Rebuilding After Loss

Grief is a deeply personal and often misunderstood experience. It doesn’t follow a straight path or a timeline. It doesn’t look the same for everyone. And while it’s commonly associated with the death of a loved one, grief can stem from any significant loss, including a relationship ending, a major life transition, the loss of a job, a serious health diagnosis, or even a shift in personal identity.

Grief can look different to everyone and be experienced differently than people expect.

At Body and Mindfully Healthy, we believe that grief deserves space. Space to be felt, to be explored, and to be shared. That’s why we’re introducing "Rebuilding After Loss", a new weekly support group in our Galax office, led by Hannah Ingo, Resident in Counseling. This group is designed to help individuals process and make sense of grief through six foundational pillars that acknowledge the complexity of what it means to mourn and heal.

What is Grief?

Grief is more than sadness. Grief a full-body, full-life experience. It can manifest physically as fatigue, sleep disruptions, muscle tension, or chest tightness. Emotionally, it can bring waves of sorrow, anger, guilt, numbness, or even unexpected joy. Spiritually, grief can deepen beliefs or unravel them. It can isolate us socially or reshape how we connect with others. And crucially, there is no “normal” way to grieve. Grief is not a straight line. It may come in surges, loops, or long periods of quiet numbness. It is not something to “get over,” but something to integrate into our lives with compassion and patience.

A Six-Pillar Framework for Healing

This group is grounded in six thoughtfully curated pillars that reflect the layered and evolving nature of grief. Each pillar will be explored in group sessions, allowing participants to share experiences, develop insight, and feel supported as they move through their personal grief journey.

Pillar 1: Components of Grief – The Full Spectrum of Impact

When we talk about grief, we often focus on emotional pain, but the reality is more complex. This pillar explores how grief impacts us across five domains:

• Physical – Fatigue, illness, sleep issues, and physical pain are common grief symptoms.

• Emotional – Sadness, anger, fear, guilt, relief, and confusion often coexist.

• Cognitive – Grieving individuals may experience forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, or racing thoughts.

• Social – Relationships may shift. Some people pull away, while others may not understand your pain.

• Spiritual – Some find strength in their beliefs; others struggle with meaning or faith after loss.

  
  

By recognizing grief as a holistic experience, we can better understand how it influences every area of our lives and begin to respond with compassion and care.

Pillar 2: Stages of Grief – Making Space for the Process

Most people are familiar with the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. This is a model introduced by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. But these stages aren’t linear, nor do they capture every person’s experience.

This pillar invites discussion about:

• How people may move fluidly between stages

• Why some stages may feel stronger or longer than others

• The importance of validating each emotional state rather than trying to "move on"

  
  

This understanding helps participants stop judging their own process and instead begin to trust it.

Feeling lost is a common experience with grief and loss.

Pillar 3: Identity Post-Loss – Who Am I Now?

Loss often shatters our sense of self. Whether you’ve lost a spouse, a parent, a child, a job, or a version of your future, grief can bring an identity crisis.

In this pillar, we explore:

• Identity disruption – “I don’t know who I am without them/that.”

• Reconstructing the self – How to begin forming a new sense of identity

• Navigating multiple roles – Especially for those grieving while parenting, caregiving, or maintaining a career

• The emotional toll – Grieving while still functioning can feel overwhelming

• Seeking support and reflection – Finding space to be witnessed in your evolving story

  
  

This stage can be painful but is also a profound opportunity for personal growth and redefinition.

Pillar 4: How Relationships Change Post-Loss – The Ripple Effect

Grief doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Loss can shift the dynamics of existing relationships and challenge how we connect to others. In this pillar, we explore:

• Positive and negative changes in relationships

• Emotional withdrawal from loved ones due to pain or feeling misunderstood

• Communication breakdowns and unmet expectations in grief

• Increased conflict or distance with those who are grieving differently

• On the other side, some people experience closer intimacy, deepened understanding, or renewed commitment

  
  

This pillar offers space to process relationship changes, understand common challenges, and foster reconnection where possible.

Pillar 5: Personal Stories of Loss – Sharing to Heal

There is profound power in storytelling. This pillar centers on:

• Coping strategies people have used through grief

• Practical considerations like managing anniversaries, holidays, or legal matters

• Finding new meaning and purpose post-loss

• Self-care practices that have supported healing

• The importance of memories – how we carry our loved ones or past identities forward

  
  

Participants are invited, but never pressured, to share their stories, learn from others, and witness the shared threads that connect all experiences of loss.

Rebuilding usually means cultivating new hobbies and self-care activities.

Pillar 6: Pillars of Strength – Tools for Rebuilding

While grief reshapes us, it can also reveal inner strength. In the final pillar, we focus on practical ways to support emotional and physical resilience:

• Reconnecting with others while protecting your energy

• Building a relationship with yourself marked by compassion and acceptance

• Expressing emotions through art, writing, movement, or therapy

• Creating time and structure to stabilize the day-to-day

• Setting limits to protect emotional bandwidth

• Focusing the mind through mindfulness, reflection, or grounding techniques

  
  

This pillar emphasizes sustainable healing, not through “getting over” loss, but through gently rebuilding in a way that honors your journey.

Group Information & Registration

Rebuilding After Loss

Led by: Hannah Ingo, Resident in Counseling

Location: Body and Mindfully Healthy – Galax Office (210 Calhoun Street)

When: Mondays from 6:00–7:00 PM

Start Date: Monday, July 7th(Please note: there will be no group on July 21 due to counselor EMDR training)

This group is open to adults experiencing any form of grief whether that's recent or long ago, specific or ambiguous. Whether you're struggling to find words for your pain or simply need a safe place to feel seen, this group offers a nurturing and nonjudgmental space to begin healing.

How to Join

To register or ask questions, please email Hannah@bodyandmindfullyhealthy.com

Grief is a journey that no one should have to walk alone. Join us to begin a path toward healing, reflection, and reconnection with yourself, your memories, and your future.

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