Is it normal to feel relief after someone dies?

Yes, especially after a long illness or a difficult relationship. Relief and love can exist together, and guilt about relief is one of the most common things we work through in grief counseling.

Do you offer grief counseling online?

Yes. Secure telehealth sessions are available throughout Illinois, which can be especially helpful when traveling to an office feels like too much.

Grief & Loss

Grief, Loss & Ambiguous Loss Counseling in Downers Grove, IL

Name: Affirm Behavioral Health, PLLC
Address: 5120 Main St., Suite 105, Downers Grove, IL, 60515, US
Telephone: (708) 990-1174
Price range: $75 – $225

Grief is a reaction to any form of loss, and it is rarely straightforward. In addition to bereavement, I specialize in ambiguous loss: the grief that comes when there is no clear closure, such as chronic illness, dementia, estrangement, addiction, or a life that changed without ending.

Request a Free Consultation (708) 990-1174

A woman sitting alone on a wooden dock at sunset with her head resting on her knees, representing grief

Common symptoms of grief

Crying, sighing, and waves of sadness or yearning
Headaches, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, weakness, or fatigue
Worry, anger, frustration, or guilt that doesn’t resolve
Feeling detached from others or withdrawing from social contact
Behaving in ways that are not normal for you
Relief mixed with guilt after a long illness
Grieving someone who is still alive but no longer who they were

Every grieving experience is different

Bereavement refers to the process of recovering from the death of a loved one; grief is a reaction to any form of loss. Both encompass a wide range of emotions, and the process of adapting can change dramatically from person to person depending on background, beliefs, relationship to the person who died, and other factors. A person may continue their routine after one loss yet not be able to get out of bed after another. Whatever your personal symptoms are, grief counseling has been shown to help.

Ambiguous loss and anticipatory grief

Some of the heaviest grief has no funeral. A parent with dementia who no longer recognizes you. A child in active addiction. A partner whose cancer has changed everything about your future together. A diagnosis that took the life you planned. This is ambiguous loss, and it is one of my areas of specialization.

My formal training in oncology social work through Aurora University and the Association of Oncology Social Work allows me to work closely with individuals and families coping with cancer diagnoses, chronic or terminal illness, caregiver stress, anticipatory grief, and the complex family dynamics that surface during medical crises. You do not have to carry that weight alone.

What grief counseling looks like

There is no timeline and no correct way to grieve. Therapy provides a space to process, make meaning, and find stability during uncertain times.

A safe place to say the things you can’t say to family
Education about grief so your reactions make sense to you
Support for complicated or prolonged grief when it isn’t easing
Help with the practical decisions, roles, and relationships that shift after a loss
Attention to sleep, health, and substance use, which grief often disrupts
Family sessions when a loss is affecting the whole household

Frequently asked

Questions about grief & loss therapy

Whenever you feel ready, whether that is days or years later. There is no “too soon” and no “too late.” Some people want support immediately; others reach out when the casseroles stop and the quiet sets in.

Why clients choose Affirm Behavioral Health

Dual-specialty care for mental health and substance use, with medical insight most therapists don’t offer.

Christine Stryjewski is both a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor, with advanced oncology social work training and years of experience in medical care. That means anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, and medical stress can be treated together in one coordinated plan.

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