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Understanding Grief & Loss — Navigating the Waves With Compassion, Healing Connections Psychotherapy & Counselling - Nambour
- Amanda Baker
- Dec 27, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
By Amanda Baker | Psychotherapist & Counsellor – Teens, Individuals & Couples| Healing Connections Psychotherapy & Counselling, Nambour QLD
Grief is one of the most human experiences we ever move through—yet it’s also one of the most misunderstood. We often think of grief as something that only happens after a death.
But grief can show up after any significant change, transition, or moment where life looks different than we expected.
As a therapist, I see every day how grief touches people’s relationships, identities, futures, and sense of self. And my hope is always the same: to help people understand their grief gently, without judgement, and to remind them that there is nothing “wrong” with the way they feel.
This blog explores the many forms grief can take, why we experience it the way we do, and how to support yourself (or someone you love) through it.
What is Grief, Really?
Grief is not just sadness.
It’s:
emotional
physical
cognitive
relational
and even spiritual
It can feel heavy, numb, confusing, angry, empty, or overwhelming—and sometimes all in the same day.
Grief is the natural response to loss, whether that loss is:
someone you love
a relationship
your role or identity
health or physical capacity
a dream, future, or expectation
stability, safety, or certainty
Grief simply shows us what mattered.
Why Grief Looks Different For Everyone
There is no one “right” way to grieve. Culture, family messages, personality, attachment style, life experiences, and the nature of the loss all shape how we respond.
Some people cry openly.
Some people express inwards.
Some need to talk.
Some need space.
Some need to keep moving, doing, organising.
None of these are wrong.
In the therapy space, I often see how harmful it is when people feel pressured to grieve in a certain way—or to “move on” before they’re ready.
Grief has no timeline.
It doesn’t follow neat stages.
It simply asks for space and compassion.
Remember: different ≠ wrong.
Different just means you’re human.
The Body Also Grieves
Common physical responses may include:
exhaustion
headaches
appetite changes
sleep disruption
tight chest, nausea, heaviness
difficulty concentrating
You’re not weak — your nervous system is doing a huge amount of emotional work.
Children & Teens Grieve Too
Kids don’t “get over” things faster — they simply revisit their grief as they grow.
Younger children may not understand permanence.
Primary school children may act out or somatise.
Teens may hide emotion but feel deeply.
If you’re supporting a child or teen through grief, the most healing things you can offer are stability, openness, and permission to feel.
When waves of Grief continue to build
Sometimes grief becomes overwhelming or prolonged.
Signs grief may need extra support:
intense yearning that doesn’t ease over time
difficulty returning to daily life
ongoing numbness, guilt, or disbelief
avoidance of reminders of the person
feeling stuck, frozen, or unable to make sense of life
If you are experiencing this, therapy can be highly supportive.
You Don’t Have to Move On — You Learn to Move With
A Final Note
If you are grieving right now—no matter the reason
please know this:
You are not failing. You are not behind.
You are navigating something profoundly human.
And you deserve support, compassion, and space as you do so.
If you feel you might benefit from a gentle, steady therapeutic space to work through grief, I’m here to support you.
Ready to take the next step?
Click ‘ book now’ to secure an appointment with Amanda Baker at Healing Connections Psychotherapy & Counselling.
📍 Healing Connections Psychotherapy & Counselling
Operating in Independent consultancy rooms within Sankofa House
39 Howard St, Nambour QLD 4560
📞 0488 762 745
Content shared here is offered to inform, reflect, and support connection. This is not clinical advice.
It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace individual care.
If something you read resonates or raises concerns for you, reaching out to a trusted health professional may be a supportive next step.
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