Grief is something we experience far more often than we may realize. While we often associate grief with the death of someone we love, we can also grieve relationships, friendships, jobs, homes, routines, dreams, expectations, identities, and versions of ourselves that are changing or no longer fit.

Life transitions—whether planned, unexpected, exciting, or painful—can bring up a surprising amount of emotion. Starting a new job, becoming a parent, ending a relationship, moving, changing friendships, navigating changes in your body, reaching a new stage of life, or simply realizing that life isn’t turning out the way you imagined can all involve a sense of loss.

Sometimes we struggle not because we don’t understand that something has changed, but because accepting that change can be incredibly difficult. Therapy can provide space to slow down, acknowledge what you’re grieving, make room for complicated or conflicting emotions, and find ways to move forward without having to minimize what you’re leaving behind.