Grief and Loss

Paul D. Dalton, MS, LPCC-S, LCADC • June 10, 2019

Helping You With Grief and Loss

In the most recent months I have watched people and family members experience the loss of loved ones. It is by far one of the most painful things we as humans can experience. Some of us try desperately to avoid this painful process at all costs. What we know about grief is, it is inevitable. It is not a matter of if we grieve but when. We all grieve differently. In realizing that most people have unrealistic expectations of their own grief process I wanted to share a few things that might be helpful. There are stages of grief defined by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross her book “On Death and Dying.” They are as follows: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. We will experience these somewhat in this order but can move in and out of these various stages. It’s important to recognize your feelings and deal with them throughout each stage.

There is no timeline for grief. The first year is tough. It’s the first time you are experiencing life events without your loved one. Be patient with yourself. Do things to memorialize and honor your loved one. Allow yourself to be sad. That is perfectly normal and expected. Take care of yourself. Rest, eat well and exercise even if you don’t want to. Do not make any major decisions the first year unless it is absolutely necessary. Ask for help and support from family and friends and if necessary seek professional help in dealing with the loss. Write about your loss. It will help sort through your feelings and will encourage the grief process to move forward. Lastly, remember that no matter how much pain you feel, you WILL survive this grief and loss.

Carrie Koontz, MSW, LCSW, CADC

Carrie Koontz works at The Offices of Paul D. Dalton, MS, LPCC, CADC in Richmond, KY. Her office website is http://www.counselinglexingtonky.com/richmond-ky-counseling-and-psychiatry/

and the office Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/pages/Offices-Of-Paul-Dalton/344785342269140

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief-loss/coping-with-grief-and-loss.htm

http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-5-stages-of-loss-and-grief/000617

http://www.whatsyourgrief.com/types-of-grief/

https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/blog/2013/03/over-40-life-experiences-you-might-have-cause-grief

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/grief

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The Benefits of Therapy

By Chelsea Conner • September 8, 2025

The Benefits to Therapy and Why It Is Important to Seek out Help

How to Build Success When Recovering from Substance Use

By Chelsea Conner • August 14, 2025

Substance use is a growing health concern. 47.7 million Americans reported the use of illegal substances according to a study conducted in 2023 by The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. A Substance Use Disorder (SUD), defined by The American Psychiatric Association, is ‘a complex condition in which there is uncontrolled use of a substance despite harmful consequences.’ The American Psychiatric Association recognizes that someone who has a SUD has an intense urge to engage in any of the listed substances - alcohol, tobacco, or psychoactive substances that impact daily functioning, interpersonal relationships, and overall health. Another term well known for SUD is addiction. There is no single cause for a SUD but rather, a combination of factors can contribute to its development. Self-medication, genetics, peer pressure, curiosity, performance enhancement, and medical use turned misuse can all lead to someone engaging in problem use with substances and even addiction. Another study conducted in 2023 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, showed that 70% of people who sought out treatment for substance abuse/misuse reported improvements to their overall health and functioning within the first year of treatment. There are several available options for treatment, including outpatient care, intensive outpatient care, and in-patient care treatment. It is also important to have a collaborative approach when it comes to treatment for a SUD to have the best outcome, which can include medication management, individual therapy, group therapy, peer support, AA/NA meetings, sponsor, and a healthy support system within interpersonal relationships. It's important to remember that addiction is not a moral failing, it's a complex medical condition that can affect anyone. Compassion, understanding, and proper treatment are essential to recovery and can lead to successful outcomes. Some treatment modalities that have shown success in therapy when treating SUD include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Contingency Management (CM), Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) and Motivational Interviewing (MI), as well as a facilitated 12 step program and a trauma focused lens. Whether you're concerned about your own substance use or worried about a loved one, help is available and healing is possible! Call our office at 859.338.0466 to schedule an appointment to work with one of our providers to start your healing journey to recovery. Our current offices are located in Lexington, Frankfort, and Richmond, KY. We have been trusted mental health professionals in Central Kentucky for over 22 years! Articles and Resources: https://drugabusestatistics.org/ https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction-substance-use-disorders/what-is-a-substance-use-disorder https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6175215/ https://www.pyramid-healthcare.com/blog/2019/02/12/self-medication-and-addiction/ https://americanaddictioncenters.org/therapy-treatment