The holiday season is often pictured as a time filled with warmth, love, and celebration. But if you’ve lost someone dear to you, it can feel completely the opposite—like you’re walking through the happiest time of the year with a heavy heart.
While the world around you buzzes with joy, you might be feeling the deep ache of absence, longing, and loneliness.
The truth is, the holidays can be one of the hardest times for someone who’s grieving.
But here’s the thing: You don’t have to go through it alone.
Therapy can offer you a safe space to feel your grief, work through it, and find your own way to heal—even during the holidays.
Let’s take a look at why this time of year can be so tough and how therapy can help you navigate it.
The Holidays Are Heavy When You’re Grieving
When you’re grieving, the holidays can feel almost like a spotlight shining on your pain.
Everything around you seems to be about joy, family, and togetherness—but if you’re mourning a loss, those messages can feel impossible to connect with. Family gatherings that were once comforting can now feel empty.
Traditions may no longer bring the joy they once did, and the absence of your loved one feels even sharper.
Example:
“The holidays can make feelings of loneliness and loss so much more intense, especially when everything around you is celebrating togetherness. You might find yourself thinking, ‘How am I supposed to feel joyful when I’m missing someone so deeply?’”
It’s okay to feel that way. It’s natural. You’re not expected to ‘get over it’ just because it’s the holiday season.
Grief does NOT work on a schedule, and at Annapolis Counseling Center, we understand that.
How Grief Shifts Over Time—Especially Around the Holidays
Grief isn’t something you move through in a straight line.
One year, you might feel like you’re coping okay, and the next, a familiar song or the smell of your loved one’s favorite holiday dish can knock the wind right out of you.
The holidays have a way of stirring up old memories and reopening wounds—even if the loss isn’t recent.
Example:
“Even if you’ve navigated this season before, the holidays can surprise you by bringing up feelings you thought you’d already dealt with. It’s okay if this season feels just as hard—or harder—than last year.”
Grief ebbs and flows, and sometimes it feels like it hits harder when you’re least expecting it.
Therapy can help you navigate these emotional ups and downs, especially during times like the holidays when those waves of grief seem to come crashing down.
It’s Okay to Acknowledge the Pain
One of the most difficult parts of grieving during the holidays is the feeling that you need to hide your pain so you don’t bring others down.
You might catch yourself thinking, “I don’t want to ruin the holidays for anyone else.”
But here’s the thing: suppressing your grief doesn’t make it go away. In fact, pushing it down can make those feelings even heavier over time.
Example:
“Grief has a way of finding its way out—whether you acknowledge it or not. Ignoring it can make it seep into other parts of your life, showing up when you least expect it. Therapy offers a safe, comforting space where you can let those feelings out without fear of judgment or worrying about being a burden.”
At Annapolis Counseling Center, we encourage you to acknowledge what you’re feeling. It’s not about forcing yourself to be happy because it’s the holidays—it’s about giving yourself permission to feel what you need to feel, even if it’s painful.
Grief isn’t something you need to hide or push away. In therapy, we work with you to honor those feelings, so they can be felt and processed, rather than locked away.
How Therapy Can Help You Navigate Grief During the Holidays
So, what does therapy actually look like when you’re grieving, especially during the holiday season?
At Annapolis Counseling Center, we offer various approaches to help you manage grief in a way that feels right for you.
Our therapists understand that grief is deeply personal, and there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.
Here are a few ways we can support you:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): If you’re feeling trapped in a cycle of negative thoughts, CBT can help you gently challenge those thoughts and reframe them. Instead of thinking, “I’m supposed to be happy right now,” you can learn to be kinder to yourself and accept that it’s okay to feel whatever you’re feeling.
- Mindfulness: Staying present can be really difficult when you’re grieving, especially during a season that reminds you of the past. Mindfulness techniques can help you stay grounded, allowing you to acknowledge your emotions without being completely overwhelmed by them.
- Grief Counseling: This is a safe space just for you—a place where you can openly talk about your loss, explore the depths of your grief, and find ways to cope during the holidays and beyond. Whether it’s learning how to make new traditions or simply finding comfort in remembering your loved one, we’re here to guide you through it.
Example:
“In therapy, you’ll have the chance to talk through your feelings, even the ones you’ve been pushing down.
We’ll work together to help you create space for your grief and find ways to honor your loved one while also caring for yourself during the holidays.”
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
The holidays can be a hard, heavy time when you’re grieving—but you don’t have to carry that weight by yourself.
Therapy offers a safe and supportive space where you can process your feelings, find comfort, and begin to heal at your own pace.
If this season feels overwhelming, reach out to us at Annapolis Counseling Center.
We’re here to help you navigate the tough emotions, offer a listening ear, and walk with you through this difficult time. Let’s work together to find healing, hope, and a path forward—no matter how heavy the holidays might feel.
You deserve support. And we’re here for you.
