You're feeling more pain that you have ever experienced before, trying to wrap your head around what just happened. Grief can arise after the death of a loved one, but it can also follow the loss of a relationship, a dream, your health, a sense of identity, a pet, or even a significant life transition. You feel fundamentally flawed, broken, or unworthy. Perhaps you notice persistent embarrassment, loneliness, or like you've let others down. You obsess over thoughts such as "I should have prevented this!" or "I should be handling this better!" ART grief therapy in Provo, Utah is not about getting over your loss, but about honoring your experience, caring for yourself through the grieving process.
ART grief therapy might be right for you if this sounds familiar -
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Withdrawing from friends and family.
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Avoiding talking about your loss
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Declining invitations or isolating yourself
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Perfectionism or overworking to prove your worth.
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Difficulty accepting help or compliments.
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People-pleasing or trying to avoid disappointing others.
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Fear of being a burden.
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Wondering why you are still struggling when others seem to have moved on.
Grief and loss can be complicated to navigate because there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Grieving also does not happen in a linear process and doesn't have a "finish line" to get to.
Grief is a natural response to loss. . .
Sometimes, however, a loss becomes traumatic.
The nervous system can become stuck replaying painful memories, leaving people feeling unable to heal even years later. Not every loss causes trauma, and not every grieving person experiences traumatic stress. But some losses are so sudden, frightening, or emotionally overwhelming that grief and trauma can occur.
1. The loss shatters your sense of safety. Trauma often changes the way you see the world. - The sudden death of a loved one can make the world feel unpredictable and unsafe. - A divorce after years of trust can make relationships feel dangerous. - Losing a home in a natural disaster can leave you feeling that nowhere is secure. Your nervous system may stay on high alert, expecting another devastating event.
2. Your loss overwhelms your nervous system. When the emotional intensity exceeds what your brain can process your nervous system may shift into survival mode: - Fight (anger, irritability) -Flight (restlessness, constant busyness) - Freeze (feeling numb or unable to make decisions) - Fawn (over-accommodating others to feel safe) If your body remains "stuck" in one of these states long after loss, it may be a sign of traumatic stress, or PTSD.
3. The circumstances of the loss are themselves traumatic. Some losses involve frightening or horrifying experiences, such as: - Witnessing a fatal accident - Losing someone unexpectedly - The death of a child - Suicide or homicide - Experiencing violence, abuse, or severe medical emergencies alongside the loss. In these cases, people may grieve while also experiencing symptoms associated with the trauma, such as intrusive memories, nightmares, or avoidance.
4. The loss challenges your identify. Some losses don't just take away a person or role, they change how you see yourself. Examples include : losing a spouse and no longer knowing why you are without them, losing a career that was central to your identity, losing your health or independence. This can create profound emotional disorientation and distress.
5. The grief cannot be fully processed. Sometimes grief gets "stuck" because there wasn't enough support or opportunity to process it. This can happen if: - You had to stay strong for everyone else - You weren't allowed to express your grief. - Others minimized your loss. - Multiple losses occurred close together. - You already had a history of trauma that made coping more difficult. The brain may continue to respond as though the loss is still happening. ART grief therapy can help resolve this pain.
How ART grief therapy in Provo, Utah can help:
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You do not need to navigate this pain by yourself. As a grief therapist I offer a nonjudgemental space where you can talk openly about your loss and its impact on your life.
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ART grief therapy in Provo, Utah cannot erase your loss. The goal of our time together isn’t to forget or ‘get over’ the person or thing you have lost. Instead, I hope to help you honor not just your loss, but the emotions and the places you have lived through.
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I also want to start from the place where you currently are. Accelerated Resolution Therapy can help you focus on the positive moments from that part of your life and change the negative, hurtful parts that your brain tends to hold on to.
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When you recall your loss, you will instead feel more understanding and clarity leading to the peace and joy you are searching for.
Meet your ART therapist in Provo, Utah
My name is Holly Lamb
Dealing with the pain of loss and grief can be all consuming. Recovery often involves addressing both the grief and the nervous system's response. As an ART certified therapist, I am ready to use my expertise to help you resolve any painful trauma or stress you are experiencing since your loss. I promise to help you find the clarity and peace you are searching for.
The ART grief therapy process
Step-by-step
Step One
The first few sessions together will be used to identify stressors and losses you are currently experiencing as well as past losses you may be unaware of that could be acting as current trauma triggers. I call this "the digging process".
Step Two
After the current and past stressors and losses are identified, the use of Accelerated Resolution Therapy, ART, will be used to help quickly address and resolve the losses that are causing you grief. This process will help you find understanding in the loss and pain - causing peace and resolution.
Step Three
Over the next few days and weeks, you will begin to notice changes in the way you remember your loss, cope with the sorrow, and relate to the new relationship you have with your grief. You will feel as if a weight has been lifted from your chest.
