Grief doesn’t follow a straight line, and for young adults, it can be particularly confusing and isolating. Whether they’re in college, entering the workforce, or figuring out their next steps in life, the loss of a loved one can shake everything they thought they understood about the world. We recognize how hard it can be for young adults cope to grieve when their lives are already filled with transitions and uncertainties. Our virtual therapy services, available to clients in both Missouri and Texas, provide a secure and supportive space for young adults to process their grief on their own terms.
Why Grieving Can Feel Different for Young Adults
Young adulthood is a season of life that’s already filled with change. Many young adults are living away from home, making big life decisions, or trying to establish their independence. When grief enters the picture, it can interrupt or delay these life milestones. Some young adults cope feel guilty for continuing to live their lives while mourning someone they’ve lost. Others feel pressure to “move on” quickly to keep up with school, work, or peers.
Unlike children, who may express grief through behavior or play, and unlike older adults, who may have more established support systems and life routines, young adults cope are often caught in-between. This unique stage of life requires a compassionate, developmentally sensitive approach—one that allows space for their grief without rushing them through it.
Alan Wolfelt’s Approach to Grief and How It Applies to Young Adults
Dr. Alan Wolfelt, a widely respected voice in the field of bereavement, teaches that grief is not a problem to be solved, but an experience to be honored. He emphasizes the need for “companioning” rather than treating, which means being present with someone in their pain rather than trying to fix it. At Amy Brown Counseling, we carry these principles into our work with young adults.
Wolfelt’s work reminds us that grief is not a single emotion—it’s a combination of sorrow, longing, confusion, anger, love, and so much more. When we meet virtually with young adults who are grieving, we allow them to bring all of those feelings into the session. Whether they need a space to cry, vent, reflect, or even laugh about a favorite memory, we meet them where they are.
Benefits of Virtual Grief Therapy for Young Adults
Virtual therapy offers a flexible and meaningful way for young adults to process grief, especially when they are juggling school, work, or multiple responsibilities. Some may be living on campus, others in their first apartments, or with roommates or extended family. Virtual therapy allows them to connect with a licensed therapist from wherever they are—without the need to find transportation or commute across town.
Online grief counseling also makes it easier to schedule sessions that work around busy, shifting schedules. Our young adult clients often appreciate the ability to attend sessions from a quiet dorm room, parked car, or even during a break in their workday. Therapy becomes something they can fit into their real lives, not something that adds extra pressure.
In both Missouri and Texas, our virtual therapy sessions are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant portal. Privacy and confidentiality are always prioritized, giving clients the freedom to speak openly and process emotions in a safe, supportive space.
How Grief Shows Up for Young Adults
Grief in young adults can be subtle or intense—and sometimes both at the same time. It might show up as:
- Difficulty concentrating on school or work
- Increased anxiety or panic attacks
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Irritability or unexplained anger
- Loss of motivation or interest in activities
- Guilt for not “grieving the right way”
- Feeling detached or numb
- Fear of future losses or hyperawareness of death
These symptoms can easily be misunderstood by others as laziness, moodiness, or overreacting. Virtual therapy provides a space where their grief is not only acknowledged but validated. We help them understand that what they are feeling is a normal response to loss, even when it feels anything but normal.
Grieving Without Milestones or Rituals
One challenge many young adults face is that they may not be able to attend funerals, memorials, or family gatherings. They may be far from home, or the loss may have occurred suddenly, without closure. Some have complicated relationships with the person who died, or with family members around the loss.
These missing rituals often lead to what Alan Wolfelt calls “disenfranchised grief”—a sense that others fail to acknowledge or validate their mourning. We address this by helping young adults create their own meaningful rituals.
These can be as simple as writing a letter to the person they lost, planting a flower in their memory, creating a playlist of songs that remind them of their loved one, or even setting aside a regular time to remember and reflect.
Grief needs expression, and virtual therapy helps young adults find those expressions—even if they look different from traditional customs.
Helping Young Adults Talk About Grief
Young adults often feel pressure to stay strong or avoid making others uncomfortable by bringing up death. They may be surrounded by friends who don’t know what to say, or who change the subject quickly. Some feel that their emotions are too “messy” or “too much.”
In therapy, we normalize those emotions and help young adults develop language to describe their grief. This can make it easier for them to talk to friends, professors, roommates, or family members. We also explore how grief impacts their identity, relationships, and plans for the future—without judgment or expectation.
Grief Can Coexist With Growth
A big part of our work involves helping young adults see that grief does not break them. Instead, it reflects the depth of their love and connection. As they learn to carry their loss, they discover new purpose, joy, and direction. Wolfelt describes grief as “reconciliation” rather than recovery. The pain of grief may never fully disappear, but young adults can weave it into their life story in a way that fosters healing. We guide our clients to move from surviving to meaning-making—shifting the question from “Why?” to “What now?”
Encouraging Resilience in the Grieving Process
Grieving doesn’t mean being stuck. Part of therapy is identifying strengths that have helped young adults cope in the past and building on those. It may involve developing new routines, re-establishing social connections, or creating healthy boundaries around grief triggers.
We also introduce coping tools that align with each individual’s personality and lifestyle, including mindfulness techniques, journaling prompts, expressive arts, physical movement, and grounding exercises. These tools become part of their emotional toolkit, empowering them to respond to grief waves as they arise.
Reaching Out for Support in Missouri or Texas
If you are a young adult living in Missouri or Texas and struggling with the loss of someone you love, you don’t have to go through it alone. At Amy Brown Counseling, we offer grief therapy that respects your pace and your process.
We specialize in helping young adults cope navigate the complex emotions of loss through warm, nonjudgmental online therapy sessions designed to meet you where you are.
Virtual therapy offers the flexibility to attend sessions from the comfort of your home, dorm, or any private space, and we work with your schedule to make counseling more accessible. If you’re looking for grief counseling in Missouri or Texas, we’re here to support you.
Get started by filling out our new client inquiry form today. A compassionate therapist will walk alongside you on your path toward healing, hope, and meaning.
