Our Grief Care team is a wealth of knowledge about grief and loss. They provide education and outreach at workshops and presentations throughout the community, and that education helps to bring healing and hope to individuals who are on a journey with grief.
In honor of National Grief Awareness Day, we asked each of our Grief Care counselors the same question:
What is one of the most important things people should know about grief/grieving?
Here’s what they chose to share.
Grief Counselor Keely
“One of the most important things to understand about grief is that it is not something we ‘get over,’ but rather something we learn to carry and weave into the tapestry of our lives. Each person’s story is unique, and grief becomes a thread in that tapestry, shaping who we are and how we move forward. Sharing our grief stories is vital, because in speaking them aloud, we allow our experiences to be witnessed and honored by others. Being heard reminds us that we are not alone, that our loved ones and our experiences matter. Over time, the thread of grief does not disappear, but it becomes part of the larger picture of who we are; one that can hold both loss and love, sorrow and meaning. Grief teaches us the value of connection, presence, and the courage to tell our stories.”
Keely Rhiannon, LLMSW, CGP, CGCS-CA
Lead Grief Counselor
Grief Counselor Meg
“One of the most important things that I want people to understand about grief is that it is normal. So often, the language that I hear clients use to refer to their grief treats it like an aberrant condition—something wrong that needs to be corrected or overcome. We say that we need to ‘move on’ or ‘get over it,’ or insist that we should be ‘better’ by now. But grief isn’t a flaw or personal failing, it’s a wound deserving of the kind of gentle treatment—of patience and care and acknowledgement— that enables us to heal. Our grief is proof of our capacity to love.”
Meg Halstead, LLMSW
Grief Counselor
Grief Counselor Joyce
“One of the most important things to know about grief is that it has no timetable and no single ‘right’ way. It comes in waves—sometimes gentle, sometimes overwhelming—and often resurfaces long after others think it should be gone. Grief is not a problem to fix but a natural response to love and loss, unique to each person. While it may feel endless in the beginning, with time, support, and self-compassion, the sharpest edges soften. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting—it means carrying the love and memory forward in ways that bring comfort. Grief is the price of love, and though it changes us, it also reminds us of how deeply we are capable of loving.”
Joyce Lee, LLMSW
Grief Counselor
For support along your grief journey, we invite you to visit our Grief Care page for free resources, including our calendar of support groups and workshops. You reach our Grief Care Team at 734.464.3277.
