Navigating Loss & Change in Your 20's

A young woman running on bridge over water and surrounded by trees. This could represent the work of life transitions. Search for grief counseling for young women in Los Angeles, CA.

Loss doesn't have to look significant to feel significant. Whether going through a breakup, moving to a new city, navigating friendships, or confronting a career transition, it is natural to feel overwhelmed by emotions when moving through change. It's that ache in your chest. The wave of sadness seemingly comes out of nowhere and brings you to tears. It makes sense. Things that once defined your identity are no longer there, leaving a void you're unsure how to fill.

Moving forward means stepping into the unknown – an in-between place where fear and excitement often co-mingle, taking turns leading the dance. There may be fear of loneliness, of being unhappy, of making the wrong decision. And there may be excitement about the opportunity to start anew. This polarization can cause internal tension between the old Self and the new. Who were you then? Who are you becoming? There may even be a sense of urgency: When will I get to the other side?

But another dancer is here, too: grief. Grief says: 'Let's move slowly. I'm not in a rush to get to the other side – because the other side means leaving something I love behind.' 

In Western culture, there can be societal expectations for grief to be felt privately and swiftly. A quick rebound to returning to work and tending to other parts of life is often seen as a marker of strength. This can leave grief feeling invisible and unwanted. Words of consolation, though well-intended, can sometimes leave you feeling more alone and misunderstood.

Asian American woman eyes closed reflecting in field of flowers. This could represent the benefits of working with an Asian American therapist who shares your identity. Search for a Grief Therapy for Women in their 20s in Highland Park, CA

Glennon Doyle Melton says, "Grief is love's souvenir." We can't let go of something we have not already held. What if the lesson in grief is that we don't have to let go of it all? Can the love we are grieving stay with us – a souvenir of its time – as we adjust to life without its physical presence?

The truth is that grief is heavy and messy. Grief holds pain. And moving through grief doesn't mean you have to stop feeling the pain. In your own time, you can slowly learn to hold the pain and grow larger around it. And – you don't have to hold it alone. A grief therapist is trained to hold space for your emotions – messiness and all. Your grief deserves to be seen, and you don't need to explain your pain.

And so, although change and loss indicate an ending, they also mark the beginning of something new. A seed – an opportunity to begin again.  Below are some recommendations for watering this seed:

Recommendations:

  • Process Grief in Community.

    • Search for local or online grief support groups. For LA locals, check out the calendars at Tea at Shiloh and The Nest for pop-up grief workshops.

  • Somatic Release.

    • Breathwork: The "Breath + Sound" class at Open is a powerful offering for moving through emotions. Our therapists can support you in post-breathwork integration and explore whether the class may be a good fit for you. *Please speak to a healthcare professional before attending, especially if you have any chronic or acute health issues or are currently pregnant.*

    • Movement: Yoga and other forms of physical movement support the body's natural process of releasing emotion.

    • Let yourself cry. Tears contain cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone. Every tear is a physical release of emotion.

  • Rest is just as important as release.

    • Take an Epson salt bath, book a sauna session, and lay in a park. Dedicate at least a few hours each week solely to yourself with no agenda other than relaxation. You deserve it.

  • Express your inner world.

    • Write. Journaling can be a powerful tool to externalize and make sense of your emotions.

    • Share. Let friends know what you're going through. If necessary, you might preface a conversation with, "I'm going through a hard time. I don't really need advice or feedback. Can you just listen?"

    • Get creative. Sometimes, emotions are hard to put into words. How might you draw, paint, or sculpt what you are feeling? What shapes or colors do you feel?

  • Meet with a grief professional.

Underside of palm branch looking up to sky. This could represent the hope and healing from working with an IFS grief therapist for young women. Search Therapy for grief and loss in Highland Park, CA

Start Working With a Grief Counselor in Los Angeles, CA

If you're struggling with loss and change, Therapy on Fig offers specialized Grief Therapy in Los Angeles, CA, to help you heal. Our therapists are experienced in providing compassionate and effective therapy to support you through these difficult times. We offer a safe space to explore your feelings, process your experiences, and work towards healing. Our trauma-informed approach ensures that you receive the support you need to navigate these challenging emotions. Let us support you on your journey to healing by following the steps below:

  1. Reach out to schedule a free consultation.

  2. Speak with a caring grief therapist.

  3. Live a more fulfilling life by moving forward with your grief and loss.

Other Services Offered at Therapy on Fig

At Therapy on Fig, we offer therapy services that fit the unique needs of couples and individuals. In addition to Grief and loss therapy in Highland Park, CA, we also offer Therapy for Empaths, Trauma Therapy, and couples therapy. We also address related issues such as anxiety, stress management, and relationship issues. Whether you're seeking support for a specific issue or looking to strengthen your relationship overall, our therapists are here to help. Reach out today to learn more about our services and to begin your journey to a better relationship for you and your partner.

Poems of Grief

"Grief is a giant neon sign, 

protruding through everything, 

pointing everywhere, 

broadcasting loudly, 

"LOVE WAS HERE."

In the finer print, quietly,

"love still is."

– Heidi Preibe

"To love life, to love it even

when you have no stomach for it

and everything you've held dear

crumbles like burnt paper in your hands,

your throat filled with the silt of it.

When grief sits with you, its tropical heat

thickening the air, heavy as water

more fit for gills than lungs;

when grief weights you down like your own flesh

only more of it, an obesity of grief,

you think, How can a body withstand this?

Then you hold life like a face

between your palms, a plain face,

no charming smile, no violet eyes,

and you say, yes, I will take you

I will love you, again."

– Ellen Bass

 
IFS teen and young adult female therapist in Highland Park, Los Angeles. Search for IFS therapist for young adult women in Los Angeles, CA

Marina Mendes is a Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (#15511) supervised by Sharon Yu, LMFT (#50028).  As a mixed-race Asian American queer woman, introvert, and Highly Sensitive Person, my healing work is shaped by a deep understanding of what it means to feel "othered." I support individuals who feel misunderstood, embrace multifaceted identities, and value multicultural awareness. Reach out to learn more about our experienced therapists.

 
Sharon Yu