helps us begin to feel whole again. If you’re struggling with loss, therapy offers guidance, validation, and tools to help you move through the pain rather than around it.
Grief counseling can:
- Reduce feelings of isolation or “going crazy”
- Provide structure and coping strategies
- Help process guilt, regret, or trauma around the death
- Offer support when others don’t know what to say
- Assist in navigating family dynamics or conflict after a loss
- Encourage post-loss growth and resilience
- Grief Therapy for Adults Cope in Missouri and Texas
At Amy Brown Counseling, we offer online therapy for adults grieving the loss of a loved one. Our compassionate team works with clients in Missouri and Texas, helping them process loss in a way that feels genuine and supportive. Whether your grief is fresh or something you’ve been carrying for years, you are not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
We offer virtual sessions that fit your schedule and lifestyle, and we’re here to walk with you through the ups and downs of grief. If you’re ready to talk, we’re ready to listen.
Reach out today by completing our new client inquiry form. We are here to support you in finding comfort, connection, and healing, even in the midst of grief.
